Glossary A-C

  • Absent Landlord

    A Landlord who cannot be contacted is defined as ‘absent’. Consequently, legal recourse is available to acquire the right to manage property. 
  • Acquisition Date

    The Acquisition Date identifies the starting date for the Right to Manage Company’s assumption of the legal responsibility for the running of the designated property. 
  • Additional Security Fee

    Also known as an MIP (Mortgage Indemnity Premium) or an MIG (Mortgage Indemnity Guarantee), this is an advance fee that is charged on mortgages that are over 75% of the value of the property. It is designed to protect the Lender against the Borrower defaulting on the loan. Therefore, the fee is paid to the Lender. 
  • Aggregate

    Broken stone, gravel or sand used with cement to form concrete. Aggregates may be coarse or fine and are often used in the construction of "soakways". 
  • Airbrick

    A perforated brick built into a wall for the purpose of providing air for ventilation purposes. Used for instance, to ventilate the underside of a wooden floor or a roof space. 
  • Anaglypta 

    Embossed lining paper used for walls and ceilings. 
  • Annual percentage rate (APR)

    For a loan at a stated rate of interest, the annual rate of interest which takes into account of the amounts and dates of repayment of capital and other expenses associated with the loan. 
  • Architrave

    A moulding around a doorway or a window opening. It usually covers the joints between the frame and the wall finish, thus hiding any shrinkage gaps which may occur. 
  • Artex
    Decorative texture coating for ceilings and walls. 
  • Arrangement Fees

    Where a special interest rate is to be used, an additional fee is also charged for the arrangement of the loan. 
  • Asbestos

    Material used in the past for insulation. Can sometimes be a health hazard - specialist advice should be sought if asbestos (especially blue asbestos) is found. 
  • Asbestos Cement

    Cement mixed with 15% asbestos fibre as reinforcement. Fragile - will not usually bear heavy weights. Hazardous fibres may be released if cut or drilled. 
  • Asphalt

    Black, tar-like substance, designed to be impervious to moisture. Used on flat roofs and floors. 
  • Assignment

    A term used to describe the transfer of the ownership of either a lease or an insurance policy. 
  • Auction

    An auction is the process of bidding for the purchase of a property, where the sale is made to the highest bidder. 
  • Back addition

    Rear projecting wing of house. 
  • Balanced Flue

    Common metal device normally serving gas appliances which allows air to be drawn to the appliance whilst also allowing fumes to escape. 
  • Balcony

    A platform projecting from a wall, enclosed by a railing or balustrade, supported on brackets or cantilevered out. 
  • Baluster

    A post or vertical pillar supporting a handrail or parapet rail. 
  • Balustrade

    A collective name for a row of balusters or other infilling below a handrail on a stair or a parapet. 
  • Barge Board

    See "Verge Board". 
  • Bark borer

    A generally harmless form of woodworm found in bark and sapwood. 
  • Basis variable mortgage rate

    This is the standard interest rate used by the Lender. It can be changed from time to time, usually in response to economic conditions in general of to changes in the Bank of England’s base rate. 
  • Battens

    Thin timber strips, to which tiles and slates are fixed. 
  • Bay, bow and oriel windows

    These windows project out from the front or side of a house. Oriel windows generally project from an upper storey, supported by brackets. Bay windows are angled/square projections that rise up from the ground. Bow windows are rounded projections often formed of the glass itself. 
  • Beetle Infestation

    (Wood boring insects e.g.: woodworm). Larvae of various species of beetle can tunnel into timber causing damage. Specialist treatment normally required. Can also affect furniture. 
  • Benching

    Shaped concrete slope beside drainage channel within an inspection chamber. Also known as "haunching". 
  • Binder

    Roof timber running over ceiling joists to provide stiffness. 
  • Birdsmouth

    Cut in roof timber to join strut at angle to purlin, rafter to plate. 
  • Bitumen

    Black, sticky substance, similar to asphalt. Used in sealants, mineral felts and damp-proof courses. 
  • Blackash mortar

