Residential Conveyancing

We do not offer fixed fee conveyancing as it would not be beneficial to you. When you make an enquiry for us to conduct work on your behalf we will provide you with a detailed estimate of costs and timeframes and as part of our Treating Clients Fairly Policy and update you if there are any changes. Below are some worked examples to demonstrate how our fees are calculated but you will only be charged for time spent. You will appreciate that there are many variables and so it is important that you discuss the specifics of your matter with us and only take these worked examples as a guide.

EXAMPLES

PURCHASE OF A FREEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN THE PRICE BAND OF £200,000 to £500,000

[Prices on application relating to other price bands]

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.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

Estimated Legal fee £1260 + VAT (second hand property) or £1680 + VAT (newbuild)
For acting for you upon a mortgage * from £105 to £540 + VAT
Search fees from £300.89 to £416.89 inclusive of VAT
HM Land Registry fee £135 (second hand property) or £270 (newbuild) (no VAT payable)
Stamp Duty Land Tax variable as below
Electronic money transfer fee £30 + VAT
VAT payable £279 to £450
Subtotal inclusive of VAT £2009.89 to £3386.89

* Not chargeable on cash purchases

Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Search Fees & 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 and a number of other variables. For example, ownership of other properties, anywhere in the world; reliefs such as First Time Buyer Relief or Principal Main Residence Relief. 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. There are different rates for Non-Residential Properties and Corporate Purchases.

For example:

Purchase of Principal Main Residence at £50v,000 £15,000
First time buyer at £300,000 £0
Investment purchase at £350,000 £18,000

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 6-12 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.

Stages of the process
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

PURCHASE OF A LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN THE PRICE BAND OF £200,000 TO £500,000

[Prices on application for other price bands]
Our fees cover all 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 is in Wales.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
The same as the purchase of a freehold property (second hand or newbuild) plus a supplemental estimated fee of £420 + VAT for additional leasehold work.

Total inclusive of VAT £2513.89 to £3890.89

Anticipated Additional Disbursements for Leasehold Purchases

Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50 – £200 + VAT.
Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50 – £200 + VAT.
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 – £200 + VAT.
Certificate of Compliance fee *- To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £100 – £200 + VAT.

* Not required on a Newbuild

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 especially the management pack from the managing agents.

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. The earlier examples given especially hold true for leasehold property purchases within the band. On a New Lease there may be additional Stamp Duty Land Tax on the rent.

Stages of the process
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 or on Newbuild agree Lease
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 and satisfy Landlord’s Notice requirements & other aspects
Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
Deal with application for registration at Land Registry and satisfy any compliance requirements on purchase

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 6-8 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 12-16 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.

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 or lease 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 unless a newbuild or involves an extension of a lease whether by consent or under statute
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.

SALE OF A FREEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN THE PRICE BAND OF £200,000 to £500,000

[Prices on application relating to other price bands]
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home, together with redeeming mortgages (if any) and work association with this.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

Estimated Legal fee £1030 + VAT
For acting on behalf of the mortgage lender in redemption £105 + VAT
Provision of official documentation £9 (no VAT)
Electronic money transfer fee £30 + VAT on Redemption
VAT payable £233
Subtotal inclusive of VAT £1407

Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as indemnity policies. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

How long will my house sale take?
How long it will take for you to sell your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6-8 weeks.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are at the top of the chain, it could take 12-16 weeks. However, if you are selling a leasehold property that requires dealing with numerous pre-contract enquiries, this can take considerably longer.

Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages:

Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Check finances are in place to enable sale and contact the lender’s solicitors, if needed
Prepare and advise on contract documents
Obtain further planning documentation, building regulation approvals, FENSA certificates, warranties and so forth
Submit contract and support documentation to the seller’s solicitors
Deal with purchaser’s solicitors pre-contract enquiries
Send final contract to you for signature
Agree completion date (date at which you sell the property)
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Arrange for all monies needed to be received from the purchaser’s solicitors and you
Complete sale

Our estimated 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
there are no service charges payable to a management company in which case additional fees will arise and you will have to pay for a management pack usually between £250 and £600 plus VAT.
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 fees and disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

SALE OF A LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY IN THE PRICE BAND OF £200,000 TO £500,000

[Prices on application for other price bands]
Our fees cover all the work required to complete the sale of your home, including the redemption of the appointments of service charges and ground rent.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
The same as for the sale of a freehold property plus a supplemental estimated fee of £630 + VAT for additional leasehold work.

Total inclusive of VAT £2163

You will also have to pay for a management pack usually between £250 + VAT and £600 + VAT.

Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential leasehold property as per the freehold sale 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
Obtain information as to cost of Management Pack from Managing Agents
Submit Property Information Forms and other forms for your completion
Prepare and advise on contract documents/Property Information Forms & documentation requirements
Submit contract and support documentation to the seller’s solicitors
Deal with purchaser’s solicitors pre-contract enquiries
Send final contract to you for signature
Agree completion date (date at which you sell the property)
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Arrange for all monies needed to be received from the purchaser’s solicitors and you
Complete sale

How long will my house sale take?
How long it will take from you accepting your offer until you can move out will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 4-12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are at the top of the chain, it could take 6-12 weeks, however, if you are selling a leasehold property that requires extensive replies to pre-contract enquiries involving managing agents and freeholders, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 6 months. In such, a situation additional charges may apply.

Our estimated 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 or involves an extension of a lease whether by consent or under statute
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 fees and disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required
no licence to assign is required from the Landlord.