Fees: Conveyancing

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements:

• Legal fee £1,250 plus vat of £250
• Fee for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender – no additional charge
• Property search fees approximately £250 plus vat of approximately £50, (as the cost of local searches varies from authority to authority)
• Land Registry search fee £3 plus vat of £0.60
• Bankruptcy search fee £2 (per name) plus vat of £0.40
• Land Registry registration fee £150 no vat
• Electronic funds transfer fee (to transfer purchase monies to the seller’s conveyancer) £35 plus vat of £7

Estimated total: £1,998 including vat (plus SDLT, if payable)

Stamp Duty Land Tax

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website.

Estimated total SDLT for this example £7,500 (assuming this will be your only residential property and there are no Government SDLT reliefs in place).

When could costs change?

Please be aware that the above information is indicative only and not a personal quote. There are various factors that may lead to increased costs such as:

• If the property is unregistered
• If the legal title is defective in anyway
• It becomes apparent that building regulations or planning permission have not been obtained
• If the seller’s conveyancer fails to cooperate.

Who will carry out the work for you?

Mike Hobbs will be carrying out the work relating to your property transaction. Mike Hobbs is also the supervising Partner of our property department.

Hourly rates:

In unusual or complicated matters, it may be necessary to agree an hourly rate with you. 

Hourly rates are based on the qualification and experience of your legal representative.

These rates are currently:

• Partner: £240 plus vat per hour        
• Conveyancer: £175 plus vat per hour.

The process of buying your freehold property

• Agree sale with estate agent and appoint a conveyancer, make payment on account to conveyancer and provide ID and proof of address

• Estate agent produces sales memo, setting out the agreement between buyer and seller

• You complete Property Information Form and Fittings and Contents List.  Conveyancer drafts contract and collates supporting documentation and sends to buyer's conveyancer

• Conveyancer receives any additional enquiries on the paperwork, deals with any matters of title and liaises with you regarding any points requiring your input

• Conveyancer obtains redemption statement from existing lender (if applicable)

• Conveyancer considers and approves transfer deed, sends contract and transfer deed to you for signature

• Check everyone in the chain is ready to exchange.  Completion date agreed with all parties

• Exchange of contracts - This is the point where the completion date is made legally binding

• Conveyancer requests final redemption statement from your lender (if applicable), requests commission account from estate agents and prepares and sends to you a statement of account

• Completion (Moving Day) - Purchase monies are received by your conveyancer, mortgage is repaid, estate agent's commission settled, legal fees and disbursements paid and the balance of purchase monies sent to you.

How long will it take?

Generally speaking, your purchase should take between six and eight weeks to complete but this depends on many factors, including the speed of mortgage funding, property search results, the co-operation of all parties and the length of the chain.

If you are in a ‘chain’, any dates will need to be agreed with all parties. Please remember that a chain can only proceed once the chain is complete and may depend on when the last person joins it.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements:

• Legal fee £1,250 plus vat of £250
• Copy Land Registry title of approximately £6 plus vat of £1.20
• Electronic funds transfer fee £35 plus vat of £7 (to redeem your mortgage)
• Electronic funds transfer fee £35 plus vat of £7 (to settle your estate agent’s account)

Estimated Total £1,591.20 including vat

When could costs change?

Please be aware that the above information is indicative only and not a personal quote. There are various factors that may lead to increased costs such as:

• If the legal title is defective in anyway
• It becomes apparent that building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained
• If the buyer or the buyer’s conveyancer fails to cooperate

Who will carry out the work for you?

Mike Hobbs will be carrying out the work relating to your property transaction. Mike Hobbs is also the supervising Partner of our property department.

