SDLTM82880 - Compliance: Concluding an enquiry

Contract Settlements: Letters of offer: When is payment due

Payment will normally be due within 30 days of the date of the letter notifying acceptance of the offer by the Stamp Office.

This should allow sufficient time for the funds to be made available. Any shorter period would be at the purchaser’s suggestion and any longer period would be at the purchaser’s request.

Where, exceptionally, it is necessary to enter a specific date for payment (for example on or before 1 January 2005) the compliance caseworker should ensure that date is far enough ahead for the offer to be made and accepted before payment is due.

A compliance caseworker should

• make sure the terms of payment are clear cut, for example £……………. to be paid within 30 days of the date of your letter accepting this offer
• not refer to the date of receipt of the letter by the purchaser as this cannot always be established

It should be ensured that the due date of each instalment in instalment offers is clear by

• using specific dates, preferably linking them with the date of the acceptance letter
• not tying instalments to the date of payment of earlier instalments as they may be paid late

If the offer is one which cannot be accepted locally extra time should be allowed for the submission.

If payment is due within a month, the deadline should be clearly marked on the report and file or advance notice given.