The Gazette 1994

GAZETTE

JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1994

Having read the book I gave it to a first time buyer for his comments. His first comment somewhat disconcerted me: "I did not know you could haggle with your solicitor over fees". Having said that, he went on to say that the book was good as it forced one to add up the total costs involved including the little ones and warned of the many pitfalls that may arise when buying or selling. He also liked the layout of the book as it made for easy reading and thought the drawings were appropriate and amusing.

the purchase. Again it is written in a form that is easy to understand. However, when talking about the completion and registration of title it may raise confusion in the mind of a purchaser and be somewhat too detailed for the uninitiated. The costs of buying are quite clearly defined and are laid out in considerable detail and deal with areas not normally covered such as a mortgage indemnity bond. Annuity and endowment mortgages are dealt with in some detail though it is a pity that the book failed to refer to mortgage protection policies either under the headings of mortgages or insurance. Endowment mortgages are comprehensively covered and the risks adequately pointed out. "There is a risk that you will now know until the end of the term. If this happens you owe the difference. It may of course be greater in which event you collect the difference." The book then moves on to selling a house and again deals clearly with each step from putting the house on the market to actually moving out. However, under the heading of dealing with title it fails to mention "the dreaded extension" and this is only mentioned as an after thought in miscellaneous outlay and is misleading. " If you have carried out any extensions to the house without planning permission you will be obliged to have an architect inspect and certify that all is in order." On the question of legal costs confusion arises. In one section it suggests that fees should be negotiated at the outset and a firm commitment given in writing. Later the author suggests an approximate quote based on the transaction running smoothly should be sought. It is also unfortunate that he has listed specific costs for certain items, as the costs of some of these have already increased, for example, £ 1 0 for a Land Certificate. This could raise doubts in the mind of a client in relation to his solicitor.

immediately, after publication, become one on which attention is focused. In this ease the author chose to omit "instruments relating to the Humanitarian Law of War and certain United Nations Documents on The Rights of Minorities", all of which have been brought into play by the Yugoslavian situation. While many of the Conventions are of more significance in the socio- political era, the collection of European Conventions, principally that on Human Rights, makes this a useful source book even for the practitioner. The worst feature of this otherwise valuable book is the totally inadequate index which for a book comprising 6 27 pages of text is a mere 2V: pages long and is little more than an expanded list of contents. The high reputation of the Oxford University Press is sadly diminished by such a fall from acceptable standards.

•

Oonagh

Sheridan.

I R I S H D O C U M E N T E X C H A N G E

O V E R N I G H T - E V E R Y N I G H T E V E R Y W H E R E

JFB

n

The Legal Alternative

A Guide to Buying or Selling Your House in Ireland

37 Fenian Street, D u b l in 2 Tel: 01 676 4601 Fax: 0 I 676 7093 D X I D u b l in

By Dermot Coyne, Solicitor, 1993, softback, 54 pp. £ 4 . 9 5.

This book was written by Dermot Coyne for the general public and specifically for people who have had no experience in either purchasing or selling a house. The book begins with a chapter on how to select a house and makes 16 suggestions for things to look out for - some of these are very obvious but a number of suggestions are ones that would not readily spring to the mind of a new purchaser. Each topic is dealt with in a short paragraph and is easily readable. Having dealt with selecting a house, the book moves on to the mechanics of buying which covers areas such as instructing your solicitor and applying for a loan right up to completion ot

NORTHERN IRELAND AGENT * Legal work undertaken on an agency basis * All communications to clients through instructing Solicitors

* Consultants in Dublin if required Contact: Seamus Connolly, Moran and Ryan, Sdluimrs

Arran House.

Bank Building.

35 Arran Quay.

Hill Street.

Dublin 7.

Newrv. Co. Down. Tel: (080693) 65311 F a x : ( 0 8 0 6 9 3 ) 6 2 0 96

Tel:(0l) 8725622 Fax: (01) 8725404

SURVE I L LANCE D i s c r e et L i s t e n i ng a n d R e c o r d i n g E q u i p m e nt T e l e p h o n e F or 1 9 9 3 C a t a l o g ue Pe g a s us ( 01 ) 2843819

29