Residential conveyancing fees

Stamp Duty or Land Tax on purchase
This depends on the purchase price of your property and your own circumstances. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website.

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How long will my house sale or 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 10-12 weeks.

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It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. 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 2 and 3 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

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Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the sale or purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include: 

Purchase:

1. When instructed by you we will request the contract papers from your Sellers solicitor.

2. We will then check the contract pack and raise any additional enquiries that I may have in relation to the property and will also forward a copy to you.

3. The relevant searches will be obtained and results checked upon receipt.

4. We will receive your mortgage offer from your lender and check their instructions along with any conditions that may be attached to the offer and explain these to you.

5. Once the sellers replies have been received I will forward these to you and explain any issues that may arise. Further enquiries may need to be raised if the replies given are not satisfactory.

6. The Stamp Duty Land Tax Return will be compiled and forwarded to you for your signature.

7. A written report on your purchase will be sent to you explaining the Title and the search results received.

8. When you are happy to proceed and the legal work is complete we will then proceed to an exchange of contracts and a fixed completion date will be agreed between all the parties concerned in the chain.

9. Your mortgage monies will be ordered from your lender to arrive with us the day before completion. 

10. The completion statement will be finalised and forwarded to you with advice on how to provide the balance of monies due to complete the transaction.

11. Final searches will be carried out at the Land Registry.

12. Completion will then occur on the agreed completion date. Funds will be sent to your Sellers solicitor and they will then confirm completion over the telephone and also contact the estate agent to release the keys to the property. I will then telephone you to confirm that the matter is complete and you can collect the keys from the agent.

13. The Stamp Duty Form and payment will be sent to HMRC.

14. Once the title documents have been received from your Sellers solicitor I will then apply to register your ownership at the Land Registry.

15. Once registered I will forward to you a copy of the registration and the title deeds and documents to the property for you to retain in a safe place.

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Sale:

1. Checking though the title document and searches to ascertain whether any further documentation will be required from any third parties such as certificates, Planning Permissions and Building Regulation Approvals.

2. Preparation and submitting of the draft contract, completed questionnaires and supporting papers in relation to your property to your buyers legal representative.

3. Contacting your mortgage lender (if any) to request any documents that they may be holding and also a redemption figure to show the amount currently outstanding under the mortgage.

4. Assisting and responding to any enquiries on your title that are raised by your buyers legal representative. This is the part of the transaction where most delays happen. Common problems are where sellers are unable to produce requested documentation by the buyers legal representatives such as Planning Permissions, Building Regulation Approvals and Completion Certificates in relation to alterations carried out to the property. Certificates can also be requested in relation to replacement boilers, double glazing, plumbing and electrical works. 3rd parties may need to be contacted which in turn causes a delay whilst waiting for a response. 

5. Exchanging contracts when your buyers are in receipt of satisfactory replies to enquires, satisfactory search results, and mortgage offer. Agreeing a completion date between all parties.

6. Approving the draft Transfer Deed and forwarding this to you for signature.

7. Contacting your mortgage lender for a final redemption amount to pay the mortgage in full on the date of completion and forwarding this to you.

8. Contact the estate agents to provide a commission account for settlement on completion. To forwarding this to you for your agreement.

9. Preparation of the completion statement showing the amount due to you on completion and forwarding this to you.

10. Proceeding to complete the matter, redeeming your mortgage and settling your Estate Agents commission account.

11. Forwarding the Transfer Deed and papers relating to your property to your buyers legal representative.

12. Receiving the form of discharge from your lender confirming that the account has been paid in full and forwarding this to your buyers legal representative in order that the buyers can complete legal registration of their ownership at HM Land Registry.

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The fees can vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

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

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Our fee assumes 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

• this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease

• 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 disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

 

Purchase of a new build property
We have an agreed pricing structure with developers that we are on the recommended panel for. Details will be provided to you by the Sales Office directly or at the time of your initial contact us with to obtain a costs quotation. As we are recommended for the specific site we are familiar with the paperwork and able to progress your transaction in line with the developer’s stated timeframes.