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A charge levied by the lender to cover the costs of processing a mortgage application. If an application is not completed, the fee may not be refunded.
The total cost of a loan which includes the costs, interest charges, and arrangement fees.
The person or party wishing to rent or buy a property.
The value of a property, as estimated by a surveyor.
The increase in the value of a property as a result of changes in market conditions.
Fees charged to arrange a loan on certain products. Usually applied to loans where a special interest rate applies, e.g. fixed or capped rates.
Any form of property owned by a person, including currency, stocks and enforceable claims against others.
The transfer of ownership of an insurance policy or lease.
The most common type of Tenancy Agreement in the private rental sector setting out the rights and obligations of the landlord and tenant. It is used where the rent is below £100,000 per annum, and the tenant is an individual or group of individuals rather than a company. The term must be for longer than six months.
The sale of a property to the highest bidder. Buyers are required to sign a contract and pay a deposit immediately.
The mortgage lender’s standard interest rate, which may be increased or decreased depending on prevailing economic conditions.
A person for whose benefit property is being held by trustees, executors or administrators.
A break clause gives the tenant or landlord the right to terminate a Tenancy Agreement, under specific circumstances, before the date it is officially due to end. Usually requires written notice.
A temporary loan that allows a buyer to complete on the purchase of a property before selling their previous property by covering the overlap.
A full inspection of the property conducted by a chartered surveyor, who will write a detailed report describing the soundness of the property and any property defects. Suitable for any house, particularly older properties and those that have been poorly maintained, as well as properties that have been extensively altered or extended or any property due to be altered or extended.
An insurance policy that pays the cost of repair or rebuilding in the event your property is damaged or destroyed. Most mortgage lenders will require buildings insurance to be taken out as a condition of their loan.
Prior to the owner of a property carrying out extension work, alterations or structural changes, building regulations need to be obtained from the local authority giving their approval for the work to commence.
A type of mortgage designed specifically for investors buying a property with the intention of letting it out.
The amount of money either put into buying a property or the deposit placed on a property; also known as equity.
A tax on any profit realised on the disposal of an asset. Owner-occupied properties are generally exempt from Capital Gains Tax.
Provided by lenders with a fixed maximum interest rate, normally agreed upon for a set period of time.
County Court Judgement; any person who has defaulted on payments or has bad debts could have a CCJ taken out against them by the courts, preventing that person from obtaining a mortgage offer.
The situation that occurs when a buyer is reliant upon the completion of the sale of their existing property to complete the purchase of the new property.
A payment received from conducting business.
Areas of land or buildings, such as gardens, hallways, recreational facilities and parking areas, where more than one resident shares access.
This form of Tenancy Agreement is used where a company is the tenant. There is no additional statutory protection – both landlord and tenant are bound only by the terms of the written agreement.
A search that looks at the actual sale values of similar properties in the same area as your property. A surveyor typically carries out this search and should give an indicative sale price for a property.
The date of payment of the balance of the purchase money, at which point the buyer is then entitled to take possession of the property.
The details that determine the rights and duties of the buyer and seller.
Insurance that covers the contents of a property, including electrical goods, carpets, furniture and curtains.
A legally binding written document of agreement between two parties approved by both sides’ solicitors and setting out the agreed terms by which both sides are committed to proceeding to completion.
This occurs when two parties have made an offer on the same house, usually at the same price. The vendor will sell to whichever party exchanges the contract first.
This form of Tenancy Agreement is used where the rent exceeds £25,000 per annum, and the tenant is an individual or group of individuals. The tenant is not given any additional statutory protection, and both parties are bound only by the terms of the written agreement.
A flat or apartment that has been created by the subdivision of a larger property.
Either the act of transferring property ownership or the legal document which affects the transfer.
A qualified individual, such as a solicitor or licensed conveyancer who deals with the legal aspects of buying or selling a property.
The legal process surrounding the transfer of ownership of a property from the buyer to the seller.
