Pricing Information

Administration of Estates

Debt Recovery

Licensing Applications

Unfair Dismissal Claims

Conveyancing (Residential)

Administration of Estates – Pricing Information

Our fees are based on an hourly rate charge for the work carried out and we do not charge a fee based on a percentage of the value of the estate.  Our hourly rates depend on the experience of the team member dealing with the matter and vary from £195 to £315 plus VAT per hour.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be higher. Please do contact us and we will be able to give you an estimate of the fees for dealing with your particular matter.

Applying for the grant, collecting and distributing the assets

We can help you with the process by completing all the paperwork to apply for the Grant of Probate and collecting and distributing the estate. We estimate that our fees for dealing with the administration of an estate for you will be in the region of £5,000 to £15,000 plus VAT.

This estimate is for estates where:

  • There is a valid will
  • There is no more than one property
  • There are no more than 5 bank or building society accounts
  • There are no other intangible assets
  • There are no more than 10 cash legacies
  • There are no more than 4 residuary beneficiaries
  • There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
  • There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC
  • There are no claims made against the estate
  • There are no trusts set up under the will
  • All the assets are in the UK
  • The deceased did not have the right to benefit from any assets held in trust
  • The deceased was domiciled in England and Wales
  • The gross value of the estate is below £1,000,000
  • It is not necessary to file HMRC form IHT400
  • No Agricultural Property Relief or Business Property Relief needs to be claimed

In addition to our fees, there will be other expenses payable to third parties (known as disbursements) which will be added to our fees.  These will include:

  • Probate application fee – £273
  • Additional sealed copies of the Grant – £1.50 each (we usually obtain 10 at a cost of £15)
  • Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 per beneficiary)
  • Statutory advertisements in The London Gazette and a local newspaper (to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors) – £300 estimated
  • Professional valuation fees – these may be required in some cases and an estimate can be obtained in advance

This estimate includes carrying out the following work on your behalf:

  • Obtaining details of the values of the assets and liabilities based on the information provided by you
  • Completing HMRC form IHT205 Return of Estate Information (applicable to excepted estates for deaths prior to 1 January 2022)
  • Drafting statement of truth
  • Submitting the application for the grant of probate
  • Arranging the sale or transfer of the assets as required (excluding the costs of sale of a property)
  • Arranging payment of liabilities
  • Paying the legacies due under the Will
  • Dealing with income tax for the administration period if HMRC’s ‘informal reporting’ procedure applies
  • Preparing estate accounts for your approval
  • Distributing the residue of the estate in accordance with the Will.

This estimate does not include the following matters which will increase the costs payable:

  • If there is no will
  • If the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds)
  • Dealing with the sale of any property in the estate (an estimate for this can be provided by our Residential Property department)
  • Dealing with any queries raised by HMRC
  • Dealing with any claim or requests for information by DWP
  • Dealing with the income tax due to the date of death
  • Dealing with income tax for the administration period if a trust and estate tax return and/or a self-assessment tax return is required
  • Preparing Deeds of Variation
  • Arranging to set up or wind up any trusts
  • Making a claim for Agricultural Property Relief or Business Property Relief
  • Advising on Capital Gains Tax issues
  • Advising on or dealing with any assets held in trust
  • Registering with the Trust Registration Service

If any of the above apply, please contact us and we can give you an estimate for your matter when we have more information.

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 8-18 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate takes around 6 to 8 months. Collecting assets then follows and once this has been done, we can distribute the assets, which normally takes 3-6 months.

Our Team

All of our team deal exclusively with wills, probate and trust matters. Ben Holden is head of the Wills, Probate and Trusts department and has overall supervision of the department. A number of our team members are members of the Society of Trust and Estate Practitioners (STEP). Our team includes the following:

NamePositionQualificationYear QualifiedSTEP Member
James SawersConsultantSolicitor1997Full member
Robert SawersSenior SolicitorSolicitor1988
Ben HoldenPartnerSolicitor2006Full member
Kate ShiresSenior SolicitorSolicitor1994
Clare RidoutAssociateAssociate2013Full member
Jessica PyeAssociateChartered Legal Executive2009Affiliate member
Joanna JamesAssociateSolicitor2018Full member
Georgia ChandlerAssociateSolicitor2019Full member
Andrea CoxSenior SolicitorSolicitor1985
Roger Brown-HoveltConsultantSolicitor1975
Michelle HillChartered Legal ExecutiveChartered Legal Executive2013Full member
Diane ZaltzmanParalegalParalegal2005Affiliate member

Debt Recovery – (Range of fixed fees) for a business to business debt that is undisputed

Court Claims

These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice, for a specified sum, which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.

