53 / 432
GAZETTE
JANUARY/FEBRUARY 1994
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.
JFB
n
A Guide to Buying or Selling
Your House in Ireland
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
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.
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.
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
The Legal
Alternative
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
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:(0l) 8725622
Tel: (080693) 65311
Fax: (01) 8725404
F a x : ( 0 8 0 6 9 3 ) 6 2 0 96
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