Buying or selling your home is quite possibly the largest financial transaction you will ever make. It’s not a process to leave to chance. You want to make sure that everything is in order, and that you’re making wise decisions. Conveyancing is time consuming, complex and can be risky if you don’t have experience.
Our conveyancing solicitors can help
We know how stressful it is, and will use our many years of experience to make sure that everything flows smoothly. We’ll make sure that everything is above board and that you’re getting what you expect.
Our conveyancing solicitors have seen a lot of property contracts, and know where to look for the pitfalls. We’ll expedite things as much as we can and keep you up to date on progress.
TIMING
Timing of your transaction will depend on a number of factors, to include if mortgage finance is required, if there is a chain and the length of it, where the property is leasehold if landlord’s licence to assign is required, how long the managing agents take to provide management information, etc.
The average sale or purchase transaction takes between 6-12 weeks but may be quicker or slower, depending on the factors mentioned above. If you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, say, between 3 to 4 months. The average refinance transaction takes approximately 3-6 weeks, depending on the complexity.
Pricing
We offer a fixed fee service, which will help you budget for your move.
Please see the below list for legal fees. Please note that VAT is charged at the government set rate (which is set at 20% at the time of publishing).
| Sale and Purchase Up To 800,000.00 (Freehold) | £1,200.00 plus VAT |
| Sale and Purchase Over 800,000.00 (Freehold) | £1500.00 plus VAT |
| Sale and Purchase Over 1,000,000.00 (Freehold) | £0.3% of the Purchase Price plus VAT |
| Re-mortgage up to 1m (Freehold) | £1000.00 plus VAT |
| Re-mortgage of 1m and over | £1,250.00 plus VAT |
| Transfer of Equity | £900.00 plus VAT |
| Lease Extensions (starting from) | £1,200.00 plus VAT |
If any of the above are for a Leasehold property, there will be an additional legal fee of £200.00 plus VAT.
If the Buyer is a Company (corporate) there will be an additional legal fee of £250.00 plus VAT on top of the fees quoted above.
Depending on your transaction, you may be required to pay stamp duty and you may also be required to pay land registry fees. The fees to be paid and the sum to be paid for stamp duty will vary in each transaction.
Below is a list of additional fees we may charge in a transaction. Please contact our offices and speak to one of our members of staff for a more detailed and tailored quote:
| Acting for your Lender | £195.00 -395.00 plus VAT Depending on Lender Requirement |
| Where the Lender is Separately Represented | £400.00 plus VAT |
| Dealing with 3rd Party Solicitors | £250.00 plus VAT |
| Head Lease Review | £150.00 plus VAT for each Head Lease |
| Each Additional Management Company | £95.00 plus VAT |
| Arranging Indemnity Insurance | £95.00 plus VAT |
| Chain Transaction | £250.00 plus VAT |
| New Build Surcharge | £400.00 plus VAT |
| Restrictions on Title | £100.00 plus VAT |
| Shared ownership | £450.00 plus VAT |
| Gifts of Deposit | £195.00 plus VAT for each gift |
| Unregistered title (Starting From) | £350.00 plus VAT |
| Building Safety Act 2022 Estimated fee | £600.00 plus VAT |
| Help to buy ISA | £150.00 plus VAT |
| Tenanted Properties (Review AST) | £200.00 plus VAT |
| File Storage | £50.00 plus VAT |
| Per Telegraphic Transfer | £50.00 plus VAT |
| Bankruptcy and Priority Searches (Approx.) | £3.00 No VAT |
| Digital ID Verification (Per Person) | £25.00 plus VAT |
| Enhanced AML/Due Diligence Checks (Aprox) | £150.00 plus VAT |
| Dealing with Service Charge Retention | £150.00 plus VAT |
STAGES OF THE TRANSACTION
Set out below are some of the key stages involved in different types of transactions. These will, of course, vary depending on the transaction and are a guide only.
Purchase
- Obtaining your instructions and ID documents;
- Checking that your financial arrangements are in hand and obtaining source of funds;
- Receiving the contract pack from the seller’s solicitor;
- Undertaking investigation on title to include obtaining property searches and reviewing the seller’s solicitor’s contract pack (to include reviewing the lease for a leasehold transaction);
- Review Management Pack (only for a leasehold transaction);
- Raising pre-contract enquiries;
- Negotiating and finalising the wording for the Contract:
- Reporting to you.
- With regard to your mortgage (if applicable):
- Receiving your lender’s instructions and mortgage offer and reviewing the same;
- Dealing with your lender’s requirements;
- Reporting to you on the terms of the mortgage documents;
- Reporting to your lender;
- Requesting funds;
- Carrying out a priority search and bankruptcy searches (if applicable);
- Drafting the Transfer Deed;
- Negotiating and finalising the wording for the Transfer Deed;
- Drafting requisitions on title;
- Completing the Purchase;
- Completing your Stamp Duty Land Tax Return, submitting the same to HMRC and paying the tax due;
- Completing the Notice of Transfer and Charge (if applicable in leasehold transactions);
- Registering the Transfer Deed and Mortgage (if applicable) at the Land Registry.
Sale
- Obtaining your instructions, ID documents and completed property information forms;
- Obtaining title documents from the Land Registry;
- Drafting the Contract for sale;
- Obtain a Management Pack (for a leasehold sale only)
- Putting together a contract pack to send to the buyer’s solicitor to include title documents e.g. Lease (if leasehold sale), official copy entries, protocol forms and any other relevant documents;
- Receiving and dealing with pre-contract enquiries;
- Negotiating and finalising the wording for the Contract;
- Exchange of Contracts;
- Negotiating and finalising the wording for the Transfer Deed;
- Dealing with replies to requisitions on title;
- Applying for a redemption statement (if applicable);
- Completing the sale;
- Dealing with redemption and discharge of any existing charges at the Land Registry (if applicable);
- Paying the estate agent (unless it is a private sale).
Refinance
- Obtaining your instructions and ID documents;
- Undertaking investigation on title to include obtaining property searches;
- Obtaining information in relation to the property from you;
- Obtaining management information in relation to the property;
- Receiving your lender’s instructions and mortgage offer and reviewing the same;
- Dealing with your lender’s requirements;
- Reporting to you on the terms of the mortgage documents;
- Reporting to your lender and requesting the mortgage advance;
- Carrying out pre-completion searches;
- Registering the bank’s Mortgage at the Land Registry;
- Redeeming and discharging any existing mortgages registered against the property.
Why choose us?
Our conveyancing solicitors offer low fixed fee rates.
Local experience – you can’t beat it.
The Law Society: Buying a Home
Buying or Selling Your Home: gov.uk
Contact us to find out more or to arrange a consultation with an experienced conveyancing solicitor.