Please note that Court fees are set by HMCTS and can be viewed at the Court Service website.

Debt valueCourt feeOur fees*Total
Up to £5,000See table online£1,000 plus VAT (£200 VAT)£1,200 plus applicable Court fee (and any disbursements)
£5,001 – £10,000See table online£1,000 plus VAT (£200 VAT)£1,200 plus applicable Court fee (and any disbursements)
£10,001 – £50,000See table online£1,000 plus VAT (£200 VAT)£1,200 plus applicable Court fee (and any disbursements)

*NB – The figures above are for indicative purposes based on VAT at the rate of 20%. VAT will be charged at the prevailing rate from time to time and so the overall figure may be liable to change.

Court fees

You must pay a court fee when you make your claim.

The fee for making a claim online is cheaper than the fee for sending a paper claim form.

If you know the claim amount

The court fee is based on the amount you’re claiming, plus interest. Details of up to date issue fees are available on line from the website.

To calculate 5% of the value of the claim, take the amount you’re claiming and multiply it by 0.05. If necessary, round down the result to the nearest 1p.

The fee will be calculated for you if you make your claim online.

You may have to pay more fees later on – for example, if there’s a court hearing or you need to get a judgment enforced.

If you do not know the claim amount

Use the paper claim form if you do not know the exact amount – you cannot make a claim online.

Which fee you need to pay

You’ll need to estimate the amount you’re claiming and pay the paper form fee for that amount.

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:-

  • The VAT element of our fee may not be reclaimed from your debtor.
  • Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
  • The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.
  • Whether you are a business or individual, you should check any insurance policies or memberships/Union details to see whether you may be able to benefit from legal expenses insurance.

Our fee includes:

  • Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation.
  • Undertaking appropriate searches. If a tracing agent fee is required, this is an additional fee and is usually between £50.00 to £150.00 plus VAT, but a precise quote would be obtained and provided. If you require credit checks to be carried out, we obtain a quote for that disbursement form a third party provider. We can currently carry out most Companies House checks within the fee quote stated above, with no additional disbursement charged.
  • Sending a letter before action.
  • Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim.
  • Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default.
  • When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment.
  • If payment is not received, typically within a further 14 days (unless some other payment date is specified in the Court Order), providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs.

Matters usually take 4-8 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim and dependent upon how efficient the Court is in terms of dealing with the request for Default Judgment. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Default Judgment. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve. We would need to advise separately of the additional costs and timings of any enforcement action which may be available.

Factors that could make a case more complex (not exhaustive):

  • If the paperwork is not in order
  • Any limitation issue(s)
  • Any previous attempts to recover the debt
  • The number of documents
  • The contract or invoice terms are irregular / non-standard
  • There are unusual payment terms
  • There have been procedural defects in terms of invoicing
  • Any foreign element
  • Any insolvency issues
  • Difficulties identifying or locating the Defendant, or key personnel within the Defendant
  • If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
  • Defending counter-claims that are brought
  • Making or defending a costs application

If any of the above apply, please contact us and we can give you an estimate for your matter when we have more information.

Disbursements

  • Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
  • Court fees are referred to above.
  • For undisputed debt claims based on unpaid invoices it would not ordinarily be necessary for us to instruct Counsel, although this would be kept under review and fees of Counsel and any additional costs advised upon at the earliest opportunity. If we instruct Counsel to draft pleadings (such as the Claim Form and Particulars of Claim) carry out any advocacy for you at Court their fees vary according to the case and their experience. As a guide only, they can range from between £500 to £3,000 plus VAT per day for drafting a claim.
  • As referred to above, if a tracing agent fee is required, this is an additional fee and is usually between £50.00 to £150.00 plus VAT, but a precise quote would be obtained and provided. If you require credit checks to be carried out, we obtain a quote for that disbursement from a third party provider. We can currently carry out most Companies House checks within the fee quote stated above, with no additional disbursement charged.

