Our Conveyancing Fees

Our Conveyancing Fees

This part of our website is set up to allow you to calculate the fees you will pay on:

1. Freehold Purchases
2. Leasehold Purchases
3. Sales
4. Re-mortgages

Freehold Purchases

Our fee covers all of the work (subject to the exclusions listed below) required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and payment of any Stamp Duty Land Tax (if the property is in England), or Land Transaction Tax (if the property is in Wales).

Our fee assumes that:

1. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise (including for example, a defect in the title that requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction)
2. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
3. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
4. no indemnity policies are required – additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Conveyancing fees and disbursements

Our fee (calculated with reference to the table below)

• Help to Buy to cover additional work £350 plus VAT @ 20% £70 = £420
• ISA Fee £100 plus VAT @ 20% £20 = £120
• Purchase Leasehold flat/apartment – to cover additional work £600 plus VAT @ 20% £120 = £720
• Drafting, approving and registering Deed of Covenant £125 plus VAT @ 20% £25 = £150
• Shared Ownership to cover additional work £300 plus VAT @ 20% £60 = £360
• Reporting gift to Lender £75 plus VAT @ 20%  £15 = £90
• Dealing with Third party solicitor £250 plus VAT @ 20% £50 = £300
• Auction Fees – £400 plus VAT @ 20% £80 = £480
• Management company (Freehold) £150 plus VAT @ 20% £30 = £180
• New build £400 plus VAT @ 20% £80 = £480
• Lenders Panel Fee £35.00 plus VAT @ 20% £7.00 = £42
• Unregistered Property £300 plus VAT @ 20% £60 = £360 Quotations available for properties in excess of £1,500,000:

• Search fees £223.60 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (for a standard pack of searches, comprising Local, Drainage and Environmental)
• Pre-completion search fees £8.80 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per Land Registry title
• Bankruptcy search fees £7.80 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per purchaser
• HM Land Registry fee (Please click here to access H M Land Registry Fee Scale 1)
• Electronic money transfer fee £42.00 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (payable when sending the purchase funds to the seller’s solicitor)
• ID and anti-money laundering check £25 plus VAT @ 20% per purchaser
• File storage fee £36 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

We do not pay referral fees – all our work is the result of recommendations from others or repeat business from clients

By adding these figures together you get an estimated total of the standard fees we will charge you for your purchase.

Some of the costs above are disbursements. These are costs related to your purchase that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees and Search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements for you to ensure a smoother transaction.

There may be other additional costs however:

Sometimes further searches will be required because of the location of the property:

• Coal Search £64.00 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

Sometimes additional work will be required (resulting in extra fees) because:

• The property has a leasehold element £600 plus VAT @ 20% = £720
• You are using Help to Buy £350 plus VAT @ 20% = £420
• You have a Help to Buy ISA £100 plus VAT @ 20% = £120
• The property is Shared Ownership £300 plus VAT @ 20% £360
• A friend or relative is providing part of the purchase price £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
• Your mortgage lender appoints its own solicitor £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
• You purchased the property at auction £400 plus VAT @ 20% = £480
• There is a Management Company involved £150 plus VAT @ 20% = £180 (Freehold Management)
• A Deed of Covenant is required £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
• Declaration of Trust £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

Stamp Duty or Land Tax

You may also have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax but this depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s calculator on their website by clicking here or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website here.

Adding all of the applicable fees and disbursements together will give you a clear understanding of the totall likely cost of your purchase and allow you to budget for the transaction.

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 to 12 weeks, but if you are a first time buyer, a cash buyer, or are purchasing from a builder or there is a very small chain involved, you may be able to move faster, say between 6 and 8 weeks.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below is a simple breakdown of the key stages involved:

• Take your instructions and confirm our fee estimate
• Check your ID and make sure your finances are in place including checking the source of any monies used for the purchase
• Receive on the draft contract documentation from the seller’s solicitor and raise enquiries
• Carry out searches
• Report to you on the contract documentation and replies to our enquiries
• Report to you on the search results and the conditions of your mortgage offer
• Meet with you to sign the contract and mortgage documentation and run through any final queries you may have. We will also supply you with a completion statement detailing the amount we require in order to complete and let you have our bank details
• Agree a completion date with the seller’s solicitor
• Exchange contracts and confirm this to you
• Request the mortgage advance from your lender
• Complete the purchase and ensure the keys are released by the agent for you to collect
• Deal with any payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with the application at Land Registry to register you as the new proprietor of the property

Leasehold Purchases

Our fee covers all of the work (subject to the exclusions listed below) required to complete the purchase of your new leasehold home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and payment of any Stamp Duty Land Tax (if the property is in England), or Land Transaction Tax (if the property is in Wales).  If the property is in Ireland, you will require a lawyer in Ireland.

