How we charge for our services
Residential Conveyancing
Team Members and Supervision
The Residential Property team are independently recognised as experts in their field. The team is frequently recommended by professional intermediaries and existing clients, many of whom have a long standing relationship with the firm.
Your matter will be dealt with by a single named property lawyer throughout who is supervised by a partner. Details of the individuals within the team, accreditations and experience can be found in their profiles.
Fees and Charging Structures
The information set out on this page relates specifically to those services in the ‘Services’ section and is indicative only.
We will provide a specific fee proposal once the full details relating to your property matter are understood. We will ask you to confirm your instructions to us and accept our fee proposal by signing a client engagement letter and our terms of business. This will form the contractual basis upon which we will deliver our services.
During the progress of any matter our fees may need to be adjusted due to a change in your instructions, or if the level of complexity of the matter has changed due to new information coming to light. Should this be the case, we will discuss with you and agree any changes to our fees before progressing.
Any additional services required outside those set out in the Services section will be quoted separately on an individual basis.
Services
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- Freehold purchase
- Freehold sale
- Leasehold purchase
- Leasehold sale
- Mortgages, Remortgages and Bridging Finance
- Equity release
Key stages in delivering these services
Read our guides: Steps to Sale, Purchase and Remortgage explaining the steps we take.
How long will my transaction take?
Sales/purchases:
How long it will take can depend on several factors. The average process takes between 4-12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. If legal defects or complexities are found, finding suitable solutions could potentially add weeks to your timescale.
Mortgages, Equity Release and Bridging Finance:
Typically 2-8 weeks from when we are instructed to completion.
How we would charge for these services
No property transaction is exactly the same, nor are your own circumstances. There are numerous factors (examples listed below) which may impact the level of fees and other costs required to complete your matter.
Our fees fall within a range based on the following factors:
- The price or value of the property.
- The timescale you instruct us to aim for (the quicker turnaround time required, the higher the agreed fee will likely be).
- We will quote on an individual basis for leasehold, newbuild, listed, complex title matters, substantial historic property, and unregistered land transactions.
Purchases
Freehold | Leasehold | |
£0 to £300,000 | £1,500 (plus VAT of £300) | £2,100 (plus VAT of £420) |
£300,001 to £650,000 | £1,600 (plus VAT of £320) to £1,900 (plus VAT of £380) |
£2,200 (plus VAT of £440) to £2,500 (plus VAT of £500) |
£650.001 to £950,000 | £2,000 (plus VAT of £400) to £2,350 (plus VAT of £470) |
£2,600 (plus VAT of £520) to £2,900 (plus VAT of £580) |
£950,001 to £1,300,000 | £2,450 (plus VAT of £490) to £2,850 (plus VAT of £570) |
£3,000 (plus VAT of £600) to £3,300 (plus VAT of £660) |
£1,300,001 to £1,600,000 | £2,850 (plus VAT of £570) | £3,300 (plus VAT of £660) |
From £1,600,001 | £POA | £POA |
Sales
Freehold | Leasehold | |
£0 to £300,000 | £1,500 (plus VAT of £300) | £2,000 (plus VAT of £400) |
£300,001 to £650,000 | £1,550 (plus VAT of £310) to £1,800 (plus VAT of £360) |
£2,050 (plus VAT of £410) to £2,300 (plus VAT of £460) |
£650.001 to £950,000 | £1,900 (plus VAT of £380) to £2,100 (plus VAT of £420) |
£2,400 (plus VAT of £480) to £2,600 (plus VAT of £520) |
£950,001 to £1,300,000 | £2,200 (plus VAT of £440) to £2,300 (plus VAT of £460) |
£2,700 (plus VAT of £540) to £2,800 (plus VAT of £560) |
£1,300,001 to £1,600,000 | £2,500 (plus VAT of £500) | £3,000 (plus VAT of £600) |
From £1,600,001 | £POA | £POA |
- From £795 (plus VAT of £159) for a freehold mortgage or remortgage.
- £1,500 (plus VAT of £300) for an equity release mortgage.
- £2,500 (plus VAT of £500) for bridging finance.
Bank transfer fees
Should a bank transfer be required to repay a mortgage or transfer the proceeds of sale to you, for example, then an administration fee of £40 (plus VAT of £8) will be added.
An administration fee of £10 (plus VAT of £2) will be added for any required BACS payment over the sum of £1000.
VAT
Unless expressly stated otherwise, all of the fees and disbursements referred to would be subject to VAT, payable in addition, calculated at the standard rate of 20%.
Disbursements
Disbursements are additional costs related to your matter that would typically be incurred by us on your behalf to ensure that the matter progresses in an efficient and informative manner. Disbursements will be chargeable by us in addition to our fees.
The disbursements that you can expect to be charged in respect of your matter are as follows:
Sales:
- Client Onboarding Fee including AML verification – £30 (plus VAT of £6) per person.
- Copy Land Registry title document charges – typically £12 (plus VAT of £2.40).
- If the property is leasehold or freehold with managed areas, a freeholder management pack may be required – typically between £100 to £400 (plus VAT of between £20 to £80).
Purchases:
- Client Onboarding Fee including AML verification, £30 (plus VAT of £6) per person.
- Search fees (typically around £450 to £600 (inclusive of VAT) depending on the location of the Local Authority).
- Land Registration fees (a variable scale typically based on the value of a property). The Land Registry fee scale calculator can be accessed here.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax or Land Transfer Tax in Wales (This depends on the purchase price of your property and on your personal 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).
- If the property is leasehold, notice fees may be payable to a landlord or management company – typically £100 to £300 (plus VAT of between £20 to £60)
Mortgages/re-mortgages:
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- Client Onboarding Fee including AML verification – £30 (plus VAT of £6) per person.
- Copy Land Registry title document charges – typically £12 (plus VAT of £2.40).
- Search fees – typically around £450 to £600 (inclusive of VAT) unless search legal indemnity insurance is accepted by your lender in which case upwards of £50 inclusive of Insurance Premium Tax.
- Land Registration fees (a variable scale typically based on the value of a property). The Land Registry fee scale calculator can be accessed here.
- If the property is leasehold, notice fees may be payable to a landlord or management company – typically £100 to £300 (plus VAT of between £20 to £60).
Additional Information
- Additional fees may apply to your transaction if the property forms part of an estate with managed areas.
- Additional fees may apply where our investigations reveal title or other defects to be resolved (for example, planning, Building Regulations, rights or way, missing parties, etc) whether by indemnity insurance, deed, or other suitable solution.
- Additional fees may apply if government or other financial assistance schemes are involved for example, Forces Help 2 Buy, ISA and Help to Buy Bonus, LISA Bonus.
- Additional fees may apply if the agreed completion date must be postponed by further legal document.
- Additional fees may apply should we need to retain open our file after the completion date because parties have agreed a retention of monies.
- Additional fees may apply if your mortgage lender requires us to keep them informed with online updates/uploads.
- Additional fees may apply if you do not complete your sale or purchase on the agreed completion date OR if any other party fails to.
- Additional fees may apply if more than one mortgage lender is involved with the transaction.
We will endeavour to agree a set fee at the start, on the assumption that the transaction is ‘standard’ with no unforeseen issues or complications.
However, we will always discuss any additional fees and charges with you and advise why they may be necessary before any extra charges are incurred. We will then endeavour to agree an additional fee with you based on your property lawyer’s hourly rate and the nature of the additional work involved.
You will not regret instructing us to act as your property lawyers.
Please contact us to arrange a no obligation consultation and a quote.
We cover the entire UK property market, but have offices in Bournemouth, Poole, Salisbury, Southampton, Winchester and London for your convenience.