COMMON AUCTION CONDITIONS
FOR AUCTIONS OF REAL ESTATE IN ENGLAND & WALES Reproduced with the consent of RICS (Edition III 1st August 2009)
1. Glossary The glossary gives special meanings to certain words used in both sets of conditions.
2. Auction Conduct Conditions The Auction Conduct Conditions govern the relationship between the auctioneer and anyone who has a catalogue, or who attends or bids at the auction. They cannot be changed without the auctioneer’s agreement. We recommend that these conditions are set out in a two-part notice to bidders in the auction catalogue, part one containing advisory material – which auctioneers can tailor to their needs – and part two the auction conduct conditions.
3. Sale Conditions The Sale Conditions govern the agreement between each seller and buyer. They include general conditions of sale and template forms of special conditions of sale, tenancy and arrears schedules and a sale memorandum.
Important notice
A prudent buyer will, before bidding for a lot at an auction • Take professional advice from a conveyancer and, in appropriate cases, a chartered surveyor and an accountant
• Read the conditions • Inspect the lot • Carry out usual searches and make usual enquiries • Check the content of all available leases and other documents relating to the lot • Check that what is said about the lot in the catalogue is accurate • Have finance available for the deposit and purchase price • Check whether VAT registration and election is advisable
The conditions assume that the buyer has acted like a prudent buyer. If you choose to buy a lot without taking these normal precautions you do so at your own risk.
Glossary
This glossary applies to the auction conduct conditions and the sale conditions. Wherever it makes sense: • singular words can be read as plurals, and plurals as singular words; • a ‘person’ includes a corporate body; • words of one gender include the other genders; • references to legislation are to that legislation as it may have been modified or re-enacted by the date of the auction or the contract date (as applicable); and
• where the following words appear in bold green type they have the specified meanings. Actual completion date The date when completion takes place or is treated as taking place for the purposes of apportionment and calculating interest. Addendum An amendment or addition to the conditions or to the particulars or to both whether contained in a supplement to the catalogue, a written notice from the auctioneers or an oral announcement at the auction. Agreed completion date Subject to condition G9.3: (a) the date specified in the special conditions; or (b) if no date is specified, 20 business days after the contract date; but if that date is not a business day the first subsequent business day. Approved financial institution Any bank or building society that has signed up to the Banking Code or Business Banking Code or is otherwise acceptable to the auctioneers. Arrears Arrears of rent and other sums due under the tenancies and still outstanding on the actual completion date.
Arrears schedule The arrears schedule (if any) forming part of the special conditions. Auction The auction advertised in the catalogue. Auction conduct conditions The conditions so headed, including any extra auction conduct conditions. Auctioneers The auctioneers at the auction. Business day Any day except (a) a Saturday or a Sunday; (b) a bank holiday in England and Wales; or (c) Good Friday or Christmas Day. Buyer The person who agrees to buy the lot or, if applicable, that person’s personal representatives: if two or more are jointly the buyer their obligations can be enforced against them jointly or against each of them separately. Catalogue The catalogue to which the conditions refer including any supplement to it. Completion Unless otherwise agreed between seller and buyer (or their conveyancers) the occasion when both seller and buyer have complied with their obligations under the contract and the balance of the price is unconditionally received in the seller’s conveyancer’s client account. Condition One of the auction conduct conditions or sales conditions. Contract The contract by which the seller agrees to sell and the buyer agrees to buy the lot. Contract date The date of the auction or, if the lot is not sold at the auction: (a) the date of the sale memorandum signed by both the seller and buyer; or (b) if contracts are exchanged, the date of exchange. If exchange is not effected in person or by an irrevocable agreement to exchange made by telephone, fax or electronic mail the date of exchange is the date on which both parts have been signed and posted or otherwise placed beyond normal retrieval.
Documents Documents of title (including, if title is registered, the entries on the register and the title plan) and other documents listed or referred to in the special conditions relating to the lot. Financial charge A charge to secure a loan or other financial indebtness (not including a rentcharge). General conditions That part of the sale conditions so headed, including any extra general conditions. Interest rate If not specified in the special conditions, 4% above the base rate from time to time of Barclays Bank plc. (The interest rate will also apply to judgment debts, if applicable.) Lot Each separate property described in the catalogue or (as the case may be) the property that the seller has agreed to sell and the buyer to buy (including chattels, if any). Old arrears Arrears due under any of the tenancies that are not ‘new tenancies’ as defined by the Landlord and Tenant (Covenants) Act 1995. Particulars The section of the catalogue that contains descriptions of each lot (as varied by any addendum). Practitioner An insolvency practitioner for the purposes of the Insolvency Act 1986 (or, in relation to jurisdictions outside the United Kingdom, any similar official). Price The price that the buyer agrees to pay for the lot. Ready to complete Ready, willing and able to complete: if completion would enable the seller to discharge all financial charges secured on the lot that have to be discharged by completion, then those outstanding financial charges do not prevent the seller from being ready to complete. Sale conditions The general conditions as varied by any special conditions or addendum. Sale memorandum The form so headed (whether or not set out in the catalogue) in which the terms of the contract for the sale of the lot are recorded. Seller The person selling the lot. If two or more are jointly the seller their obligations can be enforced against them jointly or against each of them separately. Special conditions Those of the sale conditions so headed that relate to the lot. Tenancies Tenancies, leases, licences to occupy and agreements for lease and any documents varying or supplemental to them. Tenancy schedule The tenancy schedule (if any) forming part of the special conditions. Transfer Transfer includes a conveyance or assignment (and ‘to transfer’ includes ‘to convey’ or ‘to assign’). TUPE The Transfer of Undertakings (Protection of Employment) Regulations 2006. VAT Value Added Tax or other tax of a similar nature. VAT option An option to tax. We (and us and our) The auctioneers. You (and your) Someone who has a copy of the catalogue or who attends or bids at the auction, whether or not a buyer.
Auction Conduct Conditions
A1 Introduction A1.1 Words in bold green type have special meanings, which are defined in the Glossary. A1.2 The catalogue is issued only on the basis that you accept these auction conduct conditions. They govern our relationship with you and cannot be disapplied or varied by the sale conditions (even by a condition purporting to replace the whole of the Common Auction Conditions). They can be varied only if we agree.
A2 Our role A2.1 As agents for each seller we have authority to: (a) prepare the catalogue from information supplied by or on behalf of each seller; (b) offer each lot for sale; (c) sell each lot; (d) receive and hold deposits; (e) sign each sale memorandum; and (f) treat a contract as repudiated if the buyer fails to sign a sale memorandum or pay a deposit as required by these auction conduct conditions.
A2.2 Our decision on the conduct of the auction is final. A2.3 We may cancel the auction, or alter the order in which lots are offered for sale. We may also combine or divide lots. A lot may be sold or withdrawn from sale prior to the auction.
A2.4 You acknowledge that to the extent permitted by law we owe you no duty of care and you have no claim against us for any loss.
A3 Bidding and reserve prices A3.1 All bids are to be made in pounds sterling exclusive of any applicable VAT. A3.2 We may refuse to accept a bid. We do not have to explain why. A3.3 If there is a dispute over bidding we are entitled to resolve it, and our decision is final. A3.4 Unless stated otherwise each lot is subject to a reserve price (which may be fixed just before the lot is offered for sale). If no bid equals or exceeds that reserve price the lot will be withdrawn from the auction.
A3.5 Where there is a reserve price the seller may bid (or ask us or another agent to bid on the seller’s behalf) up to the reserve price but may not make a bid equal to or exceeding the reserve price. You accept that it is possible that all bids up to the reserve price are bids made by or on behalf of the seller.
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