Missives

A singular missive is a letter from an authority addressed to a particular individual or group conveying a command, recommendation, permission, or invitation. For example, it might be used to describe a particular response or memorandum from the government to industry in the form of a letter or a series of missives, referring to a number of formal letters about a certain subject .

However, in property law (particularly Scottish conveyancing practice) the term missives has a specific meaning referring to a series of letters written between solicitors acting on behalf of the buyer and seller to negotiate and agree the conditions of the sale - such as the anticipated completion date, the validity of funds and so on. These will be followed by a concluding missive which forms the binding contract between the buyer and the seller.

In terms of construction projects, other than sale and purchase missives, missives can be significant communiaction routes within projects but they are unlikey to override any contracts in place (see GWR Property Co Ltd v Forrest Outdoor Media Ltd).

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• Bridging loan.
• Commonhold.
• Conveyancing.
• Conveyancing in Scotland
• Easements.
• Encumbrances.
• Estate agent.
• Freehold.
• Land Registry.
• Leasehold.
• Register of Letting Agents.
• Restrictive covenant.
• Stamp duty land tax.