Glossary
Service charge
The annual contribution leaseholders or condo owners pay toward common-area maintenance, security, and amenities.
Around this term
Adjacent entries.
Off-plan
A purchase of a unit not yet built — typically with staged payments tied to construction milestones.
Reservation fee
A non-refundable amount paid to remove a unit from sale during exclusivity; sometimes credited at completion.
SDLT
Stamp Duty Land Tax — the UK tiered tax on residential property purchases, with surcharges for additional dwellings and non-residents.
Sole mandate
An agreement giving one brokerage exclusive rights to market a property for a defined period.
Subject to contract
A non-binding qualifier indicating that an offer or acceptance is conditional on a formal signed contract.
Transfer fee
A government fee on property transfers — 4% of value in the UAE Dubai emirate, typically split conventionally between buyer and seller.
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