During any conveyancing process there are many phrases, words, and processes referred to by your conveyancer that aren’t very familiar to a buyer or a seller client.
There is often confusion caused by a conveyancer not appreciating that the legal jargon they are discussing with their client is not actually being understood. By understanding key phrases, it can reduce confusion and help a client make informed decisions.
From a client’s point of view, it is okay not to know all the legal terms — your solicitor or conveyancer should explain them. But being familiar with these key phrases will help you feel more confident and in control of the process.
Here's a list of commonly used conveyancing legal phrases with clear definitions designed to help you:
| Phrase | Description |
|---|---|
| Caveat Emptor | "Let the buyer beware" — it’s your responsibility to discover any issues with the property before you buy. |
| Chain | A line of buyers and sellers all dependent on each other — if one fails, the whole process can stall. |
| Completion | When the remaining money is paid and the property legally changes hands — you get the keys. |
| Completion Statement | A breakdown of all the costs involved, showing what you need to pay before completion. |
| Contract Pack | A set of documents from the seller’s solicitor that includes property details, ownership proof, and legal forms. |
| Conveyancing | The legal process of transferring ownership of property from the seller to the buyer. |
| Covenant | A covenant is a legal rule or promise that applies to a property. It tells you what you can or can’t do with the property or land. A set of do's and don’ts written into the property’s history — even if you're the new owner, you still have to follow them. |
| Disbursements | Fees paid by the solicitor on your behalf (e.g., search fees, Land Registry fees, Stamp Duty). |
| Exchange of Contracts | The point at which buyer and seller sign and swap contracts. After this, the deal is legally binding. |
| Fixtures and Fittings | Items that are either fixed (e.g., a built-in wardrobe) or movable (e.g., curtains) and whether they’re included in the sale. |
| Freehold | You own the building and the land it stands on outright, forever. |
| Gazumping | When a seller accepts a higher offer after already agreeing to sell to someone else (before contracts are exchanged). |
| Gazundering | When a buyer lowers their offer just before the contract is signed, pressuring the seller to accept. |
| Indemnity Insurance | A policy to cover a legal defect with the property title or paperwork (e.g., a missing planning permission). |
| Land Registry | Government office that keeps records of who owns land and property in England and Wales. |
| Leasehold | You own the property for a set number of years, but not the land it stands on. You may have to pay ground rent. |
| Mortgage Offer | A formal letter from the bank saying how much money they’ll lend you to buy the property. |
| Redemption Figure | The amount needed to pay off the seller’s mortgage on completion day. |
| Release on an exchange of contracts | When a solicitor gives a release on exchange of contracts, it means: They are giving permission for contracts to be exchanged — but the actual exchange doesn’t happen until everyone in the chain is ready. This doesn’t mean the contract has already been exchanged. It means the solicitor has authorised exchange to happen once all parts of the chain give the green light. |
| Searches | Checks done with local authorities and other bodies to find issues like planning permission, flood risk, or road schemes. |
| Survey | An inspection of the property to check its condition and any possible structural issues. |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) | A tax you may have to pay when buying property in England over a certain price and currently £125,000.00 |
| Title Deeds / Title Register | Legal documents that show who owns a property and any legal restrictions on it. |
| Transfer Deed (TR1) | The legal document that officially transfers the property from seller to buyer. |
How Timms can help...
At Timms, we make the conveyancing process as easy as possible by explaining legal jargon to you in words you’ll easily understand.
To discuss any Conveyancing matter, please contact Julie Stewart on 01283 214231 or at j.stewart@timms-law.com.
For more information on Conveyancing, visit out webpage here.
