Our fees* cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new property, 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
- Legal fee - please see fee scale at Appendix A.
- Bank transfer fee - £18.00 inclusive of 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 and include:
- Search fees will be between £200.00 and £500.00 depending on the location of the property
- HM Land Registry fee - please see Land Registry fee scale at Appendix B.
- HM Land Registry fee for 2 bankruptcy searches for the lender - £4.00
- HM Land Registry fee for a priority search prior to registration - £3.00
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (on purchase)
The Stamp Duty Land Tax depends on the purchase price of the property, whether or not you are a first time buyer and whether or not you own any other properties and whether or not you are an individual or a company. 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..
An example of a typical freehold purchase transaction and the legal fees involved will be as follows:
| Purchase of a £350,000 freehold property | £ |
|---|---|
| Our fees (£1,550.00 plus VAT) | 1,860.00 |
| Local Authority, Drainage and Water and Environmental searches | 300.00 |
| Land Registry fees - priority search (£3 per title) | 3.00 |
| Land Registry fees - bankruptcy search (£2 per name) | 2.00 |
| Land Registry fee - online registration | 150.00 |
| Bank transfer fee (£15.00 plus VAT) | 19.20 |
| Estimated total fees plus disbursements (including VAT) | 2,334.20 |
The Stamp Duty Land Tax calculation based on an individual first time buyer who does not own any other properties will be £2,500.00
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, please see below some key stages for your information:
- 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 the 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
- Send you the mortgage deed of signature
- 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
Purchase of a leasehold residential property
The leasehold property prices are the same as with the freehold property prices save that there may be additional disbursements for leasehold property prices which typically include the following:
- Notice of Assignment and Charge is estimated to be £100.00 plus VAT
- Application for membership of a freehold company £100.00 plus VAT
- Deed of Covenant fee £100.00 plus VAT
- Certificate of Compliance fee £100.00 plus VAT.
This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you with the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors and information from the freeholder or any managing agent.
You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout the ownership of your property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge once 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.
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 and documents
- Carry out searches
- Obtain further planning documentation if required
- Make any necessary enquiries of the 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
- Send you the mortgage deed of 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 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 to 12 weeks.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the number of parties in the chain and the individual matters involved in each of those sales and purchases. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a freehold property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension or variation of the lease and there are various other properties involved in a large chain this can take significantly longer, say between 3 and 6 months. In such a situation, additional charges may apply.
Sale of a freehold residential property
Our fees* cover all the works with required to complete the sale of your property including acting for your lender (if you have one)
Conveyancer’s fee and disbursements
- Legal fee - please see fee scale at Appendix A.
- Bank transfer fees £38.40 inclusive of VAT
Disbursements are cost relating to the matter that are payable to third parties such as Land Registry fees. We handled the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process and include:-
Land Registry - copy title entries estimated at £6 to £30 depending on the number of entries involved and any specific documents that require being downloaded
An example of a typical sale of a freehold property with a mortgage for the sum £250,000
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Our fees (£1,450.00 plus VAT) | 1,740.00 |
| Land Registry fees | 6.00 |
| Bank transfer fees (£16.00 plus VAT per transfer) | 38.40 |
| Estimated total fees plus disbursements (including VAT) | 1,784.40 |
Sale of a leasehold residential property
The fees are likely to be the same as above for a freehold sale save that there may be more documents to download from the Land Registry due to there being a freehold and leasehold titles involved. Also, there may be a Licence to Assign required in which case you may have to pay the landlord’s administration fee and solicitor’s fee for dealing with the preparation and execution and completion of a Licence to Assign your lease to the purchaser. This can be in the region of £500.00 plus VAT to £1,500.00 plus VAT.
How long will my property sale take?
The same principles and factors apply as described above in purchases for the duration of a sale transaction and so the timings are the same.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below are some key stages for your information:
- Take your instructions and give you initial advice
- Check if there are any financial charges on the property and obtain the lender’s information
- Prepare the Contract and send to the Buyer’s solicitors with Land Registry entries and any other supporting documentation relevant to the property
- Deal with enquiries raised by the Buyer’s solicitors
- Send you the Contract for signature
- Agree the exchange and completion date
- Exchange Contracts and notify you that this has happened
- Agree the Transfer Deed and send it to you for your signature
- Complete the sale and send your executed Transfer Deed to the Buyer’s solicitors
- Redeem the mortgage
- Send the balance of the proceeds after the costs disbursements and redemption of the mortgage to you
Acting for the lender in purchases, sales and re-mortgages
In all the above transactions, our fees for acting for the lender is included in the price. In the case of a re-mortgage only our fees* cover all of the work required to complete the re-mortgage including dealing with registration at the Land Registry.
Conveyancer's fees and disbursements
- Legal fee - £1,200.00 inclusive of VAT and this is not dependent upon the value of the property
- Bank transfer fee to redeem the current mortgage and for remittance of any balance to you £38.40 inclusive of 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 and include:
- Search fees will be between £200.00 and £500.00 depending on the location of the property
- HM Land Registry fee - £40.00
- HM Land Registry fee bankruptcy searches for the lender - £2 per name
- HM Land Registry fee for a priority search prior to registration - £3.00
If the re-mortgage is of a leasehold property, there may be additional disbursements for leasehold property prices which typically include the following:
- Notice of Charge is estimated to be £100.00 plus VAT
- Certificate of Compliance fee £100.00 plus VAT
This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update with the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors and information from the freeholder or any managing agent.