Costs of the other side

  • This relates to where if you lose, the other side may try to re-coup its legal costs from you.

Our Team

Our team has over 14 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to debt collection in this jurisdiction.

We have 2 members of the team who may work on your matter. Regardless of who works on your matter, they will be supervised by Patrick Jenkins, Partner and Head of Litigation or Kevin Smith, Head of Commercial.

NamePositionQualificationYear Qualified
Patrick JenkinsPartnerSolicitor2004
Benjamin GreavesAssociateSolicitor2018

Our hourly rates depend on the experience of the team member dealing with the matter and vary from £275 (Ben Greaves) to £300 (Patrick Jenkins) per hour, plus VAT.

Licensing Applications: Pricing Policy

This policy sets out price information to businesses in relation to applying for a new Premises Licence or to vary a premises licence to allow those premises to be used for one or more licensable activities. This pricing policy only relates to two types of applications – applications for a Premises Licence under Section 17 of the Licensing Act 2003 and applications to vary a premises licence under Section 34 of the Licensing Act 2003.

It may not be possible to provide the total cost of the service in the form of a fixed fee for certain applications, however in this policy we have provided the normal range of costs for a simple and a medium complexity application only. Pricing information relating to high complexity applications are available on request.

We will advise you on some factors to help you determine whether your application for a Premises Licence is likely to be a simple application or one of medium or high complexity. Factors affecting complexity may include whether there is a cumulative impact policy in place, the type and size of the premises, or whether it is in a residential area. Predominantly, high complexity includes but may not be limited to large scale public events. There may be other factors which may be specific to your application which we can discuss with you.

What our prices include:

Except where there is a specific exclusion set out below, the prices set out in this pricing policy include:

  • Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licensing objectives within your Premises Licence application including advice on what measures are necessary to comply with the licensing objectives.
  • Advising you as the type and format of plans you are required to submit with your application.
  • Completing the application form for a new Premises Licence (including the operating schedule) in accordance with your instructions and submitting this to the local licensing authority alongside suitable plans. You must provide suitable plans.
  • Providing guidance on the fee levels payable to the licensing authority.
  • Preparing copies of the Premises Licence application for disclosure to the responsible authorities and serving copies of the application on the responsible authorities.
  • Subject to the additional fee set out below, drafting the notices advertising the Premises Licence application and submitting the notice to the local newspaper.
  • Arranging with you for you to display the notice(s) advertising the Premises Licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done by you in order to comply with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003.
  • Providing a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) consent form for signature by a Personal Licence holder proposed by yourself.
  • Checking the Premises Licence once granted.

Fees for an application for a new Premises Licence (simple or medium complexity applications)

This fee is made up of:

  • Legal fees £1,512 – £3,024 (including VAT but excluding disbursements) (based on 4-8 hours at an hourly rate of £315 plus VAT)
  • VAT on legal fees £252 – £504
  • Disbursements (as set out below)

If you also require us to submit and advertise your Premises Licence application the additional costs payable for submitting and advertising the application will be £425 including VAT plus the advertising fee as set out in the disbursement section below. The fee is calculated on one hour of additional work in preparing the notice in the appropriate format and locating and agreeing fees with the appropriate local newspaper.

Fees for an application to vary a Premises Licence

  • Legal fees £756 – £1,512 (including VAT but excluding disbursements) (based on 2-4 hours at an hourly rate of £315 plus VAT)
  • VAT on legal fees £126 – £252

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

  • Application fee (payable to licensing authority). The fees for Premises Licence applications are based on the Business Rateable Value for the premises in question.  The fees below apply to all Premises Licence applications except for premises whose business is primarily on-sales of alcohol and whose Business Rateable Value falls into bands D & E. For these applications the secondary ‘Multiplier’ rows should be used to determine the fee payable.
Non-domestic (business)
rateable value		Band A
£0 – £4,300		Band B
£4,301 – £33,000		Band C
£33,001 – £87,000		Band D
£87,001 – £125,000		Band E
£125,001 and over
New application and variation£100£190£315£450£635
Multiplier applied to premises used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bands D & E only)N/AN/AN/AX2 (£900)X3 (£1,905)
Annual charge payable each subsequent year *£70£180£295£320£350
Annual charge multiplier applied to premises used exclusively or primarily for the supply of alcohol for consumption on the premises (Bands D & E only)N/AN/AN/AX2 (£640)X3 (£1,050)
  • Advertising fee £250-350*
  • Enquiry agent fees to display public notices £50-150*
  • Special delivery fee to serve the application £20
  • Printing additional copies of plans if necessary £5 per copy

*These fees vary depending on the individual premises and where it is located. The fees can on occasion be higher than the ranges given above. We will give you an accurate figure for each item as soon as we are able to do so.