Our fee assumes that:

1. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise (including for example, a defect in the title that requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction)
2. this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
3. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
4. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
5. no indemnity policies are required – additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

Our fee (calculated with reference to the table below)

• • Properties £750,001 – Quotation available upon request
  • Search fees £223.60 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (for a standard pack of searches, comprising Local, Drainage and Environmental)
  • Pre-completion search fees £8.80 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per Land Registry title
  • Bankruptcy search fees £7.80 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per purchaser
  • HM Land Registry fee (Please click here to access H M Land Registry Fee Scale 1)
  • Electronic money transfer fee £36 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (payable when sending the purchase funds to the seller’s solicitor)
  • ID and anti-money laundering check £25 plus VAT @ 20% = £25 per purchaser
  • File storage fee £36 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
  • Lenders Panel Fee £35.00 plus VAT @ 20% £7.00 = £42.00

We do not pay referral fees – all our work is the result of recommendations from others or repeat business from clients

By adding these figures together you get an estimated total of the standard fees we will charge you for your purchase.

Some of the costs above are disbursements.  These are costs related to your purchase that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees and Search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements for you to ensure a smoother transaction.

There may be other additional costs however, because you are buying a leasehold property.  These costs will be set out in the individual lease relating to the Property and we will confirm these to you before you complete the purchase.  Some examples are:

• • • Notice of Transfer fee (payable to the Landlord or Management Company) is often between £30 and £250.
    • Notice of Charge fee (payable if the property is to be mortgaged) is often between £30 and £250.
    • Deed of Covenant fee (payable to the Management Company) is often between £100 and £200.
    • Certificate of Compliance (payable to the Management Company) is often between £100 and £200.

These fees vary from lease to lease and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of the lease and accompanying paperwork from the Landlord or Management Company.

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property as well. We will confirm the amounts to you as soon as we receive this information.

Sometimes further searches will be required because of the location of the property:

• • • Coal Search £64.00 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

Sometimes additional work will be required (resulting in extra fees) because:

• • • You are using Help to Buy £300 plus VAT @ 20% = £360
    • You have a Help to Buy ISA £75 plus VAT @ 20% = £90
    • A friend or relative is providing part of the purchase price £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • Your mortgage lender appoints its own solicitor £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • You purchased the property at auction £350 + VAT @ 20% = £420
    • There is a Management Company involved £150 plus VAT @ 20% = £180
    • A Deed of Covenant is required £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

Stamp Duty or Land Tax

You may also have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax but this depends on the purchase price of your leasehold property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s calculator on their website by clicking here or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website here.

Adding all of the applicable fees and disbursements together will give you a clear understanding of the total cost of your purchase and allow you to budget for the transaction.

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 to 12 weeks, but if you are a first time buyer, a cash buyer, or are purchasing from a builder or there is a very small chain involved, you may be able to move faster, say between 6 and 8 weeks.

However, if the leasehold property you are buying requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, usually between 3 and 4 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply because there is a statutory framework to follow and notices to be served etc.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a leasehold residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below is a simple breakdown of the key stages involved:

• • • Take your instructions and confirm our fee estimate.
    • Check your ID and make sure your finances are in place including the source of any monies used in the purchase
    • Receive the draft contract documentation and lease from the seller’s solicitor and raise enquiries
    • Carry out searches
    • Report to you on the contract documentation, the lease and replies to our enquiries
    • Report to you on the search results and the conditions of your mortgage offer
    • Meet with you to sign the contract and mortgage documentation and run through any final queries you may have. We will also supply you with a completion statement detailing the amount we require in order to complete and let you have our bank details
    • Agree a completion date with the seller’s solicitor
    • Exchange contracts and confirm this to you
    • Request the mortgage advance from your lender
    • Complete the purchase and ensure the keys are released by the agent for you to collect
    • Deal with any payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
    • Serve notices on the Landlord and Management Company
  • • Deal with the application at Land Registry to register you as the new proprietor of the property

Sales

Our fee covers all of the work (subject to the exclusions listed below) required to complete the sale of your property, including dealing with your mortgage lender to repay your mortgage.

Our fee assumes that:

• • 1. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise (including for example, a defect in the title that the buyer’s solicitor requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction)
    2. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
    3. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
    4. no indemnity policies are required by the buyer’s solicitor – additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

Our fee (calculated with reference to the table below)

• • • Sale leasehold flat/apartment – to cover additional work £400 plus VAT @ 20% £80 = £480
    • Shared Ownership to cover additional work £250 plus VAT @ 20% £50 = £300
    • Management Co (Freehold) £75 plus VAT @ 20% £15 = £90
    • Auction Fees – £400 + VAT @ 20% £80 = £480
    • Statutory Declaration £100 plus VAT @ 20% £20 = £120
    • Unregistered Property £300 plus VAT @ 20% £60 = £360
    • Help to Buy Fee £300 plus VAT @ 20% £60 = £360
    • Properties £750,001 and above – quotation available upon request
    • Official copy Land Registry title and plan £8.40 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per title
    • Electronic money transfer fee £36 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (payable when redeeming a mortgage)
    • Leasehold fee £500 plus VAT @ 20% = £600
    • ID and anti-money laundering check £25 plus VAT @ 20% = £30.00 per seller
    • File storage fee £30 plus of VAT @ 20% = £36.00
    • Declaration of Trust £300 plus VAT @ 20% = £360

By adding these figures together you get an estimated total of the standard fees we will charge you for your sale

Some of the costs above are disbursements.  These are costs related to your sale that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry titles and plans. We handle the payment of the disbursements for you to ensure a smoother transaction.

