Conveyancing

The exact steps involved can vary depending on the circumstances, but typically, the process of selling a property includes the following:

• Taking your instructions and providing initial advice
• Preparing the sale contract and advising you on the documentation
• Reviewing and advising you on any documents and information received from the buyer’s solicitors
• Dealing with the additional enquiries
• Obtaining redemption figures
• Sending the final contract to you for signature
• Agreeing a completion date (the date the property will be transferred to the buyer)
• Exchanging contracts and confirming with you once this has taken place
• Completing the sale
• Dealing with post completion formalities

• Taking your instructions and providing initial advice
• Checking that your finances are in place to fund the purchase
• Receiving and reviewing the draft contract and supporting documents from the seller’s solicitor
• Carrying out property searches (such as local authority, water and drainage, and environmental searches)
• Requesting additional planning or building regulation documentation where required
• Advising you on obtaining a full structural survey or other specialist reports, if appropriate
• Raising any necessary additional enquiries with the seller’s solicitor
• Advising you on all documents and information received
• Reviewing the terms of your mortgage offer and discussing any conditions with you (if applicable)
• Sending the final contract to you for signature
• Preparing the Transfer Deed
• Advising you on the implications of joint ownership (where applicable)
• Carrying out final pre-completion searches (such as bankruptcy and priority searches)
• Agreeing a completion date (the date you will take ownership of the property)
• Exchanging contracts and confirming with you once this has taken place
• Arranging for all funds to be received from your lender and from you
• Completing the purchase
• Completing SDLT returns and handling the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (or Land Transaction Tax in Wales)
• Submitting the application to register your ownership with the Land Registry

• Taking your instructions and provide initial advice
• Carrying out any necessary searches on the property (if required by your new lender)
• Reviewing leasehold information if applicable
• Requesting and review additional planning or building regulation documents if needed
• Reviewing the conditions of your new mortgage offer
• Sending the final documents to you for signature
• Requesting the mortgage funds from your new lender
• Repaying (redeem) any existing mortgage(s) on the property
• Submitting the application to update the Land Registry with your new lender’s details

Whilst the above at the usual stages, there might be some additional steps we may undertake depending on the specific case. We would be happy to provide you with a more tailored quote for all stages of your particular case once we know about your specific circumstances.

The time from when we receive your instructions and the contract pack to completion will depend on several factors. On average, the process takes between 8 and 12 weeks, but it can be quicker or slower depending on the circumstances.

For example, if you are a first-time buyer purchasing a freehold with a mortgage in principle and there are no delays, completion could happen in as little as 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that needs a lease extension, the process can take much longer, often around 6 months.

If any extra work is needed (such as dealing with a lease extension), additional fees may apply, but we will always let you know and agree this with you before carrying out the work.

How much do we charge?

You can find full details of how we calculate our conveyancing charges below.

Our charges are made up of:

• our fees for the legal work;
• other additional fees;
• ‘disbursements’ – costs related to your matter that are payable to other people, such as Search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process; and
• for property purchases, Stamp Duty Land Tax (see below).

Where VAT is referred to below please note that this will be charged at the applicable rate, which is currently 20%.

Our Fees

Our fees depend upon the value of the property you are buying or selling and are listed below.

Our standard conveyancing legal fees depend on the value of the property and vary between £1,499.00 to £5,500.00.

We would also charge the following additional fees as applicable:

• Fee for dealing with Leasehold Property – £250.00
• Fee for dealing with New Build Property – £350.00
• Fee for dealing with Shared Ownership – £350.00
• Bank Transfer Administrative Fee: £40.00
• SDLT Administration Fees – £90.00
• Fee for Representing the Lender: £250.00
• Gifted Deposit Fee – £150.00
• Company Check Administration Fees – £50.00 per check
• Acting for Limited Company Fee – £150.00
• ID and AML verification Fees – £45.00 per person
• Pre-Completion Checks Fees: £45.00
• Notice of Assignment/Charge Fee – £80.00
• Notice of Compliance Certificate Fee – £100.00

Please note the above fee do not include VAT. We are not currently registered for VAT, so VAT is not charged at this time. However, if our VAT status changes in the future, and we become required to charge VAT, we will notify you in advance and update our invoices accordingly. In this case the standard VAT would apply.

