If you are buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring ownership of a home, you may come across legal terms that are unfamiliar. This A to Z residential conveyancing glossary explains key terms in plain English, helping you feel more confident throughout the process.
If you need advice from a local solicitor, Howard & Co. can help with conveyancing in Barnsley and wider land and property matters.
To help you get an even better understanding of the conveyancing process, be sure to read our Guide to Conveyancing in England.
| Term | Plain English meaning |
|---|---|
| Adopted road | A road maintained by the local authority. |
| Adverse possession | A claim to land based on long-term occupation without the legal owner’s permission. |
| Apportionments | Adjustments for payments such as ground rent or service charges so each party pays their fair share. |
| Bankruptcy search | A check to confirm a buyer or borrower is not bankrupt before mortgage completion. |
| Boundary | The dividing line between one property and another. |
| Building regulations | Standards that ensure building work is safe and meets legal requirements. |
| Chain | A series of linked property transactions that depend on each other completing. |
| Chain-free | A transaction with no linked sale or purchase, often simpler and quicker. |
| CHAPS payment | A same-day bank transfer used for large sums such as completion funds. |
| Coal mining search | A search checking for past mining activity that could affect the property. |
| Completion | The day ownership transfers and the buyer receives the keys. |
| Completion statement | A breakdown of all financial aspects of the transaction. |
| Completion date | The agreed date when the property transaction finishes. |
| Conservation area | An area with special rules to protect its character and appearance. |
| Contract pack | Documents sent by the seller’s solicitor to begin the transaction. |
| Conveyancing | The legal process of transferring ownership of a property. |
| Conveyancing solicitor | A solicitor who handles property transactions. |
| Deposit | Money paid by the buyer at exchange of contracts. |
| Disbursements | Costs paid to third parties, such as search fees. |
| Drainage and water search | A search confirming water supply and drainage connections. |
| Easement | A legal right over another property, such as a right of way. |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | A certificate showing a property’s energy efficiency rating. |
| Enquiries | Questions raised by the buyer’s solicitor about the property. |
| Exchange of contracts | The point when the transaction becomes legally binding. |
| Freehold | Ownership of a property and the land it stands on. |
| Gifted deposit | Money given to a buyer, often by family, to help with the purchase. |
| Ground rent | A payment made by a leaseholder to a freeholder. |
| HM Land Registry | The government body that records property ownership. |
| Indemnity insurance | A policy protecting against certain legal risks. |
| Lease | The legal agreement for leasehold property ownership. |
| Leasehold | Owning a property for a set number of years, but not the land. |
| Legal charge | The lender’s legal interest in the property as security for a mortgage. |
| Local authority search | A search covering planning, roads and local issues. |
| Memorandum of sale | A document confirming the agreed sale details. |
| Mortgage offer | The lender’s formal agreement to lend money. |
| Mortgage deed | The document securing the mortgage against the property. |
| New-build | A newly constructed property. |
| Planning permission | Approval from the local authority for building works. |
| Priority search | A search protecting the buyer’s interest before completion. |
| Remortgage | Changing your mortgage deal or lender. |
| Restrictive covenant | A rule limiting how a property can be used. |
| Right of way | The legal right to pass over land. |
| Searches | Checks carried out to gather information about the property. |
| Seller | The person selling the property. |
| Service charge | Payments made for maintenance of shared areas. |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) | A tax that may be payable when buying property. |
| Survey | An inspection of the property’s condition. |
| TA6 Form | A form completed by the seller with property details. |
| TA10 Form | A form showing what is included in the sale. |
| Title | The legal ownership of a property. |
| Title register | The official record of ownership at HM Land Registry. |
| Transfer of equity | Changing who owns a property. |
| TR1 | The legal document used to transfer ownership. |
| Vacant possession | The property is empty when ownership transfers. |
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