What are we talking about: a plain English guide to solicitor-speak
Residential Conveyancing
A list of terms we may use when you instruct us with regard to buying a property, selling a property, or remortgaging a property.
Abstract of title
A document summarising the title deeds to a property.
Abuttals
The parts of the boundaries of a piece of land which touch land alongside
Adverse possession
Occupying of land without legal title for long enough to be recognised as the legal owner (“squatter’s rights”).
All that
Words used in a conveyance to introduce the description of the property which is being transferred.
Ancient lights
The right not to have the light you receive from a neighbour’s land blocked.
Assign
Transfer
Completion
Transferring property in exchange for payment.
Conditional sale agreement
An agreement by which the seller remains the owner of the goods until all the instalments have been paid and all other conditions have been met.
Curtilage
Land around a dwelling house used by the occupants for their enjoyment or work.
Convey
Transfer.
Conveyance
The name of the document which transfers the ownership of land.
Conveyancing
Carrying out all the actions needed to transfer the ownership of a piece of land.
Easement
A right to use someone else’s land such as a right of way.
Escrow
A deed which has been supplied but cannot become effective until a future date or until a particular event happens.
Fixed fee conveyancing
The fee for the solicitor’s services is fixed in advance. Disbursements are usually charged as extra.
Foreclosure
Repossessing property.
Fraudulent conveyance
Ownership of land being transferred with the intention of defrauding someone.
Free of encumbrances
No one else has any rights over property.
Freehold
Describing land that only the owner has any rights over.
Freeholder
Person who owns freehold property rights.
Lease
A contract between the owner of a property and a tenant, giving the tenant sole use of the property for an agreed time.
Leasehold
Property held by a tenant with a lease.
Lessee
The person a property has been leased to.
Lessor
The person who lets a property by lease.
Moratorium
An agreement not to take action for an agreed period of time.
Mortgage
Using property as security for a debt.
Mortgagee
The lender of the money which is secured by a mortgage.
Mortgagor
The person who borrows the money to buy a property.
Notice
A warning of something which is about to happen.
Notice to quit
A notice to end a tenancy on a stated date.
Pre-emption
The right to buy property before others are given the chance to buy.
Quiet possession
Using property without interference.
Registered land
Title of land recorded in the Land Registry
Repossession or repossess
A mortgagee recovering vacant possession of the property mortgaged
Right of way
A legal right obliging the owner of land to allow authorised people to cross it.
Riparian rights
Rights of owners of land on a river bank.
Security of tenure
Protection from a landlord attempting to obtain possession of the property the tenant is renting.
Tenancy in common
Tenants-in-common share property rights, but may hold different parts of a piece of land or unequal shares.
Tenant
Person to whom a landlord grants temporary and exclusive use of land or a building, usually in exchange for rent.
Tenement
Property held by a tenant that could be subject to rights in his favour.
Tenure
How a piece of land is held by the owner.
Terra
Land.
Title
The right to own something.
Title deeds
The documents which prove who owns a property and under what terms.
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