Hourly rates

In unusual or complicated matters, it may be necessary to agree an hourly rate with you. Hourly rates are based on the qualification and experience of your legal representative. These rates are currently:

• Partner: £240 plus vat per hour
• Conveyancer: £175 plus vat per hour

The process of selling your freehold property

• Agree sale with estate agent and appoint a conveyancer, make payment on account to conveyancer and provide ID and proof of address

• Estate agent produces sales memo, setting out the agreement between buyer and seller

• You complete Property Information Form and Fittings and Contents List.  Conveyancer drafts contract and collates supporting documentation and sends to buyer's conveyancer

• Conveyancer receives any additional enquiries on the papwork, deals with any matters of title and liaises with you regarding any points requiring your input

• Conveyancer obtains redemption statement from existing lender (if applicable)

• Conveyancer considers and approves transfer deed, sends contract and transfer deed to you for signature

• Check everyone in the chain is ready to exchange.  Completion date agreed wih all parties

• Exchange of contracts - This is the point where the completion date is made legally binding

• Conveyancer requests final redemption statement from your lender (if applicable), requests commission account from estate agents and prepares and sends to you a statement of account

• Completion (Moving Day) - Purchase monies are received by your conveyancer, mortgage is repaid, estate agent's commission settled, legal fees and disbursements paid and the balance of purchase monies sent to you

How long will it take?

Generally speaking, your sale should take between six and eight weeks to complete but this depends on many factors, including the speed of the buyer’s searches, their mortgage funding, the co-operation of all parties and the length of the chain. If you are in a ‘chain’, any dates will need to be agreed with all parties. Please remember that a chain can only proceed once the chain is complete and may depend on when the last person joins it.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements:

• Legal fee £1,600 plus vat of £320
• Fee for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender – no additional charge
• Property search fees approximately £250 plus vat of approximately £50, (as the cost of local searches varies from authority to authority)
• Land Registry search fee £3 plus vat of £0.60
• Bankruptcy search fee £2 (per name) plus vat of £0.40
• Land Registry registration fee £150 no vat
• Electronic funds transfer fee (to transfer purchase monies to the seller’s conveyancer) £35 plus vat of £7

Estimated total: £2,418 including vat (plus SDLT, if payable)

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees (as advised above) or Stamp Duty Land Tax. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

There will be certain disbursements set out in lease for the property you are purchasing and we will advise you more fully once we have read through your lease.   Although this list is not exhaustive anticipated leasehold related disbursements may include:

• Notice of transfer fee – often the fee is between £50 - £100 (plus vat)
• Notice of charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) - often the fee is between £50 - £100 (plus vat)
• Deed of covenant fee - often the fee is between £50- £100 (plus vat)

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property, (usually payable on an annual basis). 

We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive your lease documentation.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website.

Estimated total SDLT for this example £7,500 (assuming this will be your only residential property and there are no Government SDLT reliefs in place).

When could costs change?

Please be aware that the above information is indicative only and not a personal quote. There are various factors that may lead to increased costs such as:

• If the legal title is defective in anyway
• It becomes apparent that building regulations or planning permission have not been obtained
• If the seller’s conveyancer, or the managing agent, or landlord fails to cooperate.

Who will carry out the work for you?

Mike Hobbs will be carrying out the work relating to your property transaction. Mike Hobbs is also the supervising Partner of our property department.

Hourly rates:

In unusual or complicated matters, it may be necessary to agree an hourly rate with you. Hourly rates are based on the qualification and experience of your legal representative.

These rates are currently:

• Partner: £240 plus vat per hour        
• Conveyancer: £175 plus vat per hour.

The process of buying your leasehold property

• Agree sale with estate agent and appoint a conveyancer, make payment on account to conveyancer and provide ID and proof of address

• Estate agent produces sales memo, setting out the agreement between buyer and seller

• Conveyancer recieves contract pack which includes copy title, Property Information Form, Fittings and Contents List, Lease and Leasehold Information Form and reports to you

• Conveyancer requests property searches to suit your needs

• Conveyancer receives search results, considers all of the paperwork provided and raises any necessary additional enquiries.  Mortgage offer received and any special conditions dealt with.  Conveyancer also amends/approves the contract, drafts transfer deed and sends to seller's convyancer for approval

• Replies to additional enquiries received and checked.  Conveyancer prepares full written report on all documentation and prepares Stamp Duty Land Tax Return and mortgage deed  and deed of covenant (if required) for your signature.  Conveyancer requests deposit monies from you

• Check everyone in the chain is ready to exchange.  Completion date agreed wih all parties

• Exchange of contracts - This is the point where the completion date is made legally binding

• Conveyancer requests mortgage advance from the lender and balance of purchase monies (including fees) from you.  Final Land Registry and bankuptcy searches made

• Completion (Moving Day) - Mortgage Advance and balance of funds received and sent to seller's conveyancer.  Agent releases keys to you

• Conveyancer submits Stamp Duty Land Tax Return, pays Stamp Duty and submits application to the Land Registry to register the property in your name, together wtih registration of the mortgage, where applicable.