An example of a typical freehold re-mortgage transaction and the legal fees involved will be as follows:
| £ | |
|---|---|
| Our fees (including VAT) | 1,200.00 |
| Local authority, Drainage and water and Environmental searches | 300.00 |
| Land Registry fees - priority | 3.00 |
| Land Registry fees - bankruptcy search | 2.00 |
| Land Registry fee - online registration | 40.00 |
| Bank transfer fee (£16.00 plus VAT) | 38.40 |
| Estimated total fees plus disbursements (including VAT) | 1583.40 |
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in a re-mortgage of a leasehold or freehold 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
- Carry out searches
- Obtain further planning documentation if required
- Go through conditions of mortgage offer
- Send you the mortgage deed of signature
- Advise you on joint ownership
- Obtain pre-completion searches
- Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
- Complete re-mortgage
- Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
How long will my re-mortgage take?
How long it will take from your mortgage offer being received the matter completes will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6 to 12 weeks.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the number of conditions in the mortgage and the valuation and the due diligence necessary for the lender. For example, a high street lender with an offer for a freehold property with all paperwork in order may take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property with non-high street lender with numerous conditions including works that need to be carried out prior to completion requiring the cooperation of the freeholder and/or managing agent, this can potentially take significantly longer, say up to 4 months. In such a situation, additional charges may apply.
* Our fees assume 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. 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.
- In the case of a leasehold purchase, this an 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.
APPENDIX A
Residential Conveyancing Price List
Property Price | Our fee Leasehold Sale and Purchase | Our fee Freehold Sale and Purchase |
|---|---|---|
Up to £100,000 | £1,500 plus VAT | £1,250 plus VAT |
£100,001 - £200,000 | £1,600 plus VAT | £1,350 plus VAT |
£200,001 - £300,000 | £1,700 plus VAT | £1,450 plus VAT |
£300,001 - £400,000 | £1,800 plus VAT | £1,550 plus VAT |
£400,001 - £500,000 | £1,900 plus VAT | £1,650 plus VAT |
£500,001 - £600,000 | £2,000 plus VAT | £1,750 plus VAT |
£600,001 - £700,000 | £2,100 plus VAT | £1,850 plus VAT |
£700,001 - £800,000 | £2,200 plus VAT | £1,950 plus VAT |
£800,001 - £900,000 | £2,300 plus VAT | £2,050 plus VAT |
£900,001 - £1,000,000 | £2,400 plus VAT | £2,150 plus VAT |
£1,000,001 - £1,100,000 | £2,500 plus VAT | £2,250 plus VAT |
£1,100,000 - £1,200,000 | £2,600 plus VAT | £2,350 plus VAT |
£1,200,001 - £1,300,000 | £2,700 plus VAT | £2,450 plus VAT |
£1,300,001 - £1,400,000 | £2,800 plus VAT | £2,550 plus VAT |
£1,400,001 - £1,500,000 | £2,900 plus VAT | £2,650 plus VAT |
£1,500,001 - £1,600,000 | £3,000 plus VAT | £2,750 plus VAT |
£1,600,001 - £1,700,000 | £3,100 plus VAT | £2,850 plus VAT |
£1,700,001 - £1,800,000 | £3,200 plus VAT | £2,950 plus VAT |
£1,800,001 - £1,900,000 | £3300 plus VAT | £3,050 plus VAT |
£1,900,001 - £2,000,000 | £3,400 plus VAT | £3,150 plus VAT |
£2,000,001 - £2,100,000 | £3,500 plus VAT | £3,250 plus VAT |
£2,100,000 - £2,200,000 | £3,600 plus VAT | £3,350 plus VAT |
£2,200,001 - £2,300,000 | £3,700 plus VAT | £3,450 plus VAT |
£2,300,001 - £2,400,000 | £3,800 plus VAT | £3,550 plus VAT |
£2,400,001 - £2,500,000 | £3,900 plus VAT | £3,650 plus VAT |
£2,500,001 - £2,600,000 | £4,000 plus VAT | £3,750 plus VAT |
£2,600,001 -£2,700,000 | £4,100 plus VAT | £3,850 plus VAT |
£2,700,001 - £2,800,000 | £4,200 plus VAT | £3,950 plus VAT |
£2,800,001 - £2,900,000 | £4,300 plus VAT | £4,050 plus VAT |
£2,900,001 - £3,000,000 | £4,400 plus VAT | £4,150 plus VAT |
£3,000,001 - £3,100,000 | £4,600 plus VAT | £4,350 plus VAT |
£3,100,001 - £3,200,000 | £4,800 plus VAT | £4,550 plus VAT |
£3,200,001 - £3,300,000 | £5,000 plus VAT | £4,750 plus VAT |
£3,300,001 - £3,400,000 | £5,200 plus VAT | £4,950 plus VAT |
£3,400,001 - £3,500,000 | £5,400 plus VAT | £5,050 plus VAT |
£3,500,001 - £3,600,000 | £5,600 plus VAT | £5,150 plus VAT |
£3,600,001 - £3,700,000 | £5,800 plus VAT | £5,350 plus VAT |
£3,700,001 - £3,800,000 | £6,000 plus VAT | £5,550 plus VAT |
£3,800,001 - £3,900,000 | £6,200 plus VAT | £5,950 plus VAT |
APPENDIX B
Scale 1 fees
Value or amount | Apply by post | Apply using the portal or Business Gateway, | Apply using the portal or Business Gateway, | Voluntary first registration (reduced fee) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
0 to £80,000 | £45 | £20 | £45 | £30 |
£80,001 to £100,000 | £95 | £40 | £95 | £70 |
£100,001 to £200,000 | £230 | £100 | £230 | £170 |
£200,001 to £500,000 | £330 | £150. | £330 | £250 |
£500,001 to £1,000,000 | £655 | £295 | £655 | £495 |
£1,000,001 and over | £1,105 | £500 | £1,105 | £830 |
When assessing fees under Scale 1, fees must be paid on the VAT-inclusive consideration or rent.