Conveyancing Fees

Our fees are determined by the value or price of the property and therefore the associated risks involved in the transaction. Where the value of the property exceeds £1M the fee will need to be agreed directly with the firm.

Fee profile

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.

Disbursements

• Search fees (local/environmental/mining & water) - £178.00
• Land Charge official search - £3.00.
• HM Land Registry fee (refer to scale) between - £40 [up to £540 where value £500 > £1M]
• Bankruptcy search (mortgage and RTB only) - £2 [per name]
• Electronic money bank transfer fee (incl VAT) - £6 [£18 for transfers over £250K]
• VAT payable - £100

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.

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.

Estimated total (based upon a purchase price of £300K and the property is not a 2nd home and not the buyers 1st purchase) would be £5846.99 inclusive of £5K Stamp Duty Land Tax.

How long will my house purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move into your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8 > 12 weeks from initial instructions to completion.

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 26 weeks depending upon the anticipated build completion date. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 6 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply.

You should note that it can take a further 6 > 10 weeks for the Land Registry to complete registration of the property into your name.

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:

• 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
• Report to you the outcome of the transaction

Our fee structure is the same as for Freehold properties, however, additional charges will arise if a notice to the Freeholder or Management Company is required (in accordance with the terms in the lease). In addition, a Service Charge apportionment may be required.

Conveyancers fees

• Legal fee (see scale above) 
• Fee for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender - £0

Disbursements:

• Land Charge official search - £3.00
• Search fees (local/environmental, mining & water) - £178.00
• HM Land Registry fee (refer to scale) between - £40 [up to £540 where value £500 > £1M
• Bankruptcy search (mortgage and RTB only) - £2 [per name]
• Electronic money transfer fee - £6 [£21 for transfers over £250K
• VAT payable - £100

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. There are certain disbursements which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the Property. The disbursements which we anticipate will apply are set out separately below. This list 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.

Anticipated additional Disbursements*

• Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £150 > £300
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £150 > £300.
• Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £100 > £250.
• Certificate of Compliance fee - To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £100 > £250

*These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge 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.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

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.

Estimated total (based upon a purchase price of £300K and the property is not a 2nd home and not the buyers 1st purchase) would be £5846.99 inclusive of £5K Stamp Duty Land Tax plus any additional disbursements listed above.

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 > 12 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 26 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 6 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:

• 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
• Report to you the outcome of the transaction

* Our fee 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 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.

What do we do? 

• Receive and check the initial instructions either from you direct or from the Estate Agents
• Obtain Office Copies of your title (if registered) or the title deeds (if unregistered)
• Prepare draft contracts and send these to the buyer's solicitors together with any supporting documents needed
• Send you Property Information Form and Fittings and Contents Form to complete, then forward them to the buyer's solicitors
• Answer any queries raised by the buyer’s solicitors arising out of the paperwork 
• Agree on a completion date and once this has been agreed obtain a redemption figure for your mortgage (if any)
• Have all of the necessary documents signed in preparation for completion
• Attend upon completion, to include receiving the purchase money, paying off any mortgage, accounting to you.
• Sending all necessary paperwork to the buyer’s solicitors to enable them to register 

How long does it take? 

This can vary substantially, normally depending upon the buyer’s financial arrangements. However, the average process will be between 6 and 12 weeks from initial instructions to completion. 

Fee profile

Disbursements:

• Land Charge official search - £3.00
• Bankruptcy search (mortgage and RTB only) - £2 [per name]
• Electronic money bank transfer fee - £6 [£18 for transfers over £250K]

Our standard fee for dealing with an Equity Release are exactly the same as for Freehold Purchase (see above) in addition to payable disbursements.

Our standard fee for dealing with the Purchase of Freehold Title will be £300 (inclusive of VAT) in addition to the Land Registry fee and disbursements (see above)

Our standard fee for dealing with a Re-mortgage will be £300 (inclusive of VAT) in addition to payable disbursements (see above). Where the Re-mortgage includes a Transfer of Title the fee will be £420 (inclusive of VAT) in addition to payable disbursements.

What do we do?

• Obtain details of your title from the Land Registry (if registered) or the title deeds (if unregistered) and check these carefully
• Check the instructions received from your new lender to make sure that they are suitable for you
• Carry out standard searches, if required by the lender. We may deal with this by Indemnity Insurance if the lender accepts this.
• When everything is in order obtain a redemption figure for your current mortgage, request the funds from the lender and use them to repay the old mortgage.
• Register the new mortgage at HM Land Registry and report to you and to the lender once this is done.

What we do NOT do?

It is not part of our job to check any survey report prepared by your new lender.  Most lenders do not provide these to you in any event but some do.  If you require advice on the contents of the survey report there will be an additional charge for this service.

Our standard fee for dealing with the preparation of Deeds is £300 (inclusive of VAT) together with any Land Registry fee payable (see above).