The above 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
• If the transaction relates to a leasehold property, it is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
• the property is registered
• the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications 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.

Example

For example, if you are a sole first time buyer purchasing a freehold property for £200,000 using your own saving for deposit with a mortgage, the fees would be as follows:

• Basic Fee- £,1499.00
• Bank Transfer Administrative Fee: £40.00
• SDLT Administration Fees – £90.00
• Fee for Representing the Lender: £250.00
• ID and AML verification Fees – £45.00 per person
• Pre-Completion Checks Fees: £45.00

Total Fees: £1,969.00

• Search fees vary between £290.00 and 350.00 plus VAT

For leasehold properties (and some freehold properties) disbursements will normally include:

• Notice of Transfer/Charge fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £75.00 to £190.00 plus VAT per notice
• 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 £90.00 to £300.00 plus VAT.
• Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £100.00 to £250.00 plus VAT.

Other costs to consider

You should also be aware that if you are purchasing a leasehold property then ground rent and service charges are likely to 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.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

If you are buying a property you will also need to pay stamp duty land tax. The amount which you need to pay to the government depends on the price of the 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 here.).

Fees and disbursements related to sale of property

Our standard conveyancing legal fees depend on the value of the property and vary between £1,399.00 to £5,300.00.

We would also charge the following additional fees as applicable:

• Fee for dealing with Leasehold Property – £200.00
• Bank Transfer Administrative Fee: £40.00
• Fee for Redeeming the Charge: £100.00
• Company Check Fees – £50.00 per check
• ID and AML verification Fees – £45.00 per person
• Title Documentation Fees – £80.00
• Deed of Covenant Fee – £100.00 (if applicable)

Please note the above fee do not include VAT. We are not currently registered for VAT, so VAT is not charged at this time. However, if our VAT status changes in the future, and we become required to charge VAT, we will notify you in advance and update our invoices accordingly. In this case the standard VAT would apply.

The above 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
• If the transaction relates to a leasehold property, it is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
• the property is registered
• the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications 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.

Disbursements

• Disbursement for leasehold properties (and some freehold properties) would include Management Pack fee which is chargeable when selling a leasehold property. Often it is between £350.00 – £550.00 plus VAT.
• Agents’ fee – in accordance with your agreement with an estate agency.

• Our standard conveyancing legal fees depend on the value of the property and vary between £1,299.00 to £2,300.00.We would also charge the following additional fees as applicable:
  • Fee for dealing with Leasehold Property – £200.00
  • Fee for additional check in respect of AST in place – £150.00
  • Bank Transfer Administrative Fee: £40.00
  • Company Check Administration Fees – £50.00 per check
  • Acting for Limited Company Fee – £150.00
  • ID and AML verification Fees – £45.00 per person
  • Pre-Completion Checks Fees: £45.00
  • Notice of Assignment/Charge Fee – £80.00
  • Notice of Compliance Certificate Fee – £100.00
  • Obtaining a No Search Indemnity Insurance Admin Fee – £80.00

  Please note the above fee do not include VAT. We are not currently registered for VAT, so VAT is not charged at this time. However, if our VAT status changes in the future, and we become required to charge VAT, we will notify you in advance and update our invoices accordingly. In this case the standard VAT would apply.

  Disbursements

  • Search fees vary between £290.00 and 350.00 plus VAT (most lenders accept no search indemnity insurance)
  • No search indemnity – depends on the value of the property, usually between £50.00 to £250.00

  For leasehold properties (and some freehold properties) disbursements will normally include:

  • Notice of Transfer/Charge fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £75.00 to £190.00 plus VAT per notice
  • 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 £90.00 to £300.00 plus VAT.
  • Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £100.00 to £250.00 plus VAT.

   Who will be dealing with my matter?

  Your conveyancing transaction will be handled by a trusted member of our experienced conveyancing team. Once we know who will be handling your case for you we will introduce you to them and provide you with full details of their background and qualifications.  Full details of the experience and qualifications of our team are available on our website including the types of work normally undertaken.