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Mortgage Glossary Letter "S"

A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, J, K, L, M, N, O, P, Q, R, S, T, U, V, W, X, Y, Z

Click on the letter or the term you wish to have defined. You will them be take to a page with an explanation for what the term means

Second Mortgage

This is an additional mortgage taken out on a property, also known as a secured loan. If the borrower fails to keep up repayments on the loan, their house is at risk.
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Shared Equity

This means that a borrower can purchase a new build in partnership with the builder. This often means the borrower buys, say, 95% of the property and pays the rest on completion of the build.
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Shared Ownership

This is a scheme whereby a housing association tenant can part-purchase a property and rent the other part from the housing association.
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Stamp duty

Stamp duty (Stamp Duty Land Tax) is a tax levied when a property is purchased, but is not applicable to remortgages. Borrowers face penalties if the Duty is not paid within 30 days. Stamp duty rates are currently:

1% of property value £60000 - £250000
3% of property value £250001 - £500000
4% of property value £500001 and above.
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Structural Survey

This is the most thorough form of inspection carried out on a property, and must be paid for by the borrower. It is optional, but the lender will still carry out a mortgage valuation either way. The survey will tell you whether the building is structurally sound..
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Subject to survey & contract

Under English law, the deal between purchaser and seller of property does not become legally binding until contracts have been exchanged. Until then, your offer is ‘subject to survey and contract’ and neither the buyer nor the seller is under any obligation to go through with the transaction.
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Subsidence

This is one of the issues that a structural survey might pick up on. The term describes the drying out of the ground on which a property stands, making the structure unsound – cracks can develop and the property can sink at one end.
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Surveyor

A surveyor will carry out your property’s valuation and survey, and should be qualified by the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) or the Incorporated Society of the Valuers and Auctioneers.
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