The fee does not include:

  • Where the application forms part of a wider application for the purchase of a business including licensed premises.
  • obtaining suitable plans.
  • attending pre-consultation meetings with the Licensing Authority or Responsible Authorities, nor their fee for this meeting.
  • dealing with or advising you in relation to queries or representations received from either the responsible authorities or other interested parties.
  • attendance and representation at a licensing sub-committee hearing of the responsible authority. If representations are received and attendance and representation at a licensing sub-committee is required then we will provide a separate fee estimate for this work which will be charged at an hourly rate.
  • Advice or applications in connection with Personal Licences.
  • Large scale events.
  • Applications for Temporary Events Notices.
  • Theft, loss etc of Premises Licence or Summary.
  • Provisional Statements.
  • Change of name or address (Premises Licence holder).
  • Variation of Designated Premises Supervisor.
  • Transfer: Premises Licence.
  • Interim Authority.
  • Theft, loss etc of club premises certificate or summary.
  • Change of name or alteration of club rules.
  • Change of registered address of club.
  • Theft, loss etc of Temporary Events Notice.
  • Grant or renewal of Personal Licence.
  • Theft, loss etc of Personal Licence.
  • Change of name or address.
  • Register of interest.
  • Correcting any errors with the licensing authority.

How long will my application take?

Matters usually take 6 -12 weeks from receipt of full instructions from you. There is a 28-day consultation period which is included in the estimate of time. This is on the basis of the application being relatively straightforward and you being able to provide all the necessary documents promptly. If your matter is more complex, for example, if there is substantial opposition from interested parties, or if there is a delay in receiving the documents we need, it may take longer.

Persons who will deal with your matter

Licensing applications will be carried out by Kevin Smith who is a Partner and a solicitor in the firm with 21 years Post Qualification Experience.

Unfair Dismissal – Pricing Information

Our fees are based on an hourly rate of £300 plus VAT.

Linda Wilson, Partner, heads up the Employment Department and has many years specialising in employment law, dealing with both employers and employees, including drafting, advisory and advocacy work.

Below is a guide as to costs for dealing with an Unfair Dismissal case in the Employment Tribunal. (A Wrongful Dismissal claim as a claim by itself is unusual, but would be likely to be similar to a simple case below)

  • Simple case: £8,000 – £10,000 (excluding VAT)
  • Medium complexity case: £10,000 – £18,000 (excluding VAT)
  • High complexity case: £18,000 – £40,000 (excluding VAT)

Factors that could make a case more complex (not exhaustive):

  • If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
  • Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
  • Making or defending a costs application
  • Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
  • The number of witnesses and documents
  • If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
  • Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal

Whether you are a business or individual, you should check any insurance policies or memberships/Union details to see whether you may be able to benefit from legal expenses insurance.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

There is currently no fee to enter a claim in the Employment Tribunal, but this may change.

There may be experts’ fees that need to be paid, such as medical experts.

If we instruct Counsel to carry out the advocacy for you at a Tribunal their fees vary according to the case and their experience. As a guide only, they can range from between £1000 to £3000 per day for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation).

Costs of the other side

This relates to where if you lose, the other side may try to re-coup its legal costs from you. Unlike the courts, this does not always happen, but it is a potential cost we would advise you on if it were to arise.

Key stages

The fees set out above cover all the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:

  • Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
  • Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
  • Preparing claim or response
  • Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
  • Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
  • Preparing or considering a schedule of loss
  • Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
  • Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
  • Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
  • Preparing bundle of documents
  • Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
  • Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
  • Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel

The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.

How long will my matter take?

The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved. If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 2 – 8 weeks. If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 4 months to 12 months. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses. It also depends on the ability of the Tribunal to hear your case as they are very busy.

