This document provides information about Worthingtons, a law firm that offers conveyancing services. It introduces the Law Society of Northern Ireland's charter scheme which provides quality assurance for conveyancing work. It then discusses various aspects of the conveyancing process including fixtures and fittings, surveys, and the typical 7 steps involved in buying a home which include taking instructions, obtaining enquiries before contract, signing the contract, arranging the mortgage and deed, completion, and registration of title.

1. ■ Commercial Property
Law Society Home
Charter Scheme ■ Banking and Finance
■ Employment
conveyancing
This scheme was introduced by the Law Society
of Northern Ireland to give conveyancing clients ■ Corporate and
assured standards of quality by their Solicitors. Commercial Law
An important part of the Scheme's quality
assurance is the regular and random checking ■ Commercial Litigation
of our conveyancing files by a Law Society
Compliance Officer. ■ Insolvency
Celia Worthington ■ Debt Recovery
Partner
Lexcel ■ Private Client
We have quality assurance procedures and
■ Personal Injury
policies in place to address Money laundering,
Mortgage fraud and client service standards. ■ Probate and Wills
■ Residential
Conveyancying
■ Matrimonial
and Family Law
Moving in the 21st Century
BANGOR BELFAST NEWTOWNARDS
74 High Street 24-38 Gordon Street 2 Court Street
Tel 028 9147 5929 Tel 028 9043 4015 Tel 028 9181 1538
Fax 028 9147 5928 Fax 028 9043 4016 Fax 028 9181 0532
email info@worthingtonslaw.co.uk
web www.worthingtonslaw.co.uk

2. For most people, buying a home is the single biggest investment of their
lives. Worthingtons is a dynamic progressive firm of solicitors which
uses modern computerised systems but old fashioned values.
7 steps to buying
What is Conveyancing? Fixtures and Fittings your home
Conveyancing is the term given to the transfer The rule is that fixtures must remain with the property
or mortgaging of land. being sold but the sellers are permitted to take fittings
with them. However, the law is not at all clear on what TAKE
The procedures involve:
is a fixture and what is a fitting. Therefore, as a matter INSTRUCTION
■ examination of ownership documents of policy, we submit with our Pre-Contract Enquiries a
■ disclosure procedures list of Fixtures and Fittings which the seller completes,
indicating those items that will remain with the
■ planning and building control investigation property when sold.
ENQUIRIES
■ roads, sewage and water issues OBTAIN
BEFORE
TITLE DEEDS
■ rights of access, way and usage CONTRACT
Surveys
■ bankruptcy, judgement office searches
Although surveys do not affect the ownership of
■ valuation, detailed reports and structural surveys
property, they are essential for the protection of
■ searches in the Land Registers for impediments purchasers. There are three main types of survey. THE
■ fixtures, fittings and contents arrangements (i) A Valuation Report is required by Banks and CONTRACT
Building Societies to ensure that if a purchaser
■ preparation, amendment signature of contracts defaults on their mortgage payments the property
■ compliance with lenders mortgage requirements could be sold for enough money to pay off the
mortgage. A Valuation Report gives little protection
■ ensuring life insurance protection is on risk THE THE
to a purchaser.
MORTGAGE DEED
■ drafting transfer deeds (ii) A Home-Buyer's Report is prepared by a member
■ stamp duty tax of the Royal Institute of Chartered Surveyors. It
requires a thorough inspection of the property and
■ completion/key arrangements is very helpful to a purchaser.
■ title registration (iii) A Structural Survey would usually only be required
to investigate a specific problem identified in COMPLETION
■ collating and filing title documentation to close.
a property such as severe cracking to walls or
■ An emphasis on convenience - choice of
unevenness in the roof.
communication by phone, fax, email/internet.
Because of the time and work involved the fees for
the different types of survey vary greatly. We can,
of course, advise on suitable surveys for specific CONGRATULATIONS!
purchases.
www.worthingtonslaw.co.uk www.worthingtonslaw.co.uk