The charge made by a solicitor or conveyancer for undertaking the legal process necessary for the transfer of ownership of a property.
The process by which a company relocates an employee as part of the employer’s normal course of business.
The Council of Mortgage Lenders devised the Mortgage Code to ensure lenders treat customers fairly.
A binding promise in a deed with regard to property. I.e. maintenance of a fence or restrictions to trading from a premises.
The procedure by which a check is made on an applicant’s credit history usually conducted by one of the large dedicated credit check agencies. The check will reveal the history of credit card repayments, outstanding debts, arrears and County Court Judgments.
A record of an individual’s or company’s past borrowing, including information about late payments and bankruptcy.
Legal documents proving ownership. Generally held by the mortgage lender.
The fee charged by lenders at the end of a mortgage term to cover the administrative costs of transferring the property ownership documents to the borrower.
A badly drafted lease. If this is serious, the vendor may have to obtain a “deed of variation” getting the freeholder’s permission to change the original terms of the lease.
A situation in which prices are falling (the opposite of inflation).
This is a sum of money required from the buyer when he enters an enforceable agreement. This is usually on the contract signing and can be between 5 and 10 per cent of the purchase price if buying or 4-6 weeks rent for tenants.
The decline or reduction in the value of a property caused by changes in market conditions (the opposite of appreciation).
A term used to describe a property that stands alone, separate from all others.
A newly built residence or an older, refurbished and modernised property.
These refer to disrepair or damage done to a rented property.
These are fees paid by the buyer’s solicitor on the buyer’s behalf, such as stamp duty, land registry, and search fees.
Paying off a mortgage.
Mortgages charged at a rate discounted from the published bank standard variable rate for a set period of time. The rates are variable and are subject to go up or down in line with any changes to the Bank of England base rate.
When the lender restricts the amount you can borrow after the surveyor’s valuation report indicates the property is not worth the sum sought.
This is a preliminary unconfirmed version of the contract prepared by the vendor’s solicitor.
A charge levied by the lender as a penalty if a mortgage is paid off within a specified period.
A term given to a right that someone may enjoy over another property. These can be rights of way, drainage rights, or, more likely, access to a neighbour’s land to carry out repairs to their own property.
Regulations that require all electrical installations and appliances within the property are maintained in good order and regularly checked for safety by an appropriately registered engineer.
A liability imposed on the owner of a property, which is then binding on subsequent owners.
Interest-only repayments combined with monthly premiums into an endowment policy designed to pay off the loan at the end of the term.
These are not as popular as they were and involve building society and an insurance company. Repayments to the building society are in respect of interest only. The capital sum outstanding remains constant throughout the term. It is repaid by means of an endowment policy taken out with the insurance company when the policy matures or in the event of the death of the policyholders.
An EPC measures the energy efficiency of a property using a scale of A-G. It is a legal requirement to have a valid EPC for their property.
Deeds are usually drawn up in draft form for approval by each party’s solicitors. When the deeds are approved, sometimes after amendments, the final drafts are engrossed for all parties to sign.
The difference between the value of a property and the amount of mortgage owed.
The initial sum paid on an insurance claim.
The point at which signed contracts are physically exchanged, legally committing the buyer and seller to the purchase and sale of a property at the agreed price. The time at which a deposit (generally 10%) is paid.
An independent body that regulates the financial services industry in the UK.
All non-structural items included in the purchase of a property.
An arrangement whereby you can increase or decrease your mortgage.
This can occur when first-floor accommodation forming part of one freehold is located over ground-floor accommodation forming part of another freehold. The first-floor freeholder does not own the land beneath the property, and is then said to own a “flying freehold”.
A price one would expect to obtain for a property on the open market without delay, assuming that a normal or reasonable amount of time is not available to market that property.
Where the owner of the property also owns the land on which it is built.
Regulations that require all domestic upholstered furniture, furnishing and other products containing upholstery in a property to be certified as compliant.