There may be other additional costs however:

Sometimes further documentation is required:

• • • Additional Land Registry documents because your property is subject to covenants or easements that are not reproduced in full on the title £4.20 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per document
    • Historical Planning Documents £15 to £30

Sometimes additional work will be required (resulting in extra fees) because:

• • • The property has a leasehold element £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • The property is Shared Ownership £240 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • Your mortgage lender appoints its own solicitor £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • You sold the property at auction £180 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • There is a Management Company involved £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • You are re-claiming Stamp Duty Land Tax as a result of selling your original main residence £200 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

How long will my sale take?

How long it will take from accepted your buyer’s offer until completion of the sale depends on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8 to 12 weeks, but if you are moving into a rented property, your buyer is a first time buyer or there is a very small chain involved, you may be able to move faster, say between 6 and 8 weeks.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below is a simple breakdown of the key stages involved:

• • • Take your instructions and confirm our fee estimate.
    • Check your ID and take the details of your existing mortgage.
    • Prepare and issue the draft contract documentation to the buyer’s solicitor
    • Deal with any enquiries raised (liaising with you when necessary)
    • Meet with you to sign the contract documentation and request your bank details
    • Agree a completion date with the seller’s solicitor
    • Exchange contracts and confirm this to you
    • Request the redemption figure from your mortgage lender and the invoice from your estate agent
    • Complete the purchase and ensure the keys are released by the agent
    • Redeem the mortgage and pay your estate agent
    • Send any net sale proceeds to you

Re-mortgages

Our fee covers all of the work (subject to the exclusions listed below) required to complete the re-mortgage of your property, including dealing with your mortgage lender to repay your existing mortgage.

Our fee assumes that:

• • 1. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise (including for example, a defect in the title that requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction)
    2. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
    3. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
    4. no indemnity policies are required by the lender – additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

Our fee (calculated with reference to the table below)

• • • Straight forward Declaration of Trusts are charged at £300 plus VAT @ 20% £60.00 = £360
    • Transfer of Equity (no consideration) £500 plus VAT @ 20% £100.00 = £600
    • Transfer of Equity & First Registration (no consideration) £600.00 plus VAT @ 20% £120.00 = £720
    • First Registration charged at £500.00 plus VAT @ 20% £100.00 = £600
    • Lenders Panel Fee £35.00 plus VAT @ 20% £7.00 = £42
    • Equity Release £1150 plus VAT @ 20%£230 = £1,380
    • Any overage provisions will be referred to a Director to obtain a quote
    • N.B Any Auction Pack review requests will be referred to a Director to obtain a quote.
  • • Search fees £223.60 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (for a standard pack of searches, comprising Local, Drainage and Environmental)
    • Pre-completion search fees £8.80 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per Land Registry title
    • Bankruptcy search fees £7.80 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per borrower
    • HM Land Registry fee (Please click here to access H M Land Registry Fee Scale 2)
    • Official copy Land Registry title and plan £6 plus VAT@ 20% per title
    • Electronic money transfer fee £36 inclusive of VAT @ 20% (payable when redeeming your old mortgage)
    • ID and anti-money laundering check £25 plus VAT @ 20% = £30 per borrower
    • File storage fee £36 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

By adding these figures together you get an estimated total of the standard fees we will charge you for your re-mortgage

Some of the costs above are disbursements.  These are costs related to your re-mortgage that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry titles and plans. We handle the payment of the disbursements for you to ensure a smoother transaction.

There may be other additional costs however:

Sometimes further searches will be required because of the location of the property:

• • • Coal Search £64.00 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

Sometimes further documentation is required:

• • • Additional Land Registry documents because your property is subject to covenants or easements that are not reproduced in full on the title £4.20 inclusive of VAT @ 20% per document
    • Historical Planning Documents £15 to £30

Sometimes additional work will be required (resulting in extra fees) because:

• • • The property has a leasehold element £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • The property is Shared Ownership £240 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • Your mortgage lender appoints its own solicitor £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • There is a Management Company involved £90 inclusive of VAT @ 20%
    • Declaration of Trust £300 inclusive of VAT @ 20%

How long will my re-mortgage take?

How long it will take depends on a number of factors, such as the time it takes your new lender to generate the mortgage offer and instruct the valuer. The average process takes between 6 to 8 weeks, but if your offer is in place when you instruct us, you may be able to complete sooner, say between 4 and 6 weeks.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the re-mortgage vary according to the circumstances. However, below is a simple breakdown of the key stages involved:

• • Take your instructions and confirm our fee estimate.
  • Check your ID and take the details of your existing mortgage and the source of any additional funds used for the re-mortgage
  • Request searches and review the property title
  • Meet with you to sign the mortgage deed and request your bank details
  • Agree a completion date with you
  • Request the redemption figure from your existing mortgage lender and request the funds from your new lender
  • Redeem the existing mortgage and send any surplus funds to you (if any)
  • Deal with the Land Registry application to update the register with the new lender’s details
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Read more about: Buying a house , Get a Conveyancing Quote , Re-mortgaging , Selling your house