Price of Buying Your Property

Purchase of a Freehold Residential Property

Our fees cover all of the work* required to complete the purchase of your new home.

This includes dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (‘SDLT’) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (‘LTT’) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements 

Item

Fee £

Legal Fee (inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

Depending on the value of the property

 630 – 3,000
Leasehold Supplemental Fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

Depending on the value of the property

180 – 300
SDLT/LTT Supplemental Fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

60
 ‘Help to Buy charge’ supplemental fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

300
 ‘Help to Buy ISA’ supplemental fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

60
Acting on behalf of  your lender

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

180
Unregistered Property Supplemental Fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

 180 – 360
New Build Property supplemental fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

180
Search Fees

(depending on location of property)

Variable
HM Land Registry Fee

(variable depending on value of property)

Variable
Electronic Money Transfer Fee

(inc of VAT at current rate of 20%)

42
Archiving fee N/A

Disbursements

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.

Item

Fee £

E Conveyancing Fee N/A
Local Search Variable (depending on location of property)
Drainage and Water Search Variable (depending on location of property)
Environmental Search 40-70 (depending on location of property)
Mining Search 55.86
Mapping Fee N/A
Land Registry Priority Search (per title) 3
Land Registry Bankruptcy Search (per name) 2
Lawyer Check Fee N/A

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)

This depends on the purchase price of your 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.

How long will my house 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 10-15 weeks.

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 10 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 4 and 6 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, the items below summarise the main points:

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
  • Receive and advise on contract documents
  • Carry out searches
  • Obtain further planning documentation if required
  • Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
  • Give you advice on all documents and information received
  • Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
  • Send final contract to you for signature
  • 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
  • Complete purchase
  • Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
  • Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Information on the additional disbursements associated with the purchase of a Leasehold Residential Property

Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50 – £200.

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 – £200

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 £100 – £350.

Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £50 – £500.

These fees 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.

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

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However, the items below summarise the main points:

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
  • Receive and advise on contract documents
  • Carry out searches
  • Obtain further planning documentation if required
  • Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
  • Give you advice on all documents and information received
  • Go through conditions of mortgage offer
  • Send final contract to you for signature
  • Draft Transfer
  • Advise you on joint ownership
  • Obtain 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
  • Complete purchase
  • Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
  • Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
  • How long will my (leasehold) house 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 16 – 24 weeks. 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 16 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 4 and 6 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

    * 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.
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