Regulations that require that any gas appliances in a property be inspected by a gas engineer, who is certified by the Gas Safe Register before tenants move into a property and annually after that.
If two people wish to purchase the same property, one buyer may offer more than the other to tempt the seller into proceeding with them. This is even though the seller may have already accepted the other buyer’s offer, subject to contract. There is no legal obligation to the first buyer, only a moral one.
This is similar to gazumping, except on this occasion, the purchaser reduces their offer before exchanging contracts. Gazumping is prevalent in an active market, and gazundering is in a slow market.
When a freeholder lets land to a leaseholder and then subsequently builds on it, the rent paid is in respect of the land only and is therefore known as ground rent.
A mortgage lender may require a borrower to appoint a guarantor. This is someone who promises to pay the borrower’s debt if the borrower defaults.
An up-front, one-off fee paid to the lender to protect them against the borrower defaulting on the loan, usually charged on mortgages over 75% of the house value.
This is a survey report which is not as detailed as a full structural survey and is carried out by a chartered surveyor.
An insurance policy that protects against loss or damage to the property caused by fire, some natural causes and acts of vandalism. Also, see Buildings Insurance And Contents Insurance.
A building of three floors or more occupied by three or more people and where these people live as more than one household and share facilities such as bathrooms, toilets or cooking facilities.
Independent Financial Advisor.
Building societies operate in accordance with the Building Societies Act. This provides that the maximum advance they can make on a property without additional security is 75% of the purchase price or surveyor’s valuation for pre-1919 properties and 80% for post-1919 properties. When a society lends in excess of this percentage, the excess is guaranteed by an indemnity policy. A single premium is payable by the purchaser when the mortgage is taken out.
An interest-only mortgage stays the same throughout the mortgage term. When choosing an interest-only mortgage, the purchaser is responsible for ensuring that they have sufficient funds to repay the mortgage at the end of the term.
A list describing the condition of furnishing and the contents of a leased property at the start and end of a tenancy, so that any dilapidations during the residency can be identified.
Requires competing buyers to submit their best bids by a specific time and date. It is not a legally binding contract.
The appointment of two estate agents to act jointly in selling a property. Usually, the commission is shared between agents irrespective of who introduced the buyer, although generally, a slightly higher percentage is awarded to the introducing agent. In a multiple agency, where several agents are involved, the commission is payable solely to the agent who introduces the buyer.
The total gross income of the two borrowers in a joint mortgage.
A form of ownership for two parties whereby if one dies, their share of the property will automatically transfer to the remaining party, giving them full ownership (regardless of the terms of the deceased owner’s will).
The process of registering the legal title of an area of land with the land registry, typically handled by a solicitor.
Payable to the Land Registry to register ownership of a property.
The owner of the property that is rented.
A reference given by a previous landlord, which confirms an applicant’s history of payment of rent and prior conduct as a tenant.
A legal document by which the freehold or leasehold owner of a property lets the premises to another party for a specific time. After which point, it may revert to the freeholder or superior leaseholder.
The formal legal document entered into between a landlord and a tenant that reflects the terms of the negotiations between them. It constitutes the entire agreement between the parties and sets out their basic legal rights.
A type of ownership in which a person owns a property but not the land on which it’s built. The freehold owner will grant a lease on the property for a specified time.
A mortgage on the property.
The party, typically a bank, building society or mortgage company, offering the loan.
The charge passed on to the buyer by the lender for arranging a loan.
A lessee is a person who holds a lease (i.e. The Tenant).
A person who grants the lease (i.e. The Landlord).
A building which is listed as being a special historical or architectural interest, which cannot then be demolished or altered without local government consent.
The proportion of the property value the lender is prepared to loan. This can be up to 100%.
A search made at the local council office by a buyer’s solicitor to check whether or not the property is affected by such matters as any outstanding enforcement or future development issues which might affect the property or the immediate surrounding area.
A long let is a property typically let for six months or more.
