Glossary

Apartment
A single storey self-contained accommodation occupying part of a building.
Agency sales fee
A fixed amount or percentage of the value of your home paid to an estate agent when the agent sells your property.  The amount is agreed when the initial instruction is given and the sum is paid on completion.
Arrangement fee
A fee to be charged by the lender when applying for a mortgage. Arrangement fees are usually paid on completion of the mortgage and commonly varies between £100 to £350.
Back Garden Scheme
The landscaping plan for domestic gardens.
Bankers Draft
A guaranteed bank cheque that can form immediate payment
Boundaries
These demarkate the start and end your land and ownership. The details are show on plans for new builds the details are also shared with the land registry. 
Brown Land
Land that has been previously developed or falls in an established development area.
Building survey/Full Survey
This is an extensive investigation of the major aspects of the property and minor details that are visible.
Building Regulations
The standards and conditions which you must comply with for planning permission to be valid.
Building Inspector
The person who inspects and ultimately signs the completion certificate for alterations or a new build. 
Bungalow/Chalet bungalow
A house which is most commonly detached and built on one level, though sometimes windows are added to the roof space; hence the term chalet bungalow.
Cashback
Where cash is made available to the buyer after Completion.
Completion
On completion of the sale, your solicitor will forward the remaining balance of the purchase price to the seller's solicitor. You then have the right to take occupancy of the property and are free to move in.
Contract
A legally binding agreement or set of 'promises'.
Conveyancing
The act of transferring the legal title in a property from one person or business to another.
Deposit
The money required up front when purchasing a property.
Detached
Houses standing as a separate building with no adjoining properties.
En suite
A bathroom or cloakroom that adjoins a bedroom directly by a door.
Estate Agent
The representative of the person selling a property.
Exchange
The point at which the purchase of a property becomes legally binding.
Green Land
Previously undeveloped land.
Handover
The date and time after Completion where you will receive the keys to your property.
HIPS
Home Information Pack a set of details required to sell a property. The intension is to give buyers information on a range of matters relating to the property.  These include information on boundaries, evidence of title,  notices, services, sharing with neighbours, planning permissions and other matters of interest to potential buyers.
IFA
An independent Financial Advisor able to give advice on a range of financial products.
Linked property
A property which has some shared aspect such as garage party wall.
Mortgage
The loan that most people use to fund the purchase of a property in which the property becomes the security for the loan.
Mortgage Offer
The offer to borrow an amount of money from a financial institution. This is not a guarantee of a loan but an offer which is subject to certain requirements being satisfied.
Part Exchange
A used property that has been taken as part payment against a new property.
Planning Consent
Where permission has been given by the local council to agree that certain building work can be carried out.
SAPS
a survey covering insulation, building structure appliances etc which gives you an overall energy rating
Semi Detached
A property adjoined by only one other property.
Settlement
When the land upon which a new property has settled after construction, very small cracks can occur. This is common and not the fault of the builder. It can be easily rectified.
Shrinkage
When a new property 'dries out', shrinkage commonly occurs. This natural process is to be expected and can be easily rectified.
Site Manager
The person responsible for managing the construction of a particular site. He or she will report to the Construction Manager.
Snagging
This term refers to a list of detailed final finishing to be carried out at the end of a build process.
Solicitor
Legal professional who is instructed to act on behalf of the buyer in the purchase of a home. They check the legal position of the house, carry out a local authority search, land registry searches prior to completion. In addition they oversee the smooth exchange of contracts and monies between both parties.
Stamp Duty
Stamp Duty Land Tax is charged on land transactions such as the buying and selling of a residential houses. There are different bands of tax relating to the purchase price of the property.  Some areas are stamp duty free depending on the price of the property.
Terraced
Where a row of identical or mirror-image houses share side walls. The first and last of these is called an “end terrace”.
Townhouse
Usually properties with three storeys most often built in a terrace.