Property Practice Flashcards
What is the equivalent of a memorandum of sale in the commercial context?
‘Heads of terms’
is the use of a management company common in both residential and commercial leases?
Yes. Often the buyer takes a share in the management company. The landlord may transfer the freehold of the property to the management company when the last leasehold unit is sold.
Tenants will be responsible for paying a service charge
Is it acceptable to have a clause imposing a prohibition against assignment in a long residential lease?
No. A lender would not agree to such a term. It would only be acceptable in a commercial lease.
What is the Law Society’s statement of best practice for conveyancing?
The Law Society Conveyancing Protocol
Can a conveyancing solicitor represent both the buyer and the buyer’s lender and to whom is the duty of confidentiality owed first?
In residential conveyancing transactions, if the buyer needs a mortgage to fund their purchase, the buyer’s solicitor will often act for the buyer’s lender as well, as is the case here. The lender will expect the buyer’s solicitor to report to them any issue which might affect the value of the property or which might affect the lender’s decision to lend. But the buyer’s solicitor must have the consent of the buyer to report such issues to the lender.
Do related transactions need to be synchronised, and what will happen if they are not?
Yes, if the client has a related sale and purchase then the transaction MUST be synchronised. This means that the solicitor must make arrangements so that both transactions exchange on the same day and have the same completion date. Otherwise, they can be the subject of a negligence claim.
If a buyer’s solicitor receives the epitome of title and realises that a triggering event has happened and title has not been registered, what should they do?
They should return the epitome of title and require the seller to make an application for first registration.
When will planning permission lapse?
After planning permission is issued, the development must commence within three years of the date of the permission or it lapses.
If unauthorised building happened without planning permission, how long does the local authority have to take action?
four years
What is a certificate of title and when should it be submitted?
The certificate of title is a document confirming that the title is good and marketable and acts as a request for the release of the mortgage advance to the buyer.
What form is used for the priority search if the buyer is only buying part of the land?
Form OS2 (otherwise it is OS1)
What is the result of delayed completion?
If completion is delayed, the innocent party will be entitled to receive damages and also charge interest for the amount of days that completion is delayed.
If time is of the essence in the contract, the innocent party has an immediate right to rescind the contract. However, time is usually not of the essence in a contract and will only be so if this is inserted into the contract. It is not in the Standard Conditions of Sale.
Once completion is delayed, the innocent party can serve a notice to complete which makes time of the essence, and gives the defaulting party 10 days to complete. However, in order to serve this, they must be ready, able and willing to complete.
What are the remedies if a party does not comply with a notice to complete?
If the buyer fails to complete after a notice to complete has been served, the seller may:
- Rescind the contract
- Retain the buyer’s deposit
- Resell the property
- Claim damages
If the seller fails to complete, the buyer may:
- Rescind the contract
- Reclaim their deposit moneys with interest
- Claim damages
What is the purpose of a solicitor’s report to their buyer client?
To make the buyer aware of what the buyer’s solicitor has discovered during their work in the pre-contract stage and particularly any issues that might affect the buyer’s decision to purchase, and to confirm whether the title is good and marketable
What are the three methods of completion?
- Personal attendance
- Agent
- Post (most common)
What are the three methods of exchange?
Person
Phone
Post
What are the statutory methods for terminating a commercial lease?
Forfeiture - applies when the tenant breaches a covenant in the lease and the lease provides that the breach is a ground for terminating the lease
Section 25 notice - a notice the landlord can serve on the tenant between six to 12 months before the end of the lease indicating that the landlord desires to have the premises back. It must be based on the presence of a specific statutory ground
Surrender - an agreement by both the landlord and the tenant to give up the lease
Section 26 notice - is a notice the tenant can give the landlord requesting a new lease. Like the section 25 notice, the section 26 notice must be served within six to 12 months before the end of the tenancy. The landlord will then have two months to inform the tenant whether they are willing to enter a new lease. If they desire not to, they must provide one of the statutory grounds justifying termination under section 25
What is the Conveyancing Quality Scheme?
The Law Society’s quality standard for residential conveyancing practices under which firms must make an application to the Law Society for accreditation
What is limited title guarantee?
