Conveyancing Services Fee Guide

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

Although, in general, we provide our conveyancing services at a fixed fee, there may be some circumstances where the work required to progress a transaction falls outside of the standard fixed fee transaction. Should this be the case, we will always notify you of this in advance to undertaking the additional work and provide you with an estimated cost for it.

The following are an example of the anticipated costs involved in a standard fixed fee cost for one client purchasing a freehold house at £250,000 in the EX1 postcode area. Please note, legal fees, search fees and stamp duty will differ from this example depending on factors such as the purchase price of a property and whether it is freehold or leasehold. We recommend you use our online quote tool or contact your local Dunn & Baker Solicitors office for a tailored quote.

• please see below for definitions of these terms

Please note, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) charges are dependent on your property’s purchase price. To find out more information on SDLT including the rate for the property you are purchasing, visit https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/residential-property-rates

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property will vary according to the circumstances. However, these bullet points below give a general overview of the key stages within the conveyancing process:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice.
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed.
• Receive and advise on contract documents.
• Carry out searches.
• Obtain further planning documentation if required.
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor.
• Give you advice on all documents and information received.
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you.
• Send final contract to you for signature.
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property).
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened.
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you.
• Complete purchase.
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax.
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry.

How Long With My House Purchase Take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8-10 weeks.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4 weeks to get to exchange and then completion will be whenever the property is structurally complete. However, if you are purchasing a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3-9 months. In such a situation, additional charges would apply. Should this be the case we will always notify you of this in advance to undertaking the additional work and provide you with an estimated cost for the same.

Further Information

Please visit gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home for further information about purchasing your home.

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you are buying is in Wales.

Although, in general, we provide our conveyancing services at a fixed fee, there may be some circumstances where the work required to progress a transaction falls outside of the standard fixed fee transaction. Should this be the case, we will always notify you of this in advance to undertaking the additional work and provide you with an estimated cost for it. You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.

The following are an example of the anticipated costs involved in a standard fixed fee cost for one client purchasing a leasehold property at £250,000 in the EX1 postcode area. Please note legal fees, search fees and stamp duty, will differ from this example depending on factors such as the purchase price of a property and whether it is freehold or leasehold. Our fee example assumes that:

• This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction.
• This is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease.
• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise.
• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
• No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

We recommend you use our online quote tool or contact your local Dunn & Baker Solicitors office for a tailored quote.

• please see below for definitions of these terms

Stamp Duty Land Tax charges are dependent on your property’s purchase price. To find out more information on SDLT including the rate for the property you are purchasing, visit https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/residential-property-rates

Please note there are certain disbursements which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the property. The disbursements which we anticipate have been included in the above example, however this is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors.

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However, these bullet points below give a general overview of the key stages within the conveyancing process:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice.
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed.
• Receive and advise on contract documents.
• Carry out searches.
• Obtain further planning documentation if required.
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor.
• Give you advice on all documents and information received.
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer.
• Send final contract to you for signature.
• Draft Transfer.
• Advise you on joint ownership.
• Obtain pre-completion searches.
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property).
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened.
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you.
• Complete purchase.
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax.
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry.

How Long Will My House Purchase Take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8-10 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take X weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3-9 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

Further Information

Please visit gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home for further information on buying your home.

Our fees cover the work required to complete the sale of your home. Although, in general, we provide our conveyancing services at a fixed fee, there may be some circumstances where the work required to progress a transaction falls outside of the standard fixed fee transaction. Should this be the case, we will always notify you of this in advance to undertaking the additional work and provide you with an estimated cost for it.

The following is an example of the anticipated costs involved in a standard fixed fee price for one client selling a freehold property at £250,000 in the EX1 postcode area. Please note, legal fees will differ from this example depending on factors such as the sale price of a property and whether it is freehold or leasehold. Our fee example assumes that:

• This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction.
• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
• No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

We recommend you use our online quote tool or contact your local Dunn & Baker Solicitors office for a tailored quote.

• please see below for definitions of these terms

Stages of the Process

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, these bullet points below give a general overview of the key stages within the conveyancing process:

• Take your instructions and give initial advised based on the information you have provided.
• We will need to check finances are in place for the buyer to fund the purchase.
• Receive and advise on contract documents.
• Obtain further planning documentation if required.
• Provide advice on all documents and information received.
• Finalise contract and send to you for signature.
• Agree completion date (the date which you legally own the property).
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened.
• Complete purchase.

How Long Will My Property Sale Take?

How long it will take from you accepting an offer until you can move from your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8-10 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if your purchasers are a first time buyers, the number of parties in the chain, if the buyer is financing the purchase with a mortgage or cash, whether there any issues flagged up through the searches or survey. If you are selling a leasehold property there may be issues with the lease, in such a situation additional time and charges would apply.

