Fees

Conveyancing Fees

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase or sale of your property, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty)
All residential conveyancing matters are fixed fees.

Conveyancer’s Fees and Disbursements

Purchase & Sales – VAT is calculated at 20%

Equity Release

Right to Buy Transactions

Remortgages – Not Equity Release

Additional Supplements

* You will be advised of an exact figure at the start of your matter

Search fees range from £100 – £300 depending on the area you purchase your property.
HM Land Registry fee – these are on scale depending on the price of your property but range from £20 – £910 – you will be advised of the exact figure at the start of your matter.
Electronic money transfer fee £30 plus VAT at 20% £6. Total £36 this is payable when sending monies by CHAPS.
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.
Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase) or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) of the property is in Wales.
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website.

Anticipated Disbursements *

Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £20 – £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 £20 – £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 – £200.
Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £50 – £200.

* 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 on a leasehold property throughout your ownership of the property.

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

• 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 mortgage redemption figures
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of buyers/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 house purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until completion will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6 – 12 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 freehold property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 8 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 2 and 4 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.

Private Client Fees

Wills

Basic Single Cost £175.00 plus VAT £35 – Total £210

Basic Mirror Cost £275.00 plus VAT £55 – Total £330

Additional fees may apply if the wills require more complex trust arrangements and/or tax planning.

LPAs

Single LPA for a single person – Property or Health Cost £500 plus VAT £100 Total £600 OPG registration fee of £82.00.

Both LPAs Cost £600 plus VAT £120 Total £720 for a single person (or one type of LPA for a couple). OPG Registration fee of £164.00 (£82.00 per LPA).

Both LPAs for a couple Cost £750 plus VAT £150 Total £900 (4 in total). OPG registration fee of £328.00 (£82.00 per LPA).

Probate Fees

1. Fixed fee to obtain the Grant of Probate only in an excepted estate (an estate where we are not required to file a full Inheritance Tax return prior to applying for the Grant of Probate)

£1,020 (Legal Fee of £850 plus VAT £170)

This includes the cost of identifying the type of application required contacting asset holders and creditors to obtain and collate the information required to apply for the Grant of Probate, completing the Legal Statement (which is the documents used to apply for the Grant of Probate in an excepted estate) and providing you with the sealed copy of the Grant of Probate.

Should you wish to instruct us to also then collect and distribute the estate assets on your behalf then our typical administration fee would instead be:

£1,500 (Legal fee of £1,250 plus VAT £250) This includes our costs of completing and submitting application forms and requests for funds.

The process and time involved. It is necessary to obtain death date values for the assets in the estate (e.g. property and bank accounts) this typically takes between 3-6 weeks. Thereafter one the application for probate has been submitted it is currently taking the Probate Registry around 6-8 weeks to issue the Grant of Probate. Where asset holders delay in providing information or when the Probate Registry is backlogged these times can take longer. The timescales involved in claiming the estate assets can vary considerably between different asset holders but a period of 3-6 weeks for bank accounts is usual. Where asset holders delay in providing information or when the Probate Registry is backlogged these times can take longer.

2. Fixed fee to obtain the Grant of Probate where a full Inheritance Tax return must be submitted before applying for the Grant of Probate but where there is no Inheritance Tax to pay:

£1,680 (Legal fee of £1,400 plus VAT £280)

This includes the costs of collating the information required to complete and submit the IHT400 Inheritance Tax return (and the associated supplementary forms) and thereafter completing the Legal Statement to apply for the Grant of Probate and providing you with the sealed copy of the Grant of Probate.

The process and time involved. It is necessary to obtain death date values for the assets in the estate (e.g. property and bank accounts) this typically takes between 3-6 weeks. Thereafter and Inheritance Tax return must be submitted to HMRC and approved by them. This typically takes between 4-8 weeks. Thereafter one the application for probate has been submitted it is currently taking the Probate Registry around 6-8 weeks to issue the Grant of Probate. Where asset holders delay in providing information or releasing funds or when the Probate Registry is backlogged these times can take longer.

3. Fixed fee to obtain the Grant of Probate where a full Inheritance Tax return must be submitted and Inheritance Tax paid before applying from the Grant of Probate.

£2,160 (Legal fee of £1,800 plus VAT £360)

This includes the costs of collating the information required to complete and submit the IHT400 Inheritance Tax return (and the associated supplementary forms) and liaising with the asset holders to arrange for the payment of Inheritance Tax and thereafter completing the Legal Statement to apply for the Grant of Probate and providing you with the sealed copy of the Grant of Probate.

The process and time involved. It is necessary to obtain death date values for the assets in the estate (e.g. property and bank accounts) this typically takes between 3-6 weeks. Thereafter and Inheritance Tax return must be submitted to HMRC and approved by them. This typically takes between 4-8 weeks. We must then liaise with asset holders for a contribution towards the Inheritance Tax liability and obtain confirmation from HMRC that they have received payment. This would also usually take a further 3-6 weeks. Thereafter one the application for probate has been submitted it is currently taking the Probate Registry around 6-8 weeks to issue the Grant of Probate. Where asset holders delay in providing information or releasing funds or when the Probate Registry is backlogged these times can take longer.

4. Administration fee to collect and distribute the estate where a full Inheritance Tax return is required.

Such estates tend to involve more numerous accounts than the excepted estates referred to above. Should you wish to instruct us to collect and distribute the estate assets on your behalf in cases 2 and 3 (where a full Inheritance Tax return is required) then our fee will depend on the number of assets and beneficiaries involved but by way of example:
a) 4 main beneficiaries or less, 5 bank/investment accounts or less – £480 (Legal fee £400 plus VAT £80)
b) 4 main beneficiaries of less. 5 bank/investment accounts or less; shareholdings – £720
(Legal Fee £600 plus VAT £120)
c) more than 5 beneficiaries and/or more than 5 accounts or shares – £960 + (Legal Fee £800 plus £160)

5. Costs not included in the above.

In some cases the estate and/or individual beneficiaries may be required to complete an income tax return and/or a capital gains tax return.

The costs of contentious legal proceedings relating to the estate are not included.

6. Sale of Property

This would be in accordance with our standard conveyancing fee.

7. Disbursements.

These are costs relating to the administration of the estate payable to third parties, such as the Probate Registry fee.
The likely probate expenses are:
(a) The Court fee is £300 plus £1.50 per official copy of the Grant of Probate (this is likely to increase shortly Parliamentary time permitting).
(b) Affidavit swear fee – this only now applies in a minority of probate applications but would typically be around £7
(c) Bankruptcy search fees – these cost £2 per beneficiary
(d) Land Registry document fee – £3
(e) A Land Registry fee if there is property to transfer to a beneficiary. This varies with the value of the land and is a Government fee. If it is applicable, I will advise you of the cost once the value of the property is established.
(f) Occasionally it might be necessary for Personal Representatives to obtain professional valuations of land or personal effects.
(g) The cost of advertising for creditors if you feel that this is appropriate. This varies from case to case but would typically be around £100 to advertise in the London Gazette and at least £80 to advertise within the locality of the deceased’s address
(h) In some cases it may be necessary to pay registrars fees for the sale or transfer of shareholdings these vary considerably.