The cost of repairing and maintaining external or internal communal parts of a building which are then charged to the tenant or leaseholder.
Technically a maisonette is an apartment on two levels with separate access. Although generally, properties on two levels, with or without separate access, are referred to as maisonettes.
An amount of money advanced by a lender, such as a bank or building society, on the security of a property and repayable over a long period.
This insurance is designed to pay your monthly mortgage for a limited period, usually a year, if you cannot work through illness, disability or redundancy.
A company which advises lenders on the types of loans available and which helps to process any subsequent application.
The legal document that confers ownership or title to a property.
The standard variable interest rate quoted by all mortgage lenders which normally varies in line with the bank of England base rate. All discounted rates are based on this mortgage rate.
The period over which a mortgage loan must be repaid.
This may be a fixed, variable, capped, discount, tracker or another type of mortgage.
The lender of the mortgage, i.e. a bank or building society.
The recipient of the mortgage.
An insurance policy that a mortgage lender may require the purchaser to pay if their loan is above a specified amount of the purchase price.
See joint agency.
A non-profit making, independent body approved by the Department of the Environment, which lays down standards for house builders who are registered with them. The council issues ten-year certificates, which allow for remedying any serious defects developing during that time on new-build properties. It is unlikely that a mortgage lender will grant a mortgage on a new property without an NHBC guarantee or an architect’s certificate.
The National Approved Letting Scheme (NALS) is an accreditation scheme for lettings and management agents. It offers landlords and tenants peace of mind that they are dealing with a firm that agrees to meet defined customer service standards.
Occurs when the value of a property falls to less than the outstanding mortgage so that despite having sold the property, the owner will have a continuing debt.
A sum of money that the buyer or tenant offers to pay for a property.
A formal document approving the mortgage you requested and detailing the applicable terms and conditions.
An official document from the land registry confirming up-to-date ownership of the property.
The price a property should achieve when there is a willing buyer and a willing seller.
This is planning consent subject to certain reserved matters, such as design, appearance and siting of proposed buildings.
A wall which separates the properties of two adjoining owners, each of whom has certain rights over the wall.
An option on flexible mortgages that allow you to stop making mortgage payments for up to six months.
A specified charge that the lender levies under certain circumstances, usually for full or part repayment within a specific period linked to a discount, tracker, fixed or another product type.
A nominal periodic rent usually paid annually.
A nominal rent where the landlord does not receive an annual payment in cash. When the owner of land or property wishes to grant a lease, he must charge rent as an acknowledgement of the existence of the lease. Where the owner does not want to charge any rent but simply wishes to establish the lease exists, he can ask for a peppercorn each year as a token payment. In practice, this is not generally handed over.
A property kept for temporary, secondary, or occasional occupation.
A test carried out by a registered engineer to ensure that all electrical installations and appliances within a property are safe in conjunction with the Electrical Equipment (Safety) Regulations 1994. Keatons are able to arrange this on your behalf.
A document granting power to some person to act in the name of another. Usually left with a solicitor to enable a purchase to proceed without the vendor or purchaser.
These are enquiries made by the purchaser’s solicitors, requesting information on a property before exchange. At this stage, fixtures and fittings to be left or taken are agreed upon.
The monthly amount payable for an insurance policy.
A lump sum paid upfront as a rental payment for a property. Most normally used by city firms for corporate lets.
The amount of debt outstanding (excluding interest).
A document which is issued by a court to an executor to show that the will of a deceased has been proved and that the executor can distribute the assets.
The management of a property on behalf of the owner.
Insurance which covers: injury to, or death of, anyone on or around a property.
A person who is buying a property.
These are properties that have been designed and built as individual flats, as opposed to flats created by conversion of an existing building, such as a large victorian house.
Refinancing a property by switching a mortgage from one lender to another or taking out a second mortgage to take advantage of any equity gained by a value increase.
When a mortgage is fully repaid.
Opportunity to renew a contract which has or will shortly expire.