Where the seller merely warrants that the seller has not created any charges or granted any rights during their period of ownership that have not been disclosed in the contract. A limited title guarantee is typically given by a seller with less knowledge or involvement with the property and is most appropriate when the seller is a personal representative.
What is no title guarantee?
When the seller has no knowledge or the property at all, for example a mortgagee in possession
What are the rules on using deposits for related purchases?
If the seller has a related purchase of a property for their residence in England and Wales, they can use the deposit on their sale towards the deposit required on that related purchase transaction
What is the commercial equivalent of the Property information Form?
The Commercial Property Standard Enquiries
What is the document in which a landlord gives formal consent to an outgoing tenant to assign the lease?
A licence to assign
Is an EPC required for a listed building?
No, an EPC is not required for a listed building
Does the UK Finance Mortgage Lender’s Handbook require solicitors to ensure their clients’ existing debts are fully paid before submitting the certificate of title to the lender?
No it does not.
How often must an EPC be updated?
Every 10 years
What is the commercial equivalent of the Standard Conditions of Sale?
The Standard Commercial Property Conditions
How long does the local authority have to take action if someone fails to obtain a building regulations certificate?
12 months. However, it may seek an injunction to force an owner to bring the property up to standards at any time if the work is deemed to be dangerous.
What is required for a good root of title?
To be a good root, the document must deal with the whole legal and equitable interest in the property, contain an adequate description of the property, be at least 15 years old at the date of the contract, and do nothing to cast doubt on the title.
A conveyance on sale is the most common root of title and also the most appropriate
What is an index map search and when should it be carried out?
When title is unregistered, in addition to carrying out the local search, drainage and water search, and environmental search that should be done pre-contract in every purchase, the solicitor should also carry out an index map search to reveal whether the title to the property is already fully or partially registered.
When should the buyer’s solicitor carry out a company search?
When the seller is a company
What is the name of the Handbook under which mortgages are carried out?
Most mortgages are handled under the terms of the UK Finance Mortgage Lender’s Handbook and the Building Societies Association Mortgage Instructions.
What is a mortgage valuation report?
A mortgage valuation report confirms that the property represents good security for a loan and require the buyer to provide evidence that they can afford the mortgage. The lender will do this before entering into a mortgage.
How will the buyer’s solicitor determine what enquiries to raise?
- investigate the title
- Read the PIF and other contract documents
- Consider the results of the pre-exchange searches
- Report to their buyer client on the above matters
When will a landlord’s service of a valid section 25 notice under the Landlord and Tenant act result in the tenant being entitled to statutory compensation?
If the ground serving as the basis for termination is not the fault of the tenant, statutory compensation is available unless other suitable premises are available.
What is the memorandum of exchange and what documents should appear in it?
According to the Code for Completion by Post, how should completion monies be sent to the seller’s solicitor?
By a bank transfer of cash
What does the draft contract which the seller’s solicitor send to the buyer contain?
- The draft contract in duplicate
- The Property Information Form and the Fittings and Contents Form (both completed by seller)
- A copy of the seller’s title
- Any guarantees or planning permissions
What does it mean to raise a requisition on title?
This is where the buyer’s solicitor raises any enquiries with the solicitor and requires them to be resolved before exchange of contracts
Who is responsible for remedying defects on the title?
The Conveyancing Protocol requires that the seller’s solicitor take care of any defects as part of their investigation of title, rather than waiting for the buyer to raise this as an enquiry
What is the best way of resolving a defect in a title?
- Asking the seller to enter into a deed or variation or rectification to solve the problem.
- If this is not practical, or not possible, the buyer may require the seller to provide them with defective title indemnity against any issues arising from the defect in the title and include this as a special condition in the contract
What appears on the Property register of title?
The property register identifies the property by its postal address and specifies the legal estate held. If any rights benefit the property, they will appear as a notice on the Property register
What appears on the Proprietorship register?
This specifies the class of title held and the name of the current holders of the estate. If there is a restriction affecting the title (e.g. Form A restriction, it will appear on the Proprietorship Register)
What appears on the Charges register?
