Legal Jargon

Where an owner chooses to register unregistered land. There is no compulsory requirement to register unregistered land at the Land Registry unless a “trigger event” such as a sale, mortgage or other transaction occurs. There can be benefits of having your land registered, such as a state-backed guarantee, protection against fire and lost Title Deeds. The Land Registry offers a reduced fee for voluntary registrations.

A search of the local water authority to confirm whether the property connects to the public sewer and water main and the route of these to ensure that there are proper arrangements to deal with any private sections.

A written agreement between an owner and a service provider such as an electricity or telephone company to give the company a right for cables or pipes to pass over or under the property.

The owner’s documented right of ownership of a property (whether or not they actually live there).

A dealing with property such as a sale, purchase or remortgage.

A Transfer is a legally binding document that transfers the ownership of the property as per terms set out therein. The transfer is registered at the Land Registry allowing them to effect the transfer of the title.

Although strictly speaking this term relates to the transfer of the beneficial interest in the property, it is often used to describe the situation where someone is added to or removed from the title to a residential property and at least one original owner remains. If there is a mortgage on the property, the consent of the mortgage company will usually be required unless a new mortgage is taken out at the same time.

An order made by the planning authority identifying a tree or group of trees as protected and requiring the authority’s permission before any branches may be removed or the trees felled.

A title to a property that has not been registered at the Land Registry. The title will consist of a lot of documents including old style conveyances and other documents.

When buying or selling a property, vacant possession means that the property is empty on the day of completion, and the sellers or tenants have moved out and taken their belongings or equipment with them.