Price and Service Information – Conveyancing (residential)

Our fees are based on an hourly rate charge for the work carried out.

Our hourly rates depend on the experience of the team member dealing with the matter and vary from £270 to £315 plus VAT per hour.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. When providing an estimate of costs, we consider the following factors:

  • the value of the property,
  • is the property freehold or leasehold?
  • is the property new build?
  • will there be a first registration of title with land registry?
  • whether there is a mortgage or not,
  • in purchase cases, whether it will be your primary residence, a buy to let or a second/holiday home,
  • are there multiple owners?
  • is there a shared ownership scheme?
  • are you using a help to buy scheme, and whether it is an equity loan or ISA?
  • is the purchase under right to buy?
  • is the purchase at auction?
  • if the property has or is about to be repossessed,
  • whether you a first-time buyer,
  • is there a re-mortgage?

Sale of a freehold property

For the sale of a freehold property for less than £1,000,000 we have a range of costs starting at £2,300 plus VAT (£2,760 inclusive of VAT) to £3,300 plus VAT (£3,960 inclusive of VAT ).

For sales over £1,000,000 our costs are not less than £3,500 plus VAT 4,200 inclusive of VAT).

For the sale of a leasehold property we usually charge an additional £300 plus VAT (£360 inclusive VAT).

Purchase of a freehold property

For the purchase of a freehold property for less than £1,000,000 we have a range of costs starting at £,2600 plus VAT (£3,120 inclusive of VAT) to £3,700 plus VAT ( £4,440 inclusive of VAT ).

For purchases over £1,000,000 our costs are not less than £4,400 plus VAT (£5,280 inclusive of VAT).

For the purchase of a leasehold property we usually charge an additional £300 plus VAT (£360 inclusive VAT).

For the purchase of a newbuild property (freehold or leasehold) we charge an additional £600 to £800 plus VAT (£720 to £960 inclusive of VAT).

Mortgage or re-mortgage

For a mortgage or re-mortgage our costs are on average £1,600 plus VAT (£1,920 inclusive of VAT) but may be more depending upon the instructions of the lender and the nature of the property being mortgaged/re-mortgaged, for example if it is a buy to let property the costs will be higher.  The costs will also be higher if the mortgage/re-mortgage is for bridging finance.

Our costs for an equity release mortgage / re-mortgage are on average £1,700 plus VAT (£2,040 inclusive of VAT)

We set out below examples of the costs of:

  1. the sale and purchase of a freehold house based on the average house price in Petersfield and Midhurst of circa £518,000
  2. the sale and purchase of a leasehold flat based on the average price of leasehold properties in Petersfield and Midhurst of circa £300,000.

Please do contact us and we will be able to give you an estimate of the fees for dealing with your particular matter.

EXAMPLE COSTS ON THE PURCHASE OF A FREEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Our fees cover all the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property is in Wales.

Conveyancer’s fees* for a purchase of a residential freehold property at the average price £518,000:

  • Legal fee £3,200
  • VAT payable £640

Electronic money transfer fee £40 (to send funds to seller’s solicitor on completion)

  • VAT payable £8
  • Electronic identification check fee (per person) £16
  • VAT payable £3.20
  • Subtotal £,3,907.20

We do not charge any additional legal fees for acting on behalf of a high street mortgage lender for a first legal charge (mortgage). Additional legal fees may apply for non-high street lenders and/or for second or subsequent mortgages.

We do not pay or receive any referral fee.

The legal fees are based on an estimate of the likely fees to be incurred. Provided your transaction is straightforward then the legal fees should be no more. If the transaction becomes complicated or protracted then the legal fees may be more and the additional fees that may be charged will be charged at our hourly rate in accordance with our standard terms of business.

* Our fee assumes that:

  1. 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;
  2. for leasehold property, this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease;
  3. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise;
  4. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties;
  5. the transaction is not a sale or purchase of part.

Other costs payable to another organisation (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.

