LSB Conveyancing & Notarial Practice study guide
LSB Conveyancing & Notarial Practice · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The LSB Conveyancing & Notarial Practice examination is a professional assessment for practitioners who want to demonstrate competence in property transfer work and notarial functions. Candidates typically include solicitors, licensed conveyancers, paralegals moving into conveyancing, and civil-law notaries or common-law notaries public seeking recognition of transferable skills. The LSB Conveyancing & Notarial Practice study guide has 11 sections and about 3,588 words.
01Land Law and the Nature of Estates and Interests
Every conveyancing question ultimately rests on two questions: what estates and interests exist in the land, and which of them bind a purchaser? Start with the statutory framework: the only legal estates capable of existing at law are the fee simple absolute in possession and the term of years absolute.
398 words, about 2 min02Registered and Unregistered Conveyancing: Title Investigation and Registration
Unregistered conveyancing requires the buyer's solicitor to investigate a good root of title (typically at least 15 years), examine the chain of documents, and check land charges against names at the Land Charges Department. Registered conveyancing substitutes the register: investigate the official copy of the register and title plan, note the class of title (absolute, possessory, qualified, good leasehold), and check the schedule of notices, charges and inhibitions.
354 words, about 2 min03Pre-Contract Matters, Contract Formation and Exchange
Pre-contract work is risk allocation. The seller prepares the protocol forms, replies to enquiries and the contract pack; the buyer investigates title, raises enquiries, obtains searches and arranges finance and survey.
334 words, about 2 min04Searches, Enquiries and Local Land Charges
A buyer's protection comes from a bundle of searches: the local land charges search (LLC1) and enquiries of the local authority (CON29), the drainage and water search, environmental searches, and a desktop or full coal mining search where relevant. In registered land, official search with priority protects a pending purchase; in unregistered land, a land charges search against names protects against registered charges.
331 words, about 2 min05Mortgages, Charges and Lender Requirements
A mortgage of land is a charge by way of legal mortgage, created by deed. In registered land it must be registered to take effect at law; in unregistered land it is protected by deposit of title deeds or a land charge.
323 words, about 2 min06Completion, Post-Completion Steps and Land Registration
Completion discharges the contract: the purchase price balance is paid, the transfer deed is executed and dated, keys are released, and the seller's solicitor undertakes to discharge the mortgage and provide a receipt. Candidates must know the standard completion mechanics: the Law Society Code for Completion by Post, the undertaking to redeem, and the undertaking to forward the title documents.
350 words, about 2 min07Leasehold and Freehold Transactions, Commonhold and Management Issues
Leasehold transactions require investigation beyond the register: the lease itself, the management pack, service charge accounts, ground rent, insurance, and any deed of variation or section 20 consultation history. Candidates must understand the landlord's covenants, the tenant's obligations, forfeiture and relief, and the statutory protections against unreasonable service charges.
302 words, about 2 min08Landlord and Tenant Law Relevant to Conveyancing
Conveyancing questions on landlord and tenant focus on the creation, assignment and termination of leases, and on the statutory regimes that affect a buyer. Candidates must know the difference between a lease and a licence, the formalities for creating a legal lease (deed for over three years, and registration for over seven years in registered land), and the rules on assignment and subletting.
308 words, about 2 min09Notarial Practice: Authentication, Protest and Certification
Notarial practice is about authentication: the notary verifies identity, capacity and understanding, and certifies the due execution of documents for use abroad. Candidates must understand the notarial act, the notarial certificate, the notarial seal, and the notarial register.
285 words, about 1 min10Professional Conduct, Money Laundering and Client Care
Candidates must know the SRA Principles, the Code of Conduct and the client care obligations: terms of engagement, costs information, complaints handling and the duty of confidentiality and disclosure. Conflicts of interest are heavily examined, particularly acting for both buyer and seller or for lender and borrower.
309 words, about 2 min11Remedies, Disputes and Professional Liability
Candidates must know the remedies available for breach of contract, misrepresentation and professional negligence: damages, specific performance, rescission, rectification and indemnity. Specific performance is discretionary and may be refused where damages are adequate.
294 words, about 1 min