LifeintheUK中英文双语对照版5Everydayneeds.docx

Life in the UK: A Journey to Citizenship Chapter 5. Everyday needs Housing Buying a home Two-thirds of people in the UK own their own home. Most other people rent houses, flats or rooms. Mortgages People who buy their own home usually pay for it with a mortgage, a special loan from a bank or building society. This load is paid back, with interest, over a long period of time, usually 25 years. You can get information about mortgages from a bank or building society. Some banks can also give information about Islamic (Sharia) mortgages. If you are having problems paying your mortgage repayments, you can help and advice. It is important to speak to your bank or building society as soon as you can. Estate agents If you wish to buy a home, usually the first place to start is an estate agent. In Scotland the process is different and you should go first to a solicitor. Estate agents represent the person selling their house or flat. They arrange for buyers to visit homes that are for sale. There are estate agents in all towns and cities and they usually have websites where they advertise the homes for sale. You can also find details about homes for sale on the Internet and in national and local newspapers. Making an offer In the UK, except Scotland, when you find a home you wish to buy you have to make an offer to the seller. You usually do this through an estate agent or solicitor. Many people offer a lower price than the seller is asking. Your first offer must be subject to contract so that you can withdraw if there are reasons why you cannot complete the purchase. In Scotland the seller sets a price and buyers make offers over that amount. The agreement becomes legally binding earlier than it does elsewhere in the UK. Solicitor and surveyor It is important that a solicitor helps you through the process of buying a house or flat. When you make an offer on a property, the solicitor will carry out a number of legal checks on the property, the seller and the local area. Th