The likely disbursements for the purchase of a residential freehold property for £518,000 are:

  • Land Registry fee £295 *
  • Land Registry search £3.60 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Bankruptcy search (required if there is a mortgage) £2.40 (inclusive of VAT) per name.
  • Search fees £450 on average.
  • * The Land Registry registration fee is based on the value of the property. A table of the fees can be found at Land Registry, fees scale. Unless the property is unregistered we would anticipate making an application via the Land Registry portal, as opposed to a postal application,  so the relevant reduced registration fee is payable.
  • *The search fees depend upon the location of the property and assumes the following searches are carried out: Local Search, Water and Drainage search, Environmental search and chancel check . An accurate estimate of the search fees can be provided when we have the address of the property but they can vary from £350 to £700.
  • Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Subtotal (approx.):  £751

Estimated total legal fees and other costs payable to another organisation on purchase of a freehold property for £518,000 : £4,658.20 plus:

  • Stamp duty land tax payable to HMRC on completion: £13,400

Stamp Duty 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.

Stages of the purchase process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we set out some key stages:

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice;
  • Check finances are in place to fund the purchase and contact the lender’s solicitors if needed;
  • Receive and advise on the contract and title documents;
  • Obtain and advise on the searches;
  • Obtain further planning documentation if required;
  • Make any necessary enquiries of the seller’s solicitor;
  • Give you advice on all the documents and information received;
  • Go through the conditions of your mortgage offer with you;
  • Send the approved contract to you for signature;
  • Agree the completion date (the date from which you own the property);
  • Exchange contracts to set the completion date (the date from which you will own the property) and notify you that this has happened;
  • Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you;
  • Complete the purchase;
  • Deal with the submission of the Stamp Duty Land Tax form and payment of  tax due; and
  • Deal with the application for registration of your purchase and mortgage (if applicable) at Land Registry.

You may find the following guides on the conveyancing process helpful: https://www.macdonaldoates.co.uk/residential-property/the-conveyancing-process-a-general-guide/

Conveyancing – Frequently Asked Questions
https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/for-the-public/common-legal-issues/buying-a-home/

EXAMPLE COSTS ON PURCHASE OF A LEASEHOLD RESIDENTIAL PROPERTY

Conveyancer’s fees* for a purchase of a residential leasehold property for £300,000 would be:

  • Legal fee £3,100
  • VAT payable £620

Electronic money transfer fee £40 (to send funds to seller’s solicitor on completion)

  • VAT payable £8
  • Electronic identification check fee (per person) £16
  • VAT payable £3.20
  • Subtotal: £3,787.20

In addition to the disbursements outlined above for the purchase of a freehold property (searches, Land Registry fees, etc) there are certain disbursements which will be required under the terms of the of the property. The disbursements which we anticipate will apply for a leasehold property are set out below. This list is not exhaustive and other costs may be payable depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon review of the lease and information from the landlord/managing agents.

Additional anticipated disbursements for the purchase of a leasehold residential property*

  • Notice of Transfer fee –This fee is usually between £50 and £100 plus VAT.
  • Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is usually between £50 and £100 plus VAT per notice.
  • Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is chargeable if the terms of the lease require the incoming purchaser to enter into a deed of covenant with the landlord.  The fee is set by the landlord/managing agents  and is often between £100 and £250 plus VAT
  • Certificate of Compliance fee –Some properties require the consent of the landlord/management company to register the transfer at the Land Registry.  The fees charges vary but can  be between £50 to £150 plus VAT
  • Share Transfer fee – If you will become a member of a resident owned management company, fees are often charged by the landlord/managing agents to arrange for the transfer of the seller’s share to you on completion of your purchase.  The fees vary but can be in the region of £50 to £150 plus VAT

*These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above.  We will confirm the actual figures payable when we report to you on the information from the landlord/management company.

You should also be aware that 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 part of the conveyancing process.

How long will my purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your new home will depend on a number of factors. The average time from when your conveyancer receives the contract pack to completion is two to three months. .

This is an estimate only and it can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain and a leasehold property is likely to take longer. A leasehold property purchase that requires either a variation or an extension of the lease, can take significantly longer, often an additional 2 to 4 months. Additional charges would apply for dealing with a lease extension.

EXAMPLE COSTS ON SALE OF A FREEHOLD PROPERTY

Conveyancer’s fees* for the sale of a residential freehold property for £518,000:

  • Legal fee £2,700
  • VAT payable £540
  • Electronic money transfer fee £40

(to send funds to you on completion by same day transfer)

(a second fee will be payable if there is a mortgage to redeem on completion)

  • VAT payable £8
  • Electronic identification check fee (per person) £16
  • VAT payable £3.20
  • Subtotal £3,307.20

We do not pay or receive any referral fee.