Details of encumbrances on the land, for example:
- Restrictive covenants
- Mortgages
What document is required to alter the terms of a lease?
A deed of variation
What are the duties of a management company with respect to residential and commercial leases?
It maintains the common areas of the leased premises and performs other duties as
specified in the leases
True or false? In a long-term residential lease, the rent is typically a nominal sum because the tenant will have paid a large premium at the beginning of the lease.
True
True or false? In a long-term commercial lease, the rent is typically a nominal sum because the tenant will have paid a large premium at the beginning of the lease
False - the rent payments will be a lot higher each month as a premium will not have been paid
What is the commercial equivalent of the Standard Conditions of Sale?
The Standard Commercial Property Conditions
What do the Standard Commercial Property Conditions contain?
Part one - general conditions (these apply unless expressly excluded)
Part two - provisions that will apply only if expressly incorporated
What is the document which sets out best practice when negotiating a commercial lease?
The Code for Leasing Business Premises
Can a landlord in a commercial lease reject an assignment of a lease?
Yes, the landlord’s consent to assignment is required, and they will normally deny this if they are not satisfied that the new tenant is of good standing and will be able to afford the rent
In a commercial lease, who bears the fees of completing the licence to assign?
The outgoing tenant. The tenant’s solicitor will give an undertaking to pay these costs to the landlord’s solicitor
What happens in the process of ‘deducing title’?
The seller’s solicitor will send a copy of the title to the buyer’s solicitor
Is it generally permissible to include an absolute prohibition against assignment
of a long-term property lease?
Yes, in a long-term commercial lease, but not in a long-term residential lease
In a long-term commercial lease, does the landlord have an implied right to periodically increase rent?
No, a rent review clause must be explicitly included in the lease
Stage 1: Which of the following actions will a solicitor take when they have been instructed in a conveyancing transaction?
- Take instructions from their client
- Send a client care letter to the client
- Obtain appropriate identification documents from their client
- Carry out appropriate due diligence checks
True or false? In most cases, when a person sells their home, they will have to pay capital gains tax (CGT) on the gain realised from the sale?
False, due to application of Private Residence Relief
If the seller has to pay CGT, when must it be paid?
Within 60 days of the completion date
What will the buyer’s solicitor advise their client to do at the beginning of a transaction?
To have a structural survey carried out of the property to determine whether there are any structural defects
When will Private Residence Relief apply to negate the needs to pay CGT?
- The dwelling house has been their only or main residence
- The have not been absent during their period of ownership (other than the excepted periods)
- The grounds or garden do not exceed 0.5 hectares
- No part of the home has been used exclusively for business purposes during the period of ownership
Does the seller have to submit a self-assessment tax return if private residence relief applies?
No
What are the consequences of a solicitor breaching an undertaking in a conveyancing transaction?
(1) The solicitor may be subject to an action for specific performance – an order requiring
them to comply.
(2) The solicitor may be subject to disciplinary action or sanctions by the Solicitors
Regulation Authority.
True or false? It may be permissible for a solicitor to represent both the buyer and a LENDER in a property transaction, but the solicitor must still maintain client confidentiality between the two.
True, although this is not best practice.
What is the Law Society Conveyancing Protocol?
It is a statement of best practice for residential conveyancing.
In which of the following situations must an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) be obtained?
When there is an existing EPC which is more than 10 years old.
If the landlord of a commercial premises approves an assignment of the tenant’s
lease after determining the assignee is of good financial standing, what document
would the landlord’s solicitor typically draft to create privity of contract between the
landlord and the assignee?
A licence to assign
What is the process for the seller’s solicitor to investigate title in registered/ unregistered land?
If the title is registered, the solicitor will download an official copy of the register of title and title plan from HMLR and will review all the documents provided
If the title is unregistered, the solicitor must locate and review the title deeds
If a seller’s title is not registered and the property is subject to a mortgage, where would the seller’s solicitor typically find the seller’ deeds?
They will typically be in possession of the mortgage lender, and to obtain them, the
solicitor must give an undertaking to not part with the deeds until the seller has funds to
pay off the mortgage.