Arundel - Is a market town and civil parish in the South Downs of West Sussex in the south of England. It lies 49 miles (79 km) south southwest of London, 18 miles (29 km) west of Brighton, and 10 miles (16 km) east of the county town of Chichester. Other nearby towns include Worthing east southeast, Littlehampton to the south and Bognor Regis to the southwest. The River Arun runs through the western side of the town. Arundel was one of the boroughs reformed by the Municipal Reform Act 1835. In 1974 it became part of the Arun district, and now is a civil parish with a town council.

Auction - The property is sold by an auction house, rather than an estate agent. Contracts are exchanged (see Exchange of Contracts below) once the auctioneer brings down the gavel.

Bankruptcy Search – A search made by the conveyancers to ensure a buyer or a borrower has not been or is not about to be declared bankrupt.

Borrower / Mortgagor – The person taking out a loan or mortgage secured against a property they already own (remortgage) or are buying.

Boundaries – The boundaries define the extent of the property and are normally marked out on the ground by fencing or hedging. Boundaries are usually, although not always shown on the deeds plans.

Bridging Loan – A short term loan taken out to “bridge” the gap whilst waiting for the sale of a property or the receipt of a mortgage.

Building Insurance – Insurance taken out by the property owner to insure the property against risks such as fire, subsidence etc. Note - on exchange of contracts the responsibility to insure the property passes to the buyer on exchange of contracts. We have an Independent Financial Adviser who can help find you the most competitive buildings insurance, ask for details

Buyer / Purchaser – This is the person that is buying the Property.

Buy To Let – A buyer buys a property intending to let it out on a commercial basis. Mortgages specifically for this type of purchase known as Buy to Let mortgages.

Caveat Emptor – This is Latin and means 'let the buyer beware'. The buyer is responsible for finding out the condition of the property by survey and any matters affecting the legal title to the property by using a conveyancer to check the title and carry out searches.

Chain – These are the property buyers and sellers that link together to make the chain for your particular sale or purchase. The chain may consist of only two people i.e. you as buyer and the person you are buying from as seller or it may consist of several buyers and sellers. The beginning of the chain usually starts with a first time buyer or a buyer with nothing to sell and the end of the chain usually ends with a seller who is buying a brand new home or who is not buying another property. Your sale or purchase can only proceed at the same pace as every one in the chain.

Chichester – is a cathedral city in West Sussex, South-East England. It has a long history as a settlement; its Roman past and its subsequent importance in Anglo-Saxon times are only its beginnings. It is the seat of a bishopric, with a 12th century cathedral, and is home to some of the oldest churches and buildings in Great Britain. Chichester today is a local government stronghold, with three levels of government being administered there. It is also a transport hub, and the centre for culture in the region, with a Festival theatre and two art galleries. Nearby Chichester Harbour, together with the South Downs and the city walls, provide opportunities for outdoor pursuits.

(1) City of London – is a small area within Greater London, England. It is the historic core of London around which the modern conurbation grew and has held city status since time immemorial. The City’s boundaries have remained almost unchanged since the Middle Ages, and it is now only a tiny part of the metropolis of London. It is often referred to as the City or the Square Mile, as it is just over one square mile in area. These terms are also often used as metonymies for the United Kingdom's financial services industry, which has historically been based here. In the medieval period, the City was the full extent of London. The term London now refers to a much larger conurbation roughly corresponding to Greater London, a local government area which includes 32 London boroughs as well as the City of London, which is not one of the 32 London boroughs. The local authority for the City, the City of London Corporation, is unique in the United Kingdom, and has some unusual responsibilities for a local authority in Britain, such as being the police authority for the City. It also has responsibilities and ownerships beyond the Citys boundaries. The Corporation is headed by the Lord Mayor of the City of London, a separate (and much older) office to the Mayor of London. The City is today a major business and financial centre, ranking on a par with New York City as the leading centre of global finance;in the 19th century, the City served as the world's primary business centre The City has a resident population of around 8,000, but around 340,000 people work here, mainly in the financial services sector. This influx makes the area's transport system extremely busy during peak times.