Other costs payable to another organisation (disbursements):

  • Land Registry official copies £6 plus VAT for the register and title plan
  • (£3 per additional document such as historical deeds referred to in the register)

Estimated total legal fees and other costs payable to another organisation on sale of a leasehold property for £518,000: £,3,314.40

EXAMPLE COSTS ON SALE OF A LEASEHOLD PROPERTY

Conveyancer’s fees * for the sale of a residential leasehold property for £300,000:

  • Legal fee £2,800
  • VAT payable £560
  • Electronic money transfer fee £40

(to send funds to you on completion by same day transfer)

(a second fee will be payable if there is a mortgage to redeem on completion)

  • VAT payable £8
  • Electronic identification check fee (per person) £16
  • VAT payable £3.20
  • Subtotal £3,427.20

We do not pay or receive any referral fee.

Other costs payable to another organisation (disbursements):

  • Land Registry official copies £15 plus VAT for a copy of the lease and copies of the register and title plan for both the leasehold and freehold titles. (£3 plus VAT per additional document such as historical deeds referred to in the register)
  • A fee is usually payable to the landlord / management company / managing agent for completion of a standard leasehold property enquiries form (LPE1). Often the fee is between £150 and £350 plus VAT*.

*These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. Separate fees may be payable if there is a separate landlord and management company who deal with different parts of the form. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents and received the relevant information from the landlord / management company / managing agent.

Estimated total legal fees and other costs payable to another organisation on sale of leasehold property for £300,000:  £3,625.20 (based on landlords fee of £150 plus VAT for completed standard  leasehold property enquiries form (LPE1))

Stages of the sale process

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we set out some key stages:

  • Take your instructions and provide initial advice;
  • Obtain the title documents;
  • Prepare the contract and supporting documents;
  • Advise on and prepare replies to enquiries raised by the buyer’s conveyancer;
  • Obtain further documentation if required;
  • Give you advice on all documents and information received;
  • Send the approved contract to you for signature;
  • Agree the completion date (the date from which you cease to own the property);
  • Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened; and
  • Arrange on completion for any mortgages to be repaid, estate agents commission to be paid and to send you the balance of the proceeds of sale

You may find the following guide on the conveyancing process helpful: http://www.macdonaldoates.co.uk/the-conveyancingprocess-a-general-guide/

and also https://www.macdonaldoates.co.uk/residential-property/conveyancing-frequently-asked-questions/

EXAMPLE COSTS ON MORTGAGES OR RE-MORTGAGES

For the mortgage or re-mortgage on a property valued at £500,000 with a mortgage advance of £250,000 the Conveyancer’s fees will be:

  • Legal fee £1,600
  • VAT payable £320
  • Electronic money transfer fee £40

(to send funds to you on completion by same day transfer)

(a second fee will be payable if there is an existing mortgage to redeem)

  • VAT payable £8
  • Electronic identification check fee (per person) £16
  • VAT payable £3.20
  • Subtotal £1,987.20

Other costs payable to another organisation (disbursements):

  • Land Registry fee £45 *
  • Land Registry search £3.60 (inclusive of VAT)
  • Bankruptcy search £2.40 (inclusive of VAT) per name.
  • Search insurance (if lender accepts no searches being carried out) £62

*The Land Registry registration fee is based on the amount of the loan. A table of the fees can be found at Land Registry, fees scale.

Estimated total of conveyancers fees and Other costs payable to another organisation on re-mortgage for £250,000: £2,100.20

OUR TEAM

All of our team deal exclusively with residential property matters. Karl Smith is head of the Residential Property department and has overall supervision of the department. We are a member of The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). Our team includes the following:

NamePositionQualification
Karl SmithPartnerSolicitor
Sarah RowdenPartnerSolicitor
Melissa HackettPartnerSolicitor
Jill WilliamsAssociateChartered Legal Executive
Claire BrownChartered Legal ExecutiveCILEx Conveyancing Practitioner, Chartered Legal Executive

CQS webpage: https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/for-the-public/using-a-solicitor/quality-marks/conveyancing/

Please visit our Residential Property services page: http://www.macdonaldoates.co.uk/portfolio/residential-property/