How long will it take?

Generally speaking, your purchase should take between eight and twelve weeks to complete, but this depends on many factors, including the speed of mortgage funding, property search results, the speed that the managing agent takes to provide their information pack and respond to any enquiries, the co-operation of all parties, and the length of the chain.

If you are in a ‘chain’, any dates will need to be agreed with all parties. Please remember that a chain can only proceed once the chain is complete and may depend on when the last person joins it.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements:

• Legal fee £1,600 plus vat of £320
• Copy Land Registry title of approximately £15 plus vat of £3
• Electronic funds transfer fee £35 plus vat of £7 (to redeem your mortgage)
• Electronic funds transfer fee £35 plus vat of £7 (to settle your estate agent’s account).

Estimated Total £2,022 including vat.

When could costs change?

Please be aware that the above information is indicative only and not a personal quote. There are various factors that may lead to increased costs such as:

• If the legal title is defective in anyway.
• It becomes apparent that building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained.
• If the buyer, the buyer’s conveyancer, the managing agent, or landlord fails to cooperate.

Who will carry out the work for you?

Mike Hobbs will be carrying out the work relating to your property transaction. Mike Hobbs is also the supervising Partner of our property department.

Hourly rates

In unusual or complicated matters, it may be necessary to agree an hourly rate with you. Hourly rates are based on the qualification and experience of your legal representative. These rates are currently:

• Partner: £240 plus vat per hour
• Conveyancer: £175 plus vat per hour

The process of selling your leasehold property

• Agree sale with estate agent and appoint a conveyancer, make payment on account to conveyancer and provide ID and proof of address

• Estate agent produces sales memo, setting out the agreement between buyer and seller

• You complete Property Information Form, Fittings and Contents List and Leasehold Information Form.  Conveyancer drafts contract and collates supporting documentation including obtaining a managing agent's information pack and sends to buyer's conveyancer

• Conveyancer receives any additional enquiries on the paperwork, deals with any matters of title and liaises with you regarding any points requiring your input

• Conveyancer obtains redemption statement from existing lender (if applicable)

• Conveyancer considers and approves transfer deed, sends contract and transfer deed to you for signature

• Check everyone in the chain is ready to exchange.  Completion date agreed with all parties

• Exchange of contracts - This is the point where the completion date is made legally binding

• Conveyancer requests final redemption statement from your lender (if applicable), requests commission account from estate agents, works out apportionments of ground rent and service charge and prepares and sends to you a statement of account

• Completion (Moving Day) - Purchase monies are received by your conveyancer, mortgage is repaid, estate agent's commission settled, legal fees and disbursements paid and the balance of purchase monies sent to you.

How long will it take?

Generally speaking, your sale should take between six and eight weeks to complete but this depends on many factors, including the speed of the buyer’s searches, mortgage funding, the co-operation of all parties and the length of the chain.

If you are in a ‘chain’, any dates will need to be agreed with all parties. Please remember that a chain can only proceed once the chain is complete and may depend on when the last person joins it.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements:

• Legal fee £1,145 plus vat of £229
• Copy Land Registry title of approximately £6 plus vat of £1.20
• Property search fees approximately £250 plus vat of approximately £50, (as the cost of local searches varies from authority to authority).  Some lenders will allow search indemnity insurance which can be a cheaper and quicker way to proceed
• Land Registry search fee £3 plus vat of £0.60
• Bankruptcy search fee £2 (per name) plus vat of £0.40
• Electronic funds transfer fee £35 plus vat of £7 (to redeem your current mortgage)
• Land Registry registration fee approximately £45 no vat.