    Made using industrial ash instead of sand with cement and lime. 
  • Block / Block of Flats

    Self-contained units in a residential property are termed Blocks of Flats. When such blocks seek to form a Right to Manage Company, the Block needs to fulfil legal criteria pertaining to the number of units, its capacity for redevelopment, the proportion of commercial to residential property, and the ability of the tenants to meet qualifying criteria. 
  • Bond

    The regular arrangement of bricks or stones in a wall so that the units may be joined together. The principal types of "bond" used in domestic construction being English, Flemish, header, stretcher, diagonal or garden wall bond. 
  • Borrowed light

    Window in interior wall transferring light from outer window. 
  • Breeze Block

    Originally made from clinker cinders or ("breeze") - the term now commonly but incorrectly used to refer to various types of concrete and cement building blocks. 
  • Bressumer

    Beam spanning opening to support wall above. 
  • Bridging loan

    Where the prospective buyer requires funds to complete the purchase of a property before selling his current property, the short-term loan required is known as a Bridge Loan. 
  • Building Insurers

    The issuers of Insurance of the Building. 
  • Buildings Insurance

    The policy issued by the insurers for a building. 
  • Building regulations

    Statutory Local Authority control building works. 
  • Building Survey (formerly known as a Structural Survey)

    This type of survey does not typically include a valuation of the property. The survey is designed to provide a full assessment of the construction of the building and its current condition. It includes details of major and minor faults detected and may recommend further specialist investigation of particular aspects of the property. It is particularly useful for listed buildings, older properties, or properties of unique design and also for dilapidated buildings or properties where alterations have been made or are planned. 
  • Buy to let mortgage

    When Buyers intend to purchase a property in order to let it out, this type of mortgage is offered by the Lender. 
  • Calcium chloride

    Additive used in concrete which can cause loss of strength. 
  • Calcium silicate bricks

    Type of brick prone to thermal cracking. 
  • Cantilever

    A horizontal projection from a building, such as a step, balcony, beam or canopy, that is without external bracing and appears to be self-supporting. 
  • Capillary action

    A process by which dampness can rise through walls and floors and between tiles. 
  • Capped mortgage

    If agreed between the Lender and the Borrower, the interest rate on the mortgage has a ceiling or a ‘cap’, a maximum percentage of interest to be charged. The ‘ceiling’ is valid for a fixed period during the lifetime of the loan. Where the standard interest rate during that lifetime is below the ‘cap’ then the Borrower is charged interest as per the standard rate. Should the standard rate exceed the ‘cap’, the Borrower is only charged the ‘ceiling’ interest rate. 
  • Carbonation

    A natural process affecting the outer layer of concrete. Metal reinforcement within that layer is liable to early corrosion, with consequent fracturing of the concrete in some cases. 
  • Casement window

    A window composed of hinged, pivoted or fixed sashes.
  • Cavity Wall Insulation

    Filling of wall cavities by one of various forms of insulation material: Beads: Polystyrene beads pumped into the cavities. Will easily fall out if the wall is broken open for any reason. Foam: Urea formaldehyde foam, mixed on site, and then pumped into the cavities where it sets. Can lead to problems of dampness and make replacement of wall-ties more difficult. Fibreglass: Inert mineral fibre pumped into the cavity.
  • Cavity Wall-Tie

    A twisted piece of metal or similar material bedded into the inner and outer leaves of cavity walls intended to strengthen the wall. Failure by corrosion can result in the wall becoming unstable - specialist replacement ties are then required.
  • Cesspool

    A simple method of drain comprising a holding tank which needs frequent emptying. Not to be confused with "septic tank".
  • Chain

    If a Buyer can only complete the purchase of a property subject to the completion of the sale of his current property, the purchase is ‘chained’ to the sale.
  • Chipboard

    Often referred to as "particle board". Chips of wood compressed and glued into sheet form. Cheap method of decking to flat roofs, floors and (with Formica or melamine surface) furniture, especially kitchen units.
  • Claim Dispute Reasons

