Our fees - Conveyancing

We have set out our fees for residential property transactions in the table below. 

These are the estimated costs for a standard transaction and are provided on the assumption there are no unusual complexities. 

It is an important part of our duty to you to make sure you are aware of our fees at the outset and how our fees may increase. 

We are committed to providing transparent pricing information for our services in as clear and understandable format as we can. 

In the event any non-standard elements arise, we will always let you know and agree a further fee estimate and scope of our work with you before we incur additional fees.  We will not incur additional time or cost without your prior agreement.

We provide fee estimates based upon hourly rates.  We set out the hourly rates of the people acting in your transaction in our fee estimates and in our terms of engagement.  We have not published these here for reasons of commercial sensitivity.

The below figures are on an estimated fee basis

Freehold Sale or Purchase
£0 - £500,000 
£3,500 + 20% VAT

£501,000  - £800,000 
£3,500 - £4,950 + 20% VAT

£801,000 - £1,000,000 
A minimum of £5,000 + 20% VAT upwards.  Higher value properties will be estimated due to the invariable complexity and additional insurance risk we carry.

Over £1,000,000
Our fees are estimated separately due to complexity of service and value in these cases
£12,000 upwards + 20% VAT as base but linked to value, complexity and insurance risk carried.

Leasehold Sale or Purchase
Up to £800,000
An additional fee of £1,000 + 20% VAT will be added to our base fees above.

Over £800,000 
An additional fee of £1,000 plus 20% VAT will be added to our base fees above.

Re-mortgage
We do not act in remortgages for new clients and assess instructions for existing clients on a case-by-case basis

Disbursements will vary but generally:

Purchases and remortgages:
Search fees with the local authority and other key searches are estimated at £400-£500 inclusive of 20% VAT.

Land Registry increased its standard fees in late 2023 and as these are third party costs, the increased fees are set out here.

Land Registry search fees: £7 plus 20% VAT for a priority search at completion, per title and £6 plus 20% VAT per bankruptcy search against all named individuals in the contract and any party funding the purchase, where there is any mortgage funding involved.

Search of the Index Max:  £8 plus 20% VAT.

Land Registry office copy entries:  £7 plus 20% VAT per title document and usually no more than £28-£35 plus 20% VAT in total.

Land Registry registration fees:  On a scale, depending on value, usually £45-£500 if filed electronically.  For new leases or transfers of part, £1,100 is the highest for properties valued at over £1 million.  No VAT is charged on the registration fee.

Bank transfer administration fees:  £40 plus 20% VAT per same-day (CHAPS) payment.

Notice fees for leasehold properties of freehold properties where a management company is involved: Fees are dependent upon the management company/freeholder. The fees generally range between £40 (no VAT) to £250 plus 20% VAT. Local authority freeholders do not charge VAT.

Lender panel management fees:  £35 plus VAT where applicable.

Sales:

Land Registry office copy entries:  £7 plus 20% VAT per title (usually no more than £38-£35 plus 20% VAT in total)

Search of the Index Max:  £8 plus 20% VAT.

Management information (for freehold properties with managed communal areas or leasehold properties) £250-£350 on average inclusive of 20% VAT where the management company or freeholder charges 20% VAT.

Bank transfer administration fees:  £40 plus 20% VAT per same-day (CHAPS) payment

Other types of work:

We do not act in Shared Ownership matters.
We do not act in remortgages for new clients.

Transfer of Equity - £1,750-£2,000 plus 20% VAT where there is no mortgage, and up to £2,750 + 20% VAT where there is a mortgage, or where the property is leasehold.

Key stages

We generally estimate that exchange of contracts takes place 6 to 8 weeks from instruction for freehold sales and purchases and 6 to 8 weeks for leasehold sales and purchases, as these are more involved, with completion on both one or two weeks after exchange of contracts.  

This timing very much depends on the other party’s solicitors, any mortgage processing, surveyors, and any other third parties working in a timely manner.

The key stages are:

Fee estimates and file opening:  up to 1 week to deal with due diligence, ID requirements, source of funds information and Stamp Duty forms and arranging signed terms of engagement and business.

Issue of draft contract on a sale, or receipt of draft contract on a purchase at week 1 or 2.

Instructing searches on receipt of contract papers once plans are verified by our client at week 1 or 2.

Obtaining management information on a leasehold sale or purchase or a freehold where there is management company involvement at week 1 or 2.

Reviewing and reporting on title, searches and raising enquiries around week 2 to 3 if all information is available promptly.

Reviewing your mortgage offer once received and reporting to you and where necessary to the lender in week 2 to 3.

Exchange of contracts at week 6 to 8, following which we complete final searches at Land Registry, apply for any required mortgage funds, and arrange completion statements.

Completion at week 8 to 10 (or any other agreed timescale).  Upon completion, date of transfer of ownership and collection of keys of/to the property, we deal with payment of funds, any registration formalities at Land Registry, and notices of change of ownership and mortgage to any management company.

Dealing with retentions of service charge once accounts are issued after completion is separate and we do not charge an additional fee for this service, currently.