(2) City of Westminster – Is a borough of London with city status. It is located west of the City of London and north of the River Thames, and forms part of Inner London and the bulk of London's central area. The city contains most of London's West End and is the seat of the United Kingdom's government, with the Palace of Westminster, Buckingham Palace, Whitehall, and the Royal Courts of Justice. In 1965 the London borough was created from the former area of the Metropolitan Borough of St Marylebone, the Metropolitan Borough of Paddington and the smaller City of Westminster. It covers a far greater area than the original settlement of Westminster.

Client – The person who has asked the Property Finder Ltd to act for them.

Client Care Letter – The letter is sent by the solicitor at the start of the transaction. It must give details of what work will be carried out; who will be doing it, at the cost. Further, it must show the complaints procedure. The client is usually signs and return one copy before the solicitor can start work for a client.

Completion Date – This is the date when the purchase becomes final and the outstanding balance of the purchase price is paid ’s it must be received by the sellers before the keys to the property are handed over. The seller must move out of the property on this date.

Completion Statement – This is the final account for the solicitors fees, searches etc. This is usually sent between exchange and completion.

Conditions of Sale – The conditions of the sale are detailed in the Contract that the seller’s conveyancer prepares and sends to the buyer’s conveyancer. There are standard Law Society conditions to which the conveyancer adds any Special Conditions.

Contract – The legal document that confirms the sale/purchase of the property. The the seller’s conveyancer prepares this in draft and sends it to the buyer’s conveyancer. Queries and answers can go back and forth for some time but once all the questions are answered it is then approved and the seller and the buyer each sign their own copy, ready for 'exchange of contracts'.

Conveyancer/ Conveyancing – Conveyancing is the legal work pertaining to the transfer of ownership of a property from one person to another. Conveyancer is the job description of the person doing that work.

Conveyance – This is the old fashioned name for the document that transfers a property from one person to another. Conveyances are rarely used nowadays and property is usually transferred by a Transfer document.

Covenants/Restrictive Covenants – If a property has these they can be obligations and or restrictions. For example an obligation to maintain a boundary by a fence, this is a positive covenant. Alternatively, there may be a restriction on building on the land which is a restrictive covenant.

Crawley - Is a town and local government district with Borough status in West Sussex, England. It is 28 miles (45 km) south of London, 18 miles (29 km) north of Brighton and Hove, and 32 miles (51 km) northeast of the county town of Chichester, covers an area of 17.36 square miles (44.96 km2) and had a population of 99,744 at the time of the 2001 Census. The area has been inhabited since the Stone Age,[1] and was a centre of iron-making in Roman times. Crawley developed slowly as a market town from the 13th century, serving the surrounding villages in the Weald; its location on the main road from London to Brighton brought a passing trade, encouraging the development of coaching inns. It was connected to the railway network in the 1840s. Gatwick Airport, now one of Britain's busiest international airports, opened on the edge of the town in the 1940s, encouraging commercial and industrial growth. After the Second World War, the British Government planned to move large numbers of people and jobs out of London and into new towns around South East England. The New Towns Act 1946 designated Crawley as the site of one of these.[2] A master plan was developed for the establishment of new residential, commercial, industrial and civic areas, and rapid development greatly increased the size and population of the town in a few decades. The town comprises 13 residential neighbourhoods based around the core of the old market town, and separated by main roads and railway lines. The nearby communities of Ifield, Pound Hill and Three Bridges were absorbed into the new town at different stages of its development. As of 2008, expansion is planned in the west and northwest of the town, in co-operation with Horsham District Council.[3] Economically, the town has developed into the main centre of industry and employment between London and the south coast of England. A large industrial area supports industries and services, many of which are connected with the airport, and the commercial and retail sectors continue to expand.

Deeds/Title Deeds – These are the legal documents which contain the main and key information about the Property.

Defective Title – This means there is a problem with the deeds relating to the property. They may be destroyed, lost or simply inadequate. A buyer will not usually buy a property with a defective title. However, a seller could provide the buyer with an insurance policy to protect him and his lender against any financial loss which could result from the defective title.

Deposit – There are two types of deposit that a purchaser may be asked to produce. A deposit is paid to the conveyancer on 'exchange' of contracts. This is usually 10% of the purchase price but can be less by agreement with the seller. Deposits as a gesture of 'Goodwill' to secure a property, payable to Estate Agents are rare these days, unless to buy a new property, and should be questioned. .

