Property Knowledge Flashcards
What are the that need to be taken prior to exchange of contracts
Report to client in writing results of title investigation, searches and enquiries, terms of contract and mortage offer
Report to lender if acting whether property is god security for loan and has good marketable value
Ensure the client has sufficient funds to complete including accepting mortage offer and complied/be able to comply with any conditions
Ensure that insurance is available immediately following exchange (standard contracts of sale) as risk passes to buyer on exchange
Completion date
Express authority to exchange (written ideally)
What are the different methods of exchange
Usual telephone (solicitors in different counties)
Which Law Society Formula should be used
Formula A if seller’s solicitor has both own and buyers
signed copies of contract plus deposit
Formula B if both solicitors have own client’s signed part
Formula C if chain
Which to discuss with opposing solicitors in conveyancing
Introduce
Get full name of opponent
Confirm ready to Exchange
Identify Property and Completion Date
Confirm who is holding which documents and which formula applies
Take contemporaneous note
Personal liability of undertaking
Aspects of Formula A
Seller confirms inserting agreed completion date in both contracts
Seller confirms inserting completion date and exchanging under formula A, date and time
Seller confirms inserting today’s date at top as agreement date
Seller confirms holding client’s part of contract to buyer’s order
Seller gives undertaking to buyer to send part
Aspects of Formula B
Each confirms inserting agreed completion date in signed contract
Confirm exchange Law Society Formula and Time and Date
Confirm inserting today’s date at top of contract as agreement date
Each confirm that holding client’s contract to together solicitor’s order
Undertake to sent today/1st class, DX/hand - seller then Buyer plus deposit
NB under B undertaking to deposit by bankers draft/solicitors client account cheque, conflicts standard, so agree variation of formula
Which matters are to be discussed in contracted during exchange?
Agreed completion date
Agreed date of contract
Which professional conduct issues arise when carrying out exchange of contracts
Undertakings required under law society formula
Must agree with timescales
Pre-contract
Seller: investigates title and prepares contract; buyer does pre-contract searches + investigates title
Conflicts
Cannot act for buyer and seller, can act for buyer and lender but only in residential.
Duty to inform of contract races - get client instructions
Undertakings - make sure can do it
Is VAT due
Yes commercial: MUST if less than 3 years; CAN if more than 3 years old - so negotiate a promise not to change their mind OR if law changes, is included - in the contract
No residential
Pre-Contract searches Mandatory
- Local search (3 x searches - local authority eg. planning permission LLC1, CON29R is private road/public road, environment, planning, listed, CON29O
- Drainage & Water
- Pre-Contract enquiries with seller: eg. occupiers
- Environment Risk Assessment
If private road
Need easement right of way
Pre-Contract non-mandatory searches
- Company - insolvency, floating charges
- Mining
- Environment Agency (flooding)
- Chancel Repair
- Railway embankments,
If unregistered: index map search & land charges searche
Why must seller investigate title
Seller’s side of contract is duty to inform of burden
Investigation for title - unregistered land
- Go back 15 years
- Reasonable identifiable land
- Must deal with all legal and equitable title eg. ‘estate in free simple’
- No doubt on land
Checklist for unregistered title checks: doubt on title (SELLER)
- Document properly stamped and duty paid - AV stamp, if no duty payable as long as wording saying is below threshold
- Break in chain of ownership - ok as long as can be explained, eg. death certificate, marriage certificate
- Property adequately/consistently described
- Incumbrances - registered against the individual who took on the burden - so search every person who has owned the land and cover full period of insurance
- Have mortgages been discharge - check back of contract
- Chain of personal indemnity covenants - previous promises
- Correctly executed - pre 31.7.90 - signed, sealed and delivered; post - signed and witnessed
- If documents related to PRE root- can request from seller. Check back pages
REMEDY: insurance
Land Charges Codes
Restrictive covenant - D ii Estate contract, eg an interest that isn't completed, in course, option - C iv Puisne 2nd Mortgage C i Equitable easement D iii Spouse right of occupation F
Positive covenants
Do no bind the land
Unregistered covenants - how binding?
Restrictive contract pre 1.1.26 if NOTICE
Easements
On title: Restriction - no disposition by a sole proprietor
Suggests tenants in common
On title: Caution
Suggests someone expressing an interest in land. Not checked by LR
Look into - can be struck off if not evidenced.
Stopped Oct 2013- unilateral notice