This document provides an A-Z guide to conveyancing terms in plain English. It defines key terms and concepts in property transfers such as contracts for sale, caveat emptor, easements, leaseholds, guarantors, tenants in common, mortgages, and registered land. It aims to explain the technical conveyancing process and jargon in a clear and accessible way for home buyers and sellers.

2. CONVEYANCING IS
The process of transferring the
legal ownership of a property
from one owner to a new owner.

3. The Conveyancing process has
developed over many hundreds of years.

4. Inevitably, there are
technical words or phraseswhich you might not have come across.
Many Conveyancing Solicitors still use
jargon and old-fashioned phrases

5. hereinbefore
&
aforesaid mentioned
YUK!

6. Plain English
Occasionally, you will find some Conveyancing
Solicitors who promise to speak in…
We at Clutton Cox do at least.

7. A – Z Guide
for you in Plain English to help
explain Conveyancing Jargon.

8. Contract for Sale: The legal document which sets
out the terms of the sale and purchase of the
property. There are two Contracts for Sale issued:
one for the Seller to sign and one for the Buyer to
sign. A legally binding agreement takes place
when there is an Exchange of the signed
Contracts. A Contract is not valid without an
agreed Completion Date.

10. Caveat Emptor: It means “Let
the Buyer Beware”. A Buyer
must make all enquires and
surveys before committing to
buy a property.
The only bit of Latin
(we promise)
zzzz

12. Easement: A right benefiting one
property over another, such as a right
of way on foot and/or for vehicles.

13. Leasehold: Ownership which is time
dependent and subject to more restrictions
and obligations than freeholds e.g. flats
which can run for 99 up to 999 years.

14. Guarantor: Someone who agrees to
pay a mortgage on a property in
the event that the borrower/owner
defaults on payments.
Usually this is a parent
or guardian.
Thanks Mum
and Dad!

17. The alternative is Tenants in
Common: The owner owns a specific
percentage of the property and its
proceeds of sale e.g. 50/50 60/40
= =

20. Not many people know
this, but the word
derives from the Norman
French meaning literally,
“death pledge”.

22. Official Copies of Register & Plan:
Official copies of the registered title
to a property from the Land Registry
showing who owns a property what
rights and what restrictions apply
and what mortgages if any are
outstanding on the property.

24. Pardon
me…

25. A Rentcharge only relates to
freehold property and is not
to be confused with Ground
Rents which only relate to
Leasehold properties.

26. £

28. Registered Land: Property
(freehold and leasehold) where
proof of ownership and matters
affecting the property have
been authenticated (registered)
by the Government Department
known as the Land Registry.

29. £

31. (e)XTRA MILE
THIS WAY
CLUTTON COX

32. You: The most important person
as far as we are concerned. Not
us, not what we do, but YOU.

33. Z
Z

34. Here ends (phew! Almost wrote
“endeth”) the first lesson.

35. By the power of the Internet, this
presentation is available for sharing. We
would love it if you shared this with your
family, friends, and colleagues.

36. Clutton Cox Solicitors are based in Chipping
Sodbury, Bristol but we really do cover all of
England and Wales.
Follow Us on Twitter @cluttoncoxlegal
Or Just Plain (see what we did there) get in touch
info@cluttoncox.co.uk
01454312125