Disbursements – These usually comprise VAT, Stamp Duty, Land Registry Fees and searches. They are amounts the solicitor has paid on your behalf

Easement – This is a right given to the Property Owner over adjoining property or land. For example a right of way or access, a right of drainage or to a water supply. There are two types of easement, latent and Patent. The Seller must disclose all Latent Easements but not Patent Easements. Latent Easements are those that could not be discovered by search or survey i.e. not easily found out. Patent Easements are easements that could be discovered by search or survey.

Eastbourne – is a large town and borough of East Sussex, on the south coast of England, with an estimated population of 106,652 as of 2009.[1] The area has seen human activity since the stone age and it remained one of small settlements until the 19th century when its four hamlets gradually merged to form a town. Assisted by the arrival of the railway, Eastbourne became a prime Victorian seaside resort and still is today. Eastbourne is situated at the eastern end of the South Downs alongside the famous Beachy Head cliff. The sheltered position of the main town behind the cliff contributes to Eastbourne's title of sunniest place in Great Britain.[2] Although Eastbourne has some industrial trading estates, it is essentially a seaside resort and derives its main income from tourism. Its facilities include four theatres, numerous parks, a bandstand and museums. The focus of the tourism trade is the four miles (6 km) of shingle beach, lined with a seafront of hotels and guest houses.

East Sussex – East Sussex is part of the ancient kingdom of the South Saxons, who established themselves there in the fifth century AD, after the departure of the Romans, although the area had been populated for many thousands of years before then. Archaeological remains are plentiful, especially in the upland areas. The area's position on the coast has also meant that there were many invaders, including the Romans and later the Normans. Earlier industries have included fishing, iron-making, and the wool trade, all of which have declined, or lost completely.

Equity – This is the amount of money left in a property once the mortgage is repaid.

Estate Agents – The Estate Agent acts on behalf of the seller to sell the property and is duty bound to get the highest price possible for the seller. They will prepare a set of details to certain standards and negotiate the sale between the buyer and seller. Once a sale price is agreed with the property finder, they prepare a Memorandum of Sale with details of the buyer, the seller, their conveyancers, the price and any specific terms agreed. This is sent to all parties concerned.

Exchange of Contracts – The buyer’s conveyancer and the seller’s conveyancer “Exchange Contracts” on the telephone. If there is a chain the solicitors for all parties in the whole chain “exchanges contracts” at the same time using the Law Societies formula. At this point the deposit is also paid to the sellers solicitor and once contracts are exchanged the sale/purchase is legally binding. Note the buyer is usually responsible for insuring the property at this point.

Financial Advisor – The Financial Advisor is usually responsible for arranging the mortgage or finance to purchase the property and will often arrange any life insurance, mortgage protection insurance etc. To get the best advice you should ensure your advisor is an Independent Financial Advisor as available at The Property Finder Ltd.

Fixtures and Fittings List – This is a list of items that will remain/be taken from the Property. This is completed by the Seller and a copy sent to the purchaser to ensure it complies with their expectations. It is also a good opportunity to negotiate for any furniture etc that you may want left in the property. An agreed copy is attached to each part of the Contract and is legally binding.

Freehold – This is the legal term for the way that an owner holds the property, alternatives are Leasehold and Commonhold. With freehold land / property the owner owns the property/land outright subject only to any mortgages, charges, covenants and easements etc. shown by the deeds.

Gazumping – This is where the seller agrees and begins the process of selling their property to one party. Then at a later date, before exchange, sells to another buyer for a higher price. Technically the higher price has to be above the initial asking price for the property, although the effects are the same - the original buyer either matches the new buyers offer or withdraws.

Gazundering – This is where the buyer lowers his offer on the property after agreeing a price. Note it is not considered gazundering if something comes to light, maybe as a result of the survey, which the buyer was not previously aware of and the buyer renegotiates the purchase price accordingly. This can occur at any time before exchange of contracts.

Greater London – is the top-level administrative subdivision covering London, England.[2] The administrative area was officially created in 1965 and covers the City of London, including Middle Temple and Inner Temple, and thirty two London boroughs.[2] Its area also forms the London region of England and the London European Parliament constituency. The region has by far the highest GDP per capita in the United Kingdom. It covers 1579 km² (609 square miles) and had a 2006 mid-year estimated population of 7,512,400.[1] It is bounded by the Home Counties of Essex and Hertfordshire in the East of England region and Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Surrey and Kent in South East England. The highest point in Greater London is Westerham Heights, in the North Downs and on the boundary with Kent, at 245 metres (804 ft). The term Greater London was in use before 1965 to refer to a variously defined area, larger than the County of London and often similar to the Metropolitan Police District.[3] .

Ground Rent – This is the rent paid to the landowner usually on a Leasehold property where there is a long lease. Ground Rents are payable on some freeholds.

(4) Hammersmith and Fulham – The borough was formed in 1965 by merging the Metropolitan Borough of Hammersmith and the Metropolitan Borough of Fulham. It was known as the 'London Borough of Hammersmith' until its name was changed on 1 January 1979 by the borough council. In 1908, the Franco-British Exhibition and Olympic Games were hosted in the borough, at White City, but the site then took many decades to be redeveloped. In 1960, the BBC opened the BBC Television Centre, and in 2008, Westfield London, a large development with new transport links and a shopping centre, finally completed the redevelopment after one hundred years.

(8) Hackney – Between 1999 and 2001 serious concerns were expressed about Hackney's performance as a council by the Audit Commission, and many aspects of council services were failing.[2] This led to considerable negative press coverage that still colours perceptions of the area, but is at odds with the changing realities of the borough. In 2005, MORI identified that residents were significantly more satisfied than they had been in 2002, and in 2007 the Audit Commission showed that improvements continue to be made in council performance, with the council now achieving 'three stars', and described as 'improving strongly'.[3] While every ward remains among the 10% most deprived in the country, with 47% of children living in low income households, the ethnic diversity of the area creates a vibrant inner city area of London.[2] Hackney has a reputation as one of the most crime-affected London boroughs, but cooperation between local police and council has resulted in the borough experiencing a bigger drop in crime than in any other London borough in the four year period up to 2007 (28% reduction).[4] The south western tip of the borough is adjacent to the City and close to the Broadgate development. In this area some office development has taken place within the borough boundary. Also in the south west is Hoxton and Shoreditch which are central to the London arts scene and home to numerous clubs, bars, shops and restaurants, much of which is centred on Hoxton Square. The development of Shoreditch and Hoxton caused land value to increase in the area such that developers looked to other parts of the borough for development. Much of Hackney is inner-city in character and in places like Dalston large housing estates now sit side-by-side with gated communities. The historical and administrative heart of Hackney is the area roughly extending north from Mare Street and surrounding the Church of St John-at-Hackney; known as Hackney Central. Hackney Town Hall Square has been developed as a new 'creative quarter'. Surrounding the public square itself is the now bankrupt Ocean music venue, a new Library, Technology and Learning Centre, Hackney Museum and the refurbished Hackney Empire. A new town hall complex is being built behind the existing building. South Hackney abuts Victoria Park (which is in neighbouring Tower Hamlets) and terraced Victorian and Edwardian housing stock has survived in the area. To the north of the borough are Upper and Lower Clapton, Stamford Hill and Stoke Newington. To the east is the large open space of the Hackney Marshes and the districts of Hackney Wick and Homerton. Light Industries employing over 3000 people have been claimed from this area to allow the land around the River Lea (the eastern boundary) to be used for the 2012 Summer Olympics, making the area one of the Host Boroughs for the games. There are 1,300 listed buildings in Hackney, including the iconic grade II* Hackney Empire, Tudor Sutton House, and the grade I medieval St Augustine's tower. The Borough contains 25 conservation areas including Clapton Square, and many urban open-spaces including Clapton Common and Clissold Park. Conservation areas also protect large areas of Georgian and Victorian housing, and areas of industrial heritage

Hampshire – is a county on the south coast of England. The county borders (clockwise from West), Dorset, Wiltshire, Berkshire, Surrey and West Sussex. The county has an area of 1,455 square miles (3,769 km²) and at its widest points is approximately 55 miles (90 km) east–west and 40 miles (65 km) north–south. The 2001 census gave the population of the administrative county as 1.24 million; the ceremonial county also includes the cities of Portsmouth and Southampton, which are administratively independent, and has a total population of 1.6 million. Christchurch and Bournemouth, within the historic borders of the county, were made part of the non-metropolitan county of Dorset in 1974. Hampshire is a popular holiday area, with tourist attractions including its many seaside resorts, the maritime area in Portsmouth, and the motor museum at Beaulieu. The New Forest National Park lies within the borders, as does a large area of the South Downs, which has now become a National Park. Hampshire has a long maritime history and two of England's largest ports, Portsmouth and Southampton, lie on its coast. The county is famed as home of writers Jane Austen and Charles Dickens and the birthplace of engineer Isambard Kingdom Brunel. Hampshire is blessed with some of the most beautiful countryside and accessible coastline, offering a wide variety of sporting facilities and leisure activities. Whether you stay in a Country Pub, a Bed and Breakfast or a fine Town Hotel, the welcome is always warm, and you are never far away from something to do, rain or shine. Hampshire is a great place to take a short break, fantastic food and wine, great walks with Pubs at the end, Heritage in abundance and Theatres offering a wide range of entertainment

Haywards Heath – Is a town in the Mid Sussex District of West Sussex, England. It lies 36 miles (58 km) south of London, 12 miles (19 km) north of Brighton, 15 miles (24 km) south of Gatwick Airport and 31 miles (50 km) east northeast of the county town of Chichester. Nearby towns include Burgess Hill to the southwest, Horsham to the northwest, Crawley north northwest and East Grinstead north northeast. Being a commuter town, many of the residents commute daily via rail to London, Crawley or Gatwick for work.

Indemnity Insurance – All Solicitors and all Licensed Conveyancer firms must take out insurance to the value of £1,000,000 or more to cover defective work or fraud by that firm.

Inland Revenue – A government department that collects tax on behalf of the government. The Inland Revenue insists by law that every purchaser of property must complete a Stamp Duty Land Transaction Form and there are penalties for not doing so.

Instructions – This means authorisation by the client to the conveyancer.

Joint Tenants – Where two or more persons buy a property they are called joint tenants or tenants in common whether the property is freehold, commonhold or leasehold. Where property is held as a joint tenancy if one owner dies the property passes to the other owner automatically without a Will. If the property is held as Tenants in Common each buyer owns their own share of the property which can only be passed on by sale or by a Will.

(3) Kensington and Chelsea – is a London borough in the west side of central London. It is an urban area and was named in the 2001 census as the most densely populated local authority in the United Kingdom, with a population of 158,919 at 13,244 per square kilometre (the land area is approximately 12 square kilometres). The borough is immediately to the west of the City of Westminster, which is at the heart of modern London, and itself contains a substantial number of city centre facilities such as major museums and universities (in "Albertopolis"), department stores like Harrods, and embassies. It also contains many of the most exclusive residential districts in London, which are also some of the most expensive in the world.

Kent – originally Cantia, is a county in southeast England, and is one of the home counties. It borders East Sussex, Surrey and Greater London and has a defined boundary with Essex in the middle of the River Thames estuary. The ceremonial county boundaries of Kent include the shire county of Kent and the unitary borough of Medway. Kent has a nominal border with France halfway through the Channel Tunnel. Maidstone is its county town and historically Rochester and Canterbury have been accorded city status, though only the latter still holds it. Kent's location between London and the continent has led to its being in the front line of several conflicts, including the Battle of Britain during World War II. East Kent was named Hell Fire Corner during the conflict. England has relied on the county's ports to provide warships through much of the past 800 years; the Cinque Ports in the 12th–14th centuries and Chatham Dockyard in the 16th–20th centuries were of particular importance to the country's security. France can be seen clearly in fine weather from Folkestone, and the iconic White Cliffs of Dover. Because of its abundance of orchards and hop gardens, Kent is widely known as "The Garden of England" – a name often applied when marketing the county or its produce, although other regions have tried to lay claim to the title.[1][2] Major industries in the north-west of Kent have included cement, papermaking, and aircraft construction, but these are now in decline. Large parts of Kent are within the London commuter belt. South and East Kent rely on tourism and agriculture. Coal mining has also played its part in Kent's industrial heritage.

Land Registry – This is a government department that holds the records of all property in the UK.

Landlord – Rent on a leasehold property is paid to the Landlord who has the right to enforce the terms in the Lease.

Lease – A lengthy document detailing matters affecting a leasehold property. Typically these include the length of the lease, rent, service charges, rights of way, water, drainage and access and it will usually incorporate a plan.

Leasehold – This is where the owner does not own the property or land outright, however it is a normal arrangement for flats and apartments. There is a lease, which for a term of years grants the owner the right to occupy the property/land. There may be a rent or a ground rent to pay to the Landlord.

Lender / Mortgagee – The Bank or Building Society who lend money enabling a buyer to purchase a property.

Licensed Conveyancer – A property lawyer holding a license granted by the CLC.

Listed Buildings – These are protected by the Local Authority, usually because they are of special interest. Properties that are listed are subject to greater planning restrictions.

London – Postcodes

London – Boroughs

(6) Lambeth – is a place in the London Borough of Lambeth, although the area is now more commonly known as Waterloo, after the railway station whose viaduct separates the former centre of the village from the River Thames. Lambeth is the site of St Thomas' Hospital, the London Eye, the Royal National Theatre, the Royal Festival Hall, County Hall as well as Waterloo station.

London & the South East (UK) - – The Property Finder team cover the following area:

Management Company – If the property is leasehold there is often a management company set up to deal with the day to day issues such as repairs and renewals. They collect a service charge from the property owners to pay for any joint services and maintenance for the upkeep of the building.

Mortgage – A loan that is secured on a property.

Mortgage Deed – A document signed by the borrower agreeing to the terms set out in the Mortgage Offer. The Land Registry register the mortgage as a financial charge on the property which is shown in the charges register.

Mortgage Offer – A written offer to lend money on a property, containing all the terms of the Loan and the conditions on which the money is loaned.

Mortgage Valuation Fee – This fee is paid by the borrower to the lender which enables them to take a commercial view on whether the property is worth what the borrower says it is and whether it is suitable security for the Mortgage. It is recommended in most cases that a proper survey is conducted for the buyers purposes as a Mortgage Valuer will not necessarily inspect the physical condition of the property.

New Build – A property that is being purchased for the first time from a Builder or Developer.

Off Plan – A new property being bought at the planning stage i.e. it is not yet built

Overriding Interests – Not all matters affecting a property are registered or are capable of being registered at the Land Registry.

Oxfordshire – is a county in the South East England region, bordering on Northamptonshire, Buckinghamshire, Berkshire, Wiltshire, Gloucestershire, and Warwickshire. It is divided into five local government districts: Oxford, Cherwell, Vale of White Horse (after the Uffington White Horse), West Oxfordshire and South Oxfordshire. The county has a major tourism industry. The area is noted for the concentration of performance motorsport companies and facilities. Oxford University Press has headed a concentration of print and publishing firms; the university is also linked to the concentration of local biotechnology companies. The main centre of population is the city of Oxford. Other significant settlements are Banbury, Bicester, Kidlington, and Chipping Norton to the north of Oxford; Witney to the west; Thame and Chinnor to the east; and Abingdon, Wantage, Didcot, Wallingford and Henley-on-Thames to the south. Future population growth in the county is hoped to be concentrated around Oxford, Banbury, Bicester, Didcot and Witney, near the South Midlands growth area. The highest point of the county is White Horse Hill, in the Vale of White Horse, reaching 261 metres (856 ft) [1]. Oxfordshire's county flower is the Snake's-head Fritillary.

Preliminary or Pre Contract Enquiries – This is a set of questions that is sent to the seller’s conveyancer by the buyer’s conveyancer relating to the property. Typically these questions will consist of enquiries relating to boundaries, easements, persons living at the property etc. They can often go backwards and forwards for some time.

Property – The generic term for all types of accommodation.

Property Finders / Home Search Agent / Home Finders / Buyers Agent / relocation consultant / Buyers Agents / Property Buyers Agent – Property finders exist to represent the interests of the buyer or tenant - in direct contrast to an Estate Agent who works for the seller or vendor. The service is becoming more common in the UK, in the United States the situation is referred to as buyer brokerage, and in Australia it is known as Buyer Advocacy. Property Finders specialise in sourcing and negotiating the purchase of property on behalf of the buyer. In essence, the Property Finder will develop an in-depth understanding of his client's requirements, desires and property goals, and then attempt to find a property which matches all of these requirements for his client to acquire. The service offered by premier property finders, such as The Property Finder Ltd, can also extend to negotiating with the estate agent to get the lowest possible price, progressing the buying process, organising removals and even collecting your keys on the day of completion (see above) .

Property Information Form – This standard form is completed by the seller giving details on the property. It is legally binding on the seller.

Property Search Agent– See property finders above.

Redeeming Your Mortgage – When a property owner pays back the mortgage. A redemption statement is issues showing how much is outstanding and you may be charged a Redemption Fee.

Searches – There are many different types of Conveyancing search. Which searches are needed for your property will be assessed by your conveyancers. A brief list follows:-

Bankruptcy Search
Brine Search


Coal Mining Search – If the property is in a Coal Mining Area the conveyancer will check to see if there are any issues which may affect the property.

Company Search


Drainage/Water Search – To check whether the property is connected to mains water and drainage and whether there are any other drainage/water issues affecting the property.

Environmental Search – To check whether there are environmental issues affecting a property, such as flooding, coal mining and land fill.

Index Map Search


Local Search – This is made on behalf of the buyer or in the case of a re mortgage on behalf of the Lender. The search covers Local Authority issues relating to the property.

Local Search Indemnity Insurance – This insurance is used on re-mortgages where there is no need to carry out a full local authority search and protects the Lender from financial loss. It can be used for a purchase where there is not sufficient time to make a full Local Search, but it must be permitted by the lender.

Land Registry Search/Fees – To check matters affecting the property and to get up to date copies of the entries that relate to the property. On completion the conveyancer will send the deeds to the Land Registry who will register the new owner and any new lender, for a fee.

Tin Mining Search
Water Authority/Drainage Search

Seller – This is the person selling the property, also known as the Vendor

Shared Ownership Property – This is where a property has been bought together with the Council or a Housing Association.

(6) Southwark – is the area of London immediately south of London Bridge. It will have the United Kingdom's tallest building in 2012, Shard London Bridge. It has been called The Borough (pronounced /?b?r?/) since the 1550s, to contrast it with the neighbouring City, in later years to distinguish it from the larger Metropolitan Borough of Southwark and now to distinguish it from the much larger London Borough of Southwark. The core area of the Borough is virtually coterminous with the Guildable Manor. The Cathedral precinct and the Borough Market are often misleadingly described as being in Bankside and the Tooley Street area up to the St Saviour's Dockhead is also mistakenly described as part of Bermondsey, whereas they have always been part of Borough.

Stamp Duty – A tax you pay when you buy property, also known as 'Stamp Duty Land Tax' (SDLT);
up to £175,000 = 0% (until 31 December 2009 inclusive)
£175,001 - £250,000 = 1%
£250,001 - £500,000 = 3%
£500,001 or more = 4%

Subject to Contract – Before exchange of contracts (see above) all negotiations relating to the property are subject to contract, this means they are not binding unless contracts are exchanged

Surveyor – A person responsible for surveying the property, usually be a member of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors RICS.

Survey – A physical inspection of the property carried out by the surveyor. There are different types of survey and you should take advise on the best type of survey for your circumstances. A survey checks the physical condition of the property and advises the buyer upon the value of the property, unlike a mortgage valuation.

Surrey – Surrey (pronounced /?s?ri/) is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire, and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford.[1] Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of Greater London since 1965. Surrey is divided into 11 boroughs and districts: Elmbridge, Epsom and Ewell, Guildford, Mole Valley, Reigate and Banstead, Runnymede, Spelthorne, Surrey Heath, Tandridge, Waverley, Woking. After the elections of 1 May 2008, the Conservatives are in control of 10 out of 11 councils in Surrey, with Epsom and Ewell in Residents Association control. The Conservatives hold all 11 Parliamentary constituencies within the county borders.

Sussex – from the Old English 'South Saxons', is a historic county in South East England corresponding roughly in area to the ancient Kingdom of Sussex. It is bounded on the north by Surrey, east by Kent, south by the English Channel, and west by Hampshire, and is divided for local government into West Sussex and East Sussex and the City of Brighton and Hove. The city of Brighton & Hove was created a unitary authority in 1997; and was granted City status in 2000. Until then Chichester had been Sussex's only city. The divisions of West Sussex and East Sussex were first established in 1189, and had obtained separate administrations (Quarter Sessions) by the 16th century. This situation was recognised by the County of Sussex Act 1865. Under the Local Government Act 1888 the two divisions became two administrative counties (along with three county boroughs: Brighton, Hastings and, from 1911, Eastbourne).[2] The appellation Sussex remained in use as a ceremonial county until 1974, when the Lord-Lieutenant of Sussex was replaced with one each for East and West Sussex. The whole of Sussex has had a single police force since 1968. Sussex still retains a strong local identity, but most people say West Sussex and East Sussex today and even use them in lists of traditional counties sometimes.

Telegraphic Transfer Fee – This is a bank charge for sending money from bank to bank, however it is significantly quicker and safer than paying by cheque or cash.

Tenants in Common – See Joint Tenants above.

(8) Tower Hamlets – is a London borough to the east of the City of London, England and north of the River Thames in East London, taking in much of the East End. It includes much of the redeveloped Docklands region of London, including West India Docks and Canary Wharf. Many of the tallest buildings in London are located on the Isle of Dogs in the south of the borough. Tower Hamlets is one of five London boroughs which have been designated host boroughs for the 2012 Summer Olympics. The borough has one of the highest ethnic minority populations in the capital, consisting mainly of Bangladeshis.

Transfer Deed – This document transfers the ownership of the property and is legally binding.

Tunbridge Wells – Royal Tunbridge Wells (usually shortened to Tunbridge Wells) is a town in west Kent, England, about 31 miles (50 km) southeast of central London, bordering the county of East Sussex. It is situated at the northern edge of the High Weald, the sandstone geology of which is exemplified by the rock formations at the Wellington Rocks and High Rocks. The town came into being as a spa in Georgian times and had its heyday as a tourist resort under Richard (Beau) Nash when the Pantiles and its chalybeate spring attracted visitors who wished to take the waters. Though its popularity waned with the advent of sea bathing, the town remains popular and derives some 30% of its income from the tourist industry.[1] The town has a population of around 56,500[2] and is the administrative centre of Tunbridge Wells Borough and the UK parliamentary constituency of Tunbridge Wells. In the United Kingdom Tunbridge Wells has a reputation as being the archetypal "Middle England" town, a stereotype that is typified by the fictional letter-writer "Disgusted of Tunbridge Wells".[3] .

Valuation – See Mortgage valuation and Survey above.

VAT – Value Added Tax is a government tax charged on most transactions and services.

Vendor –A vendor sells a property for a price, to the buyer, thereby transferring his rights on the property. Though it holds for all sales, the term was commonly used to represent sellers of property.

(5) Wandsworth – is an inner suburb of London on the south bank of the River Thames in south-west London. Wandsworth takes its name from the River Wandle, which enters the Thames at Wandsworth. The area is identified in the London Plan as one of 35 major centres in Greater London.[1] Wandsworth appears in Domesday Book of 1086 as Wandesorde and Wendelesorde. This means 'enclosure of a man named Waendel', whose name is also lent to the River Wandle.[2] It was held partly by William, son of Ansculf and partly by St Wandrille's Abbey. Its domesday assets were 12 hides, with 5½ ploughs and 22 acres of meadow. It rendered £9.

West Sussex – Is a county in the south of England, bordering onto East Sussex (with Brighton and Hove), Hampshire and Surrey. The county of Sussex has been divided into East and West since the 12th century, and obtained separate county councils in 1888, but it remained a single ceremonial county until 1974 and the coming into force of the Local Government Act 1972. Also at this time the Mid Sussex region (including Haywards Heath, Burgess Hill and East Grinstead) was transferred from East Sussex. West Sussex is a diverse county; it is well known for its stately homes and castles such as Arundel Castle and Bramber Castle. Over half the county is protected countryside, offering popular walking and cycling ground for visitors and residents alike [1]. Chichester is the county town of West Sussex, and the highest point of the county is Black Down, at 280m/919 ft .

A GUIDE TO THE LEGAL PROCESS OF BUYING A PROPERTY