Further Information

Please visit gov.uk https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home for further information on selling your home.

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the remortgage of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry.

Although, in general, we provide our conveyancing services at a fixed fee, there may be some circumstances where the work required to progress a transaction falls outside of the standard fixed fee transaction. Should this be the case, we will always notify you of this in advance to undertaking the additional work and provide you with an estimated cost for it.

The following are an example of the anticipated costs involved in a standard fixed fee cost for one client remortgaging a freehold house at £250,000 in the EX1 postcode area. Please note legal fees, search fees and stamp duty will differ from this example depending on factors such as the remortgage value of the property of a property, whether it is freehold or leasehold.

We recommend you use our online quote tool or contact your local Dunn & Baker Solicitors office for a tailored quote.

• please see below for definitions of these terms

Stages of the Process

The following bullet points below give a general overview of the key stages within the remortgage process. Please note they may vary depending on the individual matter:

• Take your instructions and give initial advised based on the information you have provided.
• Requesting the Title Deeds and Redemption Statement.
• Obtaining Official Copies of the Title.
• Checking the Title.
• Checking Official Copies.
• Leasehold properties will require the lease to be checked and enquiries made if relevant.
• Searches.
• Checking the mortgage offer.
• Preparing for completion.
• Requesting final redemption statement.
• Requesting the mortgage advance.
• Completion.
• Registration.

How Long Will My Remortgage Take?

A standard remortgage usually takes between 6 and 8 weeks, although if there are complications it can take longer.

Certificate of Compliance Fee – this fee is payable to the Freeholder or Management Company. It is set by them and we have no control over the amount. Often the fee is between £100-£200 plus VAT.

Deed of Covenant Fee – this fee is payable to the Freeholder or Management Company. It is set by them and we have no control over the amount. Often the fee is between £100-£200 plus VAT.

Disbursements – are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. We will ask you for funds to cover the anticipated disbursements in advance to us paying them.

Electronic Transfer Fee – charged per transfer for a same day transfer of funds and will be required to repay your existing mortgage. If any sums are due to you and you would like it on the same day a further fee will be payable.

ID Check (Per Person) – as part of our legal obligations we are required to know who our clients are. To do this we fully identify all clients, verify their identity and if applicable identify their source of funds. We use a third party to check different public databases to help confirm identity and to also check the legitimacy of photographic identification.

Land Charges Search (Bankruptcy Search) – £2 plus VAT per name – this is carried out on behalf of any mortgage lender to check for any bankruptcy registered against your name.

Land Registry Fee (Electronic) – this is the fee that the land registry charge to register the new owners of the property at the land registry.

Land Registry Search – this is carried out just before completion and is required to provide an update on the land registry title and ensure no further charges can be registered ahead of the registration of you as new owner of the property.

Leasehold Fee – this is a supplementary legal fee in relation to the additional legal work required on a leasehold purchase.

Legal Fee – these are our charges for carrying out the work on your matter. Although in general we provide our conveyancing services at a fixed fee there may be some circumstances where the work required to progress a transaction falls outside of the standard fixed fee transaction. Should this be the case we will always notify you of this in advance of undertaking the additional work and provide you with an estimated cost for the same.

Mortgage Fee – this fee is charged as we are required to act for your mortgage lender ensuring their security is protected. If buying, we receive your mortgage funds in readiness for completion. If redeeming a mortgage this is the fee charged for acting on behalf of your mortgage lender in redeeming the loan to them.

Notice of Charge Fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – this fee is payable to the Freeholder or Management Company. It is set by them and we have no control over the amount. Often the fee is between £100-£200 plus VAT.

Notice of Transfer Fee – this fee is payable to the Freeholder or Management Company. It is set by them and we have no control over the amount. Often the fee is between £100-£200 plus VAT.

Office Copy Entries – £3 plus VAT per document – these are documents from the Land Registry that show ownership of a property and any supporting documents such as the property title and plans.

Referral Fee – if you were referred to our services by a third party (e.g. estate agent, legal comparison quote website) then a referral fee may apply. The referring party will make you aware of this at the point of referral. Should you have not been given this information please let us know and we will confirm the amount.

SDLT Fee – this is the supplementary legal fee in relation to the additional work required to arrange submission of a Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return and payment of any SDLT due when purchasing or transferring ownership of a property.

Search Pack – an average costs is between £200 and £250 plus VAT for a Local Authority search, Drainage search and Environmental search.

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase) – this depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website here.

Third Party Disbursements – these are additional costs charged by third parties which you are liable to pay. We make these payments on your behalf during your transaction and redeem any outstanding costs from you towards the end of your transaction. We ask for money on account at the outset of your matter in consideration of these.