Estimated Total £1,774.20 including vat

When could costs change?

Please be aware that the above information is indicative only and not a personal quote. There are various factors that may lead to increased costs such as:

• If the legal title is defective in any way.
• It becomes apparent that building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained.

Who will carry out the work for you?

Mike Hobbs will be carrying out the work relating to your property transaction. Mike Hobbs is also the supervising Partner of our property department.

Hourly rates

In unusual or complicated matters, it may be necessary to agree an hourly rate with you. Hourly rates are based on the qualification and experience of your legal representative. These rates are currently:

• Partner: £240 plus vat per hour
• Conveyancer: £175 plus vat per hour

The process of remortgaging your property

• Apply for a mortgage via your bank or broker.  Appoint a conveyancer, make payment on account to conveyancer and provide ID and proof of address

• Conveyancer receives mortgage offer and instructions from your lender

• Conveyancer obtains copy title for your property

• Conveyancer requests searches to suit the lender's needs, or organises search indemnity insurance (where the lender accepts indemnity policies)

• Conveyancer receives search results, considers all of the paperwork

• Conveyancer prepares full written mortgage report, enclosing the mortgage deed for signature

• Conveyancer obtains a redemption statement for your existing mortgage (if applicable)

• Conveyancer requests mortgage advance from the lender and any balane of monies (including fees) required from you.  Final Land Registry and bankruptcy searches made

• Completion - Mortgage advance and balance of funds received.  Conveyancer redeems existing mortgage (if applicable) and sends any balance of monies to you (if applicable)

• Conveyancer applies to the Land Registry to remove your current mortgage (if applicable) and register the new mortgage on your property title.

How long will it take?

Generally speaking, your remortgage should take between four and six weeks to complete but this depends on many factors, including the speed of the searches (if required), mortgage funding and the co-operation of all parties.

Fees and disbursements

• Initial legal advice fee (Louise Hobbs), approximately £720 plus vat of £144
• Conveyancer’s fee of £1,145 plus vat of £229
• Copy Land Registry title of approximately £6 plus vat of £1.20
• Property search fees approximately £250 plus vat of approximately £50, (as the cost of local searches varies from authority to authority). Some lenders will allow search indemnity insurance which can be a cheaper and quicker way to proceed
• Land Registry search fee £3 plus vat of £0.60
• Bankruptcy search fee £2 (per name) plus vat of £0.40
• Land Registry registration fee approximately £45 no vat.

Estimated Total £2,596.20 including vat.

When could costs change?

Please be aware that the above information is indicative only and not a personal quote. There are various factors that may lead to increased costs such as:

• If the legal title is defective in anyway.
• It becomes apparent that building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained.

Who will carry out the work for you?

Mike Hobbs will be carrying out the work relating to your property transaction. Mike Hobbs is also the supervising Partner of our property department.

Hourly rates

In unusual or complicated matters, it may be necessary to agree an hourly rate with you. Hourly rates are based on the qualification and experience of your legal representative. These rates are currently:

• Partner: £240 plus vat per hour
• Conveyancer: £175 plus vat per hour

The process of equity release for your property

• Initial consultation with Louise Hobbs and provide ID and proof of address

• Consider full written advice report from Louise Hobbs

• Apply for equity release product via your broker

• Conveyancer receives equity release offer and instructions from your lender and obtains money on account from you

• Conveyancer obtains copy title for your property and requests searches to suit the lender's needs, or organises search indemnity insurance (where the lender accepts indemnity policies)

• Conveyancer receives search results, considers all of the paperwork

• Conveyancer prepares full written report and meets with you to sign the property documentation

• Conveyancer requests funds from the lender and any balance of monies (including fees) required from you.  Final Land Registry and bankruptcy searches made

• Completion - Funds received and conveyancer sends balance of monies to you

• Conveyancer applies to the Land Registry to register the new mortgage on your property title.

How long will it take?

Generally speaking, your equity release should take between eight and twelve weeks to complete but this depends on many factors, