Legal fees

Our legal fees are based on a sliding scale dependent on the market value of the property and the transaction type as set out below.

Sale and Purchase Transactions

Property Value  Fees VAT at 20% Total
Up to £150,000 £850.00 plus VAT  £170 £1,020
£150,001 – £300,000 £900 – £1200 plus VAT  £180-240 £1,080 – 1,440
£300,001 – £500,000 £1200 – £1500 plus VAT  £240 -300 £1,440 – 1,800
£500,001 – £850,000 £1500 – £1850 plus VAT  £300 – 370 £1,800 – 2,220
£850,001 plus  Please call for a quote
ADDITIONAL FEES
 Circumstance  Fees VAT at 20% Total
Buying with a Mortgage £100 £20 £120
Help to Buy mortgage £200 £40 £240
Help to Buy ISA £50 £10 £60
Leasehold £250 £50 £300
Deed of Covenant £100 £20 £120
New-build property £250 £50 £300
Shared ownership £300 £60 £360
Unregistered title £300 £40 £240
Freehold management company £200 £40 £240
Multiple management companies £100 £20 £120
Buy to Let £200 £40 £240
Tenants in situ £100 £20 £120
Solar panels £200 £40 £240
Dealing with gifted deposit £50 £10 £60
Additional third-party / donor ID fee £15 per person £3 £18
Additional third-party source of funds £50 per person £10 £60
Complex source of funds £80 £16 £96
Retention administration £80 £16 £96

We do not act on the sale or purchase of flats/apartments in buildings of 11 meters (5 storeys) or above that are subject to Building Safety Act 2022.

Disbursements

In addition to our legal fees, disbursements are payable. 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.

Disbursements for a typical sale, purchase or remortgage would be as follows:

Sale Transactions

Land Registry fees for copies of your deeds £7 per document plus VAT of £1.40 (total £8.40)
Electronic Money Transfer Fee (to discharge mortgage (if applicable)) £35.00 plus VAT of £7 (total £42)
Electronic Money Transfer Fee (to send proceeds of sale to you)  £35.00 plus VAT of £7 (total £42)

 Purchase Transactions

Search Fees (for local, water and drainage and environmental searches) £400 plus VAT of £80 (total £480)
Pre-Completion Searches – Property  £7 per document plus VAT of £1.40 (total £8.40)
Pre-Completion Searches – Bankruptcy (applicable for buyers taking a mortgage)  £6 per person plus VAT of £1.20 (total £7.20)
Land Registry Registration Fee This is calculated on a sliding scale; the Land Registry’s fee calculator is available here
Electronic Money Transfer Fee

ID Verification Fee

 £35.00 plus VAT of £7 (total £42)

£15.00 plus VAT of £3 (total £18) per person

 Remortgage or Charge Transactions

Land Registry fees for copy title deeds  £7 per document plus VAT of £1.40 (total £8.40)
Pre-Completion Searches – Property  £7 per search plus VAT of £1.40 (total £8.40)
Pre-Completion Searches – Bankruptcy £6 per person plus VAT of £1.20 (total £7.20)
Search fees for Indemnity £350 plus VAT of £70 (total £420)
Land Registry Registration Fee This is calculated on a sliding scale; the Land Registry’s fee calculator is available here
Electronic money transfer fee £35.00 Plus VAT of £7 (total £42)

 Legal fees and disbursements are set out above on the basis 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
  • 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.

At present we do not pay referral fees to any selling agents on transactions.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (on purchases)

Stamp Duty Land Tax may be payable on property purchase. This depends on the purchase price of your property and the status of the buyers. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using the calculator on HMRC’s website which you can access here.

Estimated Total Cost

For a detailed estimate please contact us with the property address and market value and transaction details as search fees vary depending on where the property is located.

For your information, we have set out below an example of an average conveyancing purchase of a leasehold apartment at £200,000.00 within the West Northamptonshire local authority area and purchased with the assistance of a mortgage. The apartment is not newly built and is to be purchased by two individuals who are both first time buyers. This example covers all the legal work required to complete the purchase of the leasehold apartment, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the submission of Stamp Duty Land Tax forms.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

Legal Fees £1250.00 (plus VAT)
Search Fees £350.00 (plus VAT)
Pre-Completion Searches £7.00 (plus VAT)
Land Registry Fee £100.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £0.00 (as first-time buyers)
Electronic Money Transfer Fee £35.00 (plus VAT)
VAT payable £348.40
Total Legal Fees & Disbursements £2090.40

Other third-party costs on leasehold property transactions

These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more or less than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have had sight of the lease and made enquiries with the Landlord and \ or Management Company.

Purchases

  • Notice of Transfer fee – this fee, if chargeable, is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50 to £200 plus VAT of £10 – £40 (total £60 – £240).
  • 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 to £200 plus VAT of £10 – £40 (total £60 – £240).
  • Deed of Covenant fee – this fee is set by the Landlord / Management Company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often the fee is between £100 to £350 plus VAT of £20 – £70 (total £120 – £420).
  • Certificate of Compliance fee (if applicable) – to be confirmed upon receipt of the lease and title documents. Often the fee is between £50 to £350 plus VAT of £10 – £70 (total £60 – £420).

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

Sales

  • Leasehold Information Pack fee – this fee is set by the Landlord / Management Company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often the fee is between £100 to £550 plus VAT of £20 – £110 (total £120 – £660).
  • Licence to Assign fee (if required under the terms of the Lease) – this fee is set by the Landlord / Management Company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often the fee is between £100 to £350 plus VAT of £20 – £70 (total £120 – £420).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

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 about 12 – 16 weeks for a standard freehold house purchase or sale and can take longer for a standard leasehold flat purchase or sale. This is from us receiving the contract on a purchase.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the number of parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first-time buyer, purchasing a new build property where the property is already built and ready to occupy, with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4-6 weeks from receipt of the contract pack from the developer’s solicitors. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer sometimes up to 6 months due to the lease extension.  Additional charges would apply where the lease extension is required.

What are the stages involved in the conveyancing?

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below is a brief synopsis of the stages and our role in the transaction.

  • Take your instructions and provide you with quote
  • Receiving your identification documents and verifying the same, this is known as our anti-money laundering checks
  • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and conduct our source of funds and source of wealth checks
  • Receive or submit and advise on contract documents
  • Carry out and advise on searches
  • Make any necessary enquiries of seller or buyers’ solicitor
  • Give you advice on all documents and information received
  • Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
  • Draft and \ or approve legal documents
  • Meet with you to advise and sign the contract and transfer documents
  • Advise on joint ownership
  • Conduct 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 or buyers’ solicitors
  • Complete sale or purchase
  • Deal with post completion formalities (e.g. on purchase payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax and Registration of your purchase at the Land Registry.)