Purchase of residential property-Our charges and disbursements

For an explanation of the conveyancing process please go to our Conveyancing page.

All of our charges are quoted without VAT. This firm is VAT registered, so we must charge you VAT on our fees for any work we do at the current rate of 20% and then pass this money on to HMRC.

The basis of charging this firm uses for conveyancing is based on the price of your property. Our fees are on a fixed fee basis, generally these will only change from the quoted figure if we find a problem, or we are aware of a complex issue in advance. We will always discuss and agree this with you in advance before we incur any costs.

Our fees cover all of the work* required to complete the purchase or sale of your home, 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.

The figures below are a guide, and apply to a sale, or a purchase. We are always happy to give you a written quote, without any obligation, if you contact us. If you instruct us, we must give you a comprehensive written quote before we start work.

Freehold Sale or Purchase

Leasehold Sale or Purchase

There almost certainly will be some disbursements whether it is a sale or a purchase. 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.

There tend to be only a few if selling, for example:

1)      Land registry £20, no VAT.

2)      Management pack on a leasehold sale, this is an information pack about the property from the freeholder that your buyer will need, typically £250 plus VAT

On a purchase there are more disbursements These vary a lot from area to area and are partly based on price, but typical values in the London and southeast are:

1)      Local and enviro searches, up to £550 (VAT inclusive)

2)      Land registry Search fees, typically less than £20 (not VAT liable)

3)      Land Registry fees £150-£250 (not VAT liable)

4)      VAT @ 20% on our fees, payable to HMRC

5)      Registering a lease transfer with freeholder £50-£200 plus VAT

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase, not sale)

This depends on the purchase price of your property and your circumstances. 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.

How Long Will It All Take?

How long it will take from an offer being accepted until you can complete the sale, or purchase will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 8 and 12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties involved. For example, if you are a first-time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 15 and 20 weeks. In such, a situation substantial additional charges would also apply.

Stages Of The Process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances and the general process is set out on our conveyancing web page. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to consider:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice.
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed on a purchase or prepare contract on a sale.
• Receive and advise on contract documents on a purchase.
• Carry out searches on a purchase.
• Obtain further planning documentation if required.
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor, or reply to them on a sale.
• Give you advice on all documents and information received.
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you on a purchase.
• Send final contract to you for signature.
• Agree completion date.
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened.
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received and paid as appropriate.
• Complete purchase or sale and redeem a mortgage if you have one on a sale.
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax on a purchase.
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry on a purchase.

* Our fee quote assumes that:

a.  this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
b.  the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise

c.  all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
d.  no indemnity insurance policies are required (these are used for things like title  & planning defects). Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.