Mortgage & Land Flashcards
Transfer of rights of ownership?
Conveyance
What do you own when owning property?
Everything above and below ground
How is transfer achieved
By paying Stamp Duty tax on papers to transfer ownership
Legal Charge Creation
- Lender will execute a legal charge
- Charge is created by Mortgage Deed
Mortgage Deed
- Contains Borrower and Lender information and how they are both bound
- Cannot be changed without mutual consent of all borrowers and lender
- Lender has power over the property while indebted
- Borrower is Mortgagor
- Lender is Mortgagee
Law of Property Act 1925
Reduced the ways property is owned
- Freehold
- Leasehold
- Under 18 can’t hold interest in land
- 2 or more loans are allowed
- Priority of payment to first registered
- Borrower has the right to let (often excluded by Lenders)
- In event of default, legal remedies set out
- Lender is not liable for any loss
- Lender can decide how proceeds from an insurance claim is spent - protecting security
Mortgage by legal charge
- Most Common
- Deed states property is charged with debt as security for loan
- Borrower owns from outset
- Lender removes the charge on full payment
Mortgage by Demise
Abolished 2002
- Bank owns property until full payment
- Can only be used on unregistered property today
Second & Further Mortgages (Puisne Mortgage)
- Secured Loans by another lender
- Charge higher rate to reflect higher risk
- Deed allows for further advances of 1st charge without drawing up a new deed.
- Further Advances are top-ups from original lender
Default
- Loans are paid in order of registration
- The rest is given to the borrower
Joint owners
- Legal owners registered at land registry
- Can transfer/mortgage property as long as they’re all in agreement
- Up to 4 legal owners
Equitable Owners
- Beneficial owners not registered at land registry
- Can’t transfer the land
- Most often transferred on death
Joint Tenants
- Both own 100% of property
- Can’t be overridden by a will
- IHT may apply is 50% of residence is over £325k Nil Rate Band & they are not married
Tenants in Common
- Each owner has 50% share
- Restriction on Title & Land Registry to prevent one from selling without the others knowledge.
Tenants in Common on Death
- On death, survivor takes ownership via Equitable share (right of Survivorship)
- Deceased heirs cannot force sale
- Equitable ownership can be transferred to any stated beneficiary.
Joint & Several Liability
- Lender can pursue debt with both
- If one moves out they’re still liable
- Lender can give authority to remove a borrower if the other can’t afford it.
Tenure
The way property is help
- Freehold
- Leasehold
- Commonhold
Freehold
- Fee Simple, (can be inherited) Absolute (no limit or restrictions on changes) in possession (immediate entitlement)
- Crown has overriding authority
- Still restrictions by local auth etc.
- Title may have restrictions on changes
- May have easements & Covenants
- Utility companies have statutory rights to access
- Some residential can’t be used for business
- Planning permission required for changes
- Obligation to people passing or entering land
Flying Freehold
- Overhangs e.g. Balcony or underlies e.g. cellar another persons freehold
- Lenders reluctant to lend unless
+ Contractual obligation to maintain land
+ Contractual obligation to give access for repair
Leasehold
Terms of years (Specified number of years) Absolute (ownership of lease doesn’t stop, is passed to beneficiaries on death)
- Freeholder leases to leasehold for specified time
- Leaseholder is paying for right to use property, not the bricks and morter
- Lease created through headlease
- Sublease allowed if agreed by headlease
- Sublease, when an individual takes leasehold property
Leasehold Restrictions
- Usually same as freehold with some additional from their freeholder
- Freeholder may place restrictions on alterations in common areas
Leasehold Term
- The term is important to lenders
- Leases too short or restrictive impact resale prospect
- ## Lenders like leases 30-40 yrs longer than the mortgage term, in case of forced sale
Leasehold Ground Rent
- Nominal amount £50-£200 PA
- A clause can be added to increase rent at a certain time
- Rent rises are usually very small
Leasehold Forfeiture
When leaseholder doesn’t comply with the lease
- Can result in termination of the lease & land reverting back to the freeholder
- Freeholder rights take precedence over lender
- Lenders insure against this
- Lenders also include a clause permitting the lender to fulfil the terms of the lease if the borrower doesn’t
Commonhold & Leasehold Reform Act 2002
- Ability for leaseholders to collectively buy the lease "Enfranchisement" - The right to extend their own lease - A right to collectively manage lease - 3rd way to own land - Commonhold
Buying the lease
Leaseholders can collectively buy a lease if... - Original Lease is over 21 years - Leaseholder must be qualifying tenant Non-qualifying - Charitable housing - Landlord - Commercial Purposes - If leaseholder owns more than 1 flat in a building
Extending a Lease
- Act allows an individual to extend a lease after 2 years of ownership by 90 years.
- Extension cost must be reasonable
- Freeholder can’t usually refuse
Lease extension before sale
- Can take time and may delay the sale
- Must factor in cost which may make it unaffordable
Lease extension - commence the process
- To commence the process and assign the lease to the new purchaser.
- Responsibility of cost sits with the new owner