    The Landlord has recourse to three reasons for disputing the Claim Notice. In the Counter Claim Notice, he will either claim that the units in the property do not qualify for Right to Manage status, or that the Right to Manage Company does not comply with legislation, or that the Members insufficiently represent the qualifying Flat Owners within the properties.
  • Claim Notice – Section 79

    A notification issued to the Landlord by the Right to Manage Company advising him that the Company is utilising the legal right to manage the units in the Property.
  • Cleaning Eye

    Sometimes known as an "access eye or "rodding eye". An opening in a drain or ventilation pipe, covered by a plate, the removal of which allows the drain to be rodded to clear blockages.
  • CML (Council of mortgage lenders)

    The CML produced the Mortgage Code that ensures customers are treated fairly by lenders.
  • Cob

    Walling of damp earth sometimes mixed with cement, rammed without reinforcement into a formwork. This cheap method of walling has in the past been practiced mainly in East Anglia and the West of England.
  • Collar

    Horizontal timber member designed to restrain opposing roof slopes. Absence, removal or weakening can lead to roof spread.
  • Collar Beam

    A horizontal tie beam of a roof, which is joined to opposing rafters at a level above that of the wall plates.
  • Combination Boiler

    Modern form of gas boiler which activates on demand usually within a pressurised system. With this form of boiler there is no need for water storage tanks, hot water cylinders etc.
  • Commercial Purposes

    Commercial Purposes is a general terms explaining the usage of those parts of a property not used for residential purposes.
  • Commonhold and Leasehold Reform Act 2002

    This Act of Parliament permits Flat Owners to assume the responsibility for running their block in a property.
  • Company Law

    Company Law governs the activities of a company.
  • Company Secretary

    A Company Secretary is legally accountable for the Right to Manage Company’s adherence to Company Law. He, or she, can also be a director of that company.
  • Completion

    Legal transfer of ownership of a property to a Buyer only occurs after completion (when all transactions involved in the sale have been completed).
  • Concrete

    Cement mixed with course and fine aggregate (pebbles, crushed stone, brick), sand and water in specific proportions. There are three types of concrete: precast, reinforced and prestressed.
  • Condensation

    Arises on any surface when critical dew point is reached.
  • Conditions of sale

    Conditions of Sale list all rights and obligations due to the Buyer and Seller, and are usually determined by law or by industry or both.
  • Consumer unit

    Modern electric switch box with fuses or circuit breakers (fuseboard).
  • Contents insurance

    Insurance that protects the contents of the property.
  • Contract

    A Contract is a legally binding agreement between Buyers and Sellers for the completion of the sale of a property.
  • Contract race

    Where more than one Buyer offers for the property, whoever exchanges binding Contracts first secures the purchase.
  • Conventional flue

    Boiler chimney with boiler oxygen taken from room.
  • Conversion

    Property now used differently from original layout - especially flats.
  • Conveyancer

    A Conveyancer is a qualified advisor of the legal requirements of buying or selling a property.
  • Conveyancing

    The legal work involved in buying or selling of a property.
  • Coping/Coping Stone

    Usually stone or concrete, laid on top of a wall as a decorative finish and designed to stop rainwater soaking into the wall.
  • Corbel

    Projection of stone, brick, timber or metal jutting out from a wall to support a weight above it.
  • Cornice

    A large moulding at the junction between an inside wall and a ceiling. Can also include a moulding at the top of an outside wall designed to project and throw raindrops clear of the wall.
  • Counter Notice – Section 84

    A Counter Notice responds to the Right to Manage Company. It is issued by the Landlord and either conceding or contesting the entitlement sought by the Claim Notice.
  • Covenants

    Covenants are rules and regulations relating to the property, which are contained in its lease or title deed.
  • Coving

    Curved junction between wall and ceiling.
  • Creep

    Spreading and cracking especially to asphalt and leadwork on slopes in sun.
  • Curtain walling

    Non load bearing thin outer panel wall.
  • Curtilage

    Enclosed area of land belonging to dwelling.