Cant.
The angle between two walls, which is greater or lesser than a right angle.

Cantilever.
A beam, which is fixed at one end.

Capillary Action.
This is when fluids such as water get sucked into narrow spaces, such as the gaps between bricks, usually in porous material. This particularly can lead to rising damp.

Capital allowances
Capital allowances are tax allowances that the owner of an asset can offset against taxable income or profits.  They provide a deduction for tax purposes in lieu of the depreciation charged in accounts.

There are various types of capital allowances.  The most common and widely available are plant and machinery allowances.  The definition of plant and machinery takes in a wide ranging group of fixed assets, from air-conditioning through to elevators.  Other types of capital allowances include industrial building allowances and those specific to hotels and commercial buildings in Enterprise zones.

Capital & Interest Mortgage
A mortgage where part of the monthly payment reduces the outstanding mortgage balance and partly repays the interest on the loan.

Capital Gains Tax
Capital Gains Tax (CGT) is a tax charged to individuals on gains made from selling or disposing of assets.  Limited companies are charged Corporation Tax on these gains.  As far as individuals are concerned, CGT is calculated for each tax year and is charged on the total of that individual’s taxable gains after taking into account certain selling costs and reliefs that can reduce or defer gains, allowable losses they made on assets to which CGT normally applies and the annual exemption.

Capital growth.
The rise in value of a property over time.

Capped Mortgage
A mortgage where there is an upper limit on the interest rate, but a flexible lower limit, if a lender increases or reduces interest rates.

Carassing.
The timber used in structural sections of a building - for example, roof rafters and floor joists.

Casement.
A window hinged on one of its vertical edges.

Cavity.
The gap between the external and internal walls of a house, often filled with insulating material such as expanded polystyrene.

Cavity tie.
Galvanised metal fixings used to bond the external and internal walls together.

Ceiling binder.
A tie running between the joists or trussed rafters.

Chain
A situation that occurs when a buyer needs to complete the sale of his or her existing property, to complete the purchase of his or her new property.

Chalet bungalow.
A bungalow with some first floor rooms built under the slope of the roof.

Charge certificate.
A certificate from the Land Registry that shows the boundaries of a property and gives details of covenants affecting it. If there is a mortgage on the land, a charge certificate will be issued instead of the normal land certificate. It also shows a record of the deed creating the mortgage.

Chase.
To cut a groove in brickwork or other material, so as to make it possible to embed a cable or pipe into it.

Cladding.
The outermost weatherproof material, fixed to a wall, designed to be decorative and / or functional.

Cleared site.
A site that once had an industrial, manufacturing or other operation located on it, but which is now clear. Due to the previous use of the land, their is a potential of contamination.

Common Parts.
Any part of a property shared with others. It is imperative to know your rights over the common parts.

Completion certificate.
A notice issued by the local authority after the final visit by the building inspector, confirming that the self build home or other structure complies with building regulations.

Completion notice.
A certificate issued by the architect to authorize a payment to a main contractor, which establishes the value of retention money to be held over a defects period.

Conservation areas.
No building development, or demolition of property, is allowed within a conservation area.

Contaminated land.
Land with a prior history of having toxic substances, chemical waste or manufacturing by-products contained in the soil structure.

Conveyancing.
The legal process involved in buying and / or selling self build land, or land in general, or property.

Cornice.
A decorative addition to the top of an external or internal wall.

Course.
A single layer of bricks or blocks.

Covenant.
An agreement to do or not do something contained in a deed. Covenants can be made by the current or any prior owner of the land. An example would be to maintain a particular wall.

Coving.
Decorative moulding adjoining the top of an interior wall and the ceiling.