A mortgage in which monthly charges are used to repay the interest and reduce the outstanding capital.
When the mortgage lender takes possession of a property due to non-payment of the mortgage.
An obligation restricting the use of land which is binding on subsequent owners, for example, not allowed to keep animals on the premises, or a house builder may put a covenant on a property forbidding extension without his approval.
The holding back of part of the mortgage until repairs or specified works to the property are satisfactorily completed.
The Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors.
Short Message Service. Commonly known as text messages.
A request or enquiry for information about the property held by a local authority or the Land Registry.
A property that is joined to one other house.
See maintenance charge.
Where the freehold on which a limited company owns the property stands, and the shareholders of that limited company are the owners of the property.
A person occupying a property who is legally protected against being removed.
When a seller chooses only one estate agent to sell their property.
A property that is occupied (lived in) only by the mortgage applicant(s) and their direct family.
Legal expert handling all documentation for selling or purchasing a property.
If you buy a property in the UK over a certain price, you must pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). This is charged on all purchases of houses, flats and other land and buildings.
Mortgage lender’s standard rate of interest, which may be increased or decreased periodically by the lender depending on prevailing economic conditions.
This is based on a detailed inspection of the property and reports on the general structural condition.
A flat consisting of one main room or open-plan living area, incorporating cooking and sleeping facilities, usually with a separate bathroom/shower room.
When an offer is made to purchase a property subject to contract. This means that all dealings are subject to the actual exchange of the contract itself. Nothing is binding on either seller or buyer until the contracts are exchanged.
A professional person qualified to estimate the value of land and property.
The temporary occupation of a property by a tenant.
All deposits paid by a tenant for an Assured Shorthold Tenancy must be registered with a recognised deposit protection scheme within 14 days. Where appropriate, Keatons will register the deposit on a landlord’s behalf. Also known as mydeposits.com.
A legal agreement designed to protect the rights of the tenant and landlord, setting out all Terms and Conditions of the rental arrangements.
An individual, group of individuals (up to four) or company that holds or possesses property for a time in return for the payment of rent.
A form of ownership by two or more people in which if one of them dies, their share of the property forms part of their estate and does not automatically pass to the other(s).
This is an arrangement whereby prospective purchasers are invited to submit sealed bids by a previously stated date and time. When the offer is accepted by the seller, the arrangement becomes a legally binding contract.
A collective term which relates to the nature of the owner’s title to a property, i.e. is it freehold or leasehold?
A property that forms part of a connected row of houses.
The Property Ombudsman (TPO) is a free, fair and independent arbitration service that ensures that landlords, tenants, sellers and buyers will receive the highest customer service.
Documents showing the legal ownership of a property, which a vendor’s mortgage lender normally holds.
An insurance policy that a buyer can take out to allow a sale to be complete where there is a potential problem with the documentation in proving legal ownership of some part of the land he is buying.
An investigation carried out by a conveyancer or solicitor into the history of property ownership. The search will check for liens, unpaid claims, restrictions, or other problems that may affect ownership.
A type of mortgage whereby any changes in the rate of interest charged follow exactly (‘track’) another specified interest rate or index. Typically a tracker mortgage will track the Bank of England base rate.
A Land Registry document that transfers the ownership of a property on completion in registered land transactions.
Status of a property indicating that an offer has been made and accepted for a property, subject to contract.
When the existing foundations of a building are inadequate, additional strengthening will be added below the existing foundations.
V
A basic survey of a property to estimate its value for letting purposes.
The price of a property under normal conditions, i.e. when the buyer is not forced to buy, and the seller is not forced to sell.
A basic rate of interest charged on a mortgage. This may change in market conditions – in other words; monthly payments could go up or down.
Refers to the seller or person who sells property or land.
Period of time when the property is empty/unoccupied by the tenant.
Rights of way granted to enable obligations and duties to be fulfilled by the electricity board, telephone company etc., to allow them to maintain pipelines and cables.
Income from a property calculated as a percentage of its value.
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