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Residential conveyancing - jargon buster E

If you are looking for a conveyancing solicitor to handle a residential house sale, house purchase or a re-mortgage then please contact us on 01616 966 229 for a free, no obligation initial chat with one of our legal advisors, or request more information via our contact form.

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Easement: An easement can be a right of way over a piece of land or even a right to light or air.

Enfranchisement: A statutory right for a leaseholder to convert certain leases into freeholds: or to acquire a further period of 50 years leasehold.

Engrossment: A legal document that is ready for signature by the parties referred to in the document. An engrossment is normally typed or printed on plain paper and any plans or documents, which are referred to in the document, are attached.

Environmental Search: This is carried out check if there are any known environmental issues affecting the property, these include matters such as landfill or waste disposal sites in the area, if the property has been built on an old industrial site and whether there are any risks from contaminated land, toxic emissions, flooding, subsidence etc.
 
Epitome of Title: A chronological index of documents or events that prove ownership of the land that is being sold. It is accompanied by photocopies of the relevant documents.
 
Escrow: An example of an escrow is where the transfer that has already been signed by the customer (who may be either the buyer or seller) is sent to the other lawyer in readiness for completion. It is sent to them “as an escrow” to allow them to get the transfer signed by their client ahead of completion.
 
Exchange of Contracts: The point in a conveyancing transaction when the terms of the contract become legally binding. At exchange, the buyer becomes the equitable owner of the property. The buyer’s lawyer will speak to the seller’s lawyer on the telephone and agree that exchange has taken place. Once this is done the contract will be dated, the completion date inserted and both the buyer and the seller will be bound by law to the contract and the facts referred to in the contracts.