3. The Contract Flashcards
What is the purpose of a contract?
Provides certainty and prevents withdrawal without liability.
What are the formalities of a contract?
In writing, contains all express terms, signed by parties.
What are the Standard Conditions of Sale (SCS) used for?
Residential and simple commercial transactions.
What are the Standard Commercial Property Conditions (SCPC) used for?
High value commercial properties with detailed provisions for leases.
What are the three parts of both SCS and SCPC?
Particulars of Sale, Standard conditions, and Special conditions.
What are Title Guarantees?
Full Title, Limited, and No Title.
With full and limited seller is impliedly convenating that:
Right to dispose land
Seller will do all the can reasonably to transfer land
In case of leasehold land, lease is subsisting at time of disposal and there is no breach of covenant making lease liable in future for forefeiture
No title suitable for person appointed after owner insolvency
What are Specific Incumbrances?
Third party rights that run with the land.
Why is it necessary to specify incumbrances in the contract?
To identify all burdens on the property.
Breach
Seller not meeting contract terms
Non-disclosure
Failure to disclose property burdens
Searches
Investigation for hidden property burdens
Excluded
Checking if mortgage is discharged after completion
Title Guarantee
Seller’s assurance of property ownership
Both SC and SCPC have full title guarantee has standard and ull need soecial condition to change
Full Title Guarantee
Seller owns entire legal and equitable title
Impliedly covenants that land is disposed free from any encumbrances other than those seller dk about and could not reasonably know about.
Exclude incumbrance known to buyer or those available on register of title
Limited Title Guarantee
Seller has limited knowledge of property
Impliedly covenants
Seller hasnt incumbered the land and isnt aware of anyone else has done since last disposition for value
Suitable for trustee bd executor
Effect of Title Guarantee
Seller’s implied covenants in property transfer
Different Guarantees
Varying title guarantees between parties
Contract Rate
Interest charged for late completion
Law society rate from time to time is 4% above lending rate of barclays
What is a relevant base rate?
High enough to incentivize completion on time.
What is a deposit?
Prepayment of purchase price made by buyer to seller.
What is the purpose of a deposit?
Evidence of commitment and can be forfeited if buyer fails to complete.
What is the stakeholder rule?
Deposit is payable to seller’s solicitor and cannot be handed over until completion.
For residential aw simple commercial u can use deposit for other transactions
If its complex transaction SCPC u cannot as stakeholder do that
What is an agent?
Buyer agrees deposit will be held by seller’s solicitor as agent.
Deposit money cam be given to seller after exchange for any purpose.
Useful for commercial property
What are the payment methods for SCS?
Electronic or cheque drawn on conveyancer’s client account.
What are the payment methods for SCPC?
Electronic only.
What is the purpose of special conditions?
To vary default terms of SCS or SCPC.
What are some common changes in special conditions?
Deposit reduced to 5% and VAT included in purchase price.
Who is responsible for insurance?
Buyer, unless seller agrees to continue existing policy.
Under what conditions is the seller obligated to insure a freehold property?
If required by a special condition in the contract.
What happens if the seller agrees to insure the property?
Seller must maintain the policy until completion and hand over insurance proceeds to the buyer.
What is the risk of having two insurance policies on the same property?
Buyer’s insurer may reduce proceeds if another policy exists.
What happens if the buyer cannot recover the full insurance proceeds?
Purchase price is reduced accordingly.
What is the risk in a contract?
Buyer is responsible for property damage before completion.
What are the basics of VAT in a contract?
SCS: purchase price includes VAT, residential property exempt.
Is VAT normally chargeable for residential properties?
No, purchase price and contents price are inclusive of any VAT.
Does the purchase price in SCPC include VAT?
No, purchase price excludes VAT.
When is VAT payable for commercial properties?
Standard Rated: property <3yrs old or seller opts to tax, Exempt: property >3yrs old + seller hasn’t opted to tax.
Why might a seller opt to tax for a commercial property?
To offset input and output VAT.
What should one be cautious of with VAT sensitive buyers?
Beware of VAT sensitive buyers.
What are the three possibilities for VAT to be payable under SCPC 2.2?
- Default position: purchase price exclusive of VAT, 2. Alter default: purchase price inclusive of VAT, 3. Transfer exempt: seller hasn’t made election for VAT.
Can VAT be added on top if there is a change in law between exchange and completion?
Yes, if the law changes to make an exempt supply chargeable at the standard rate, but the seller is contractually obliged not to opt to tax.
What are the requirements of a lender?
Buyer creditworthy, property is good security for the loan.
What factors should a buyer consider when choosing a lender?
Amount they can borrow, interest rates available, and particular products on offer.
What is a mortgage offer?
Offer made to the buyer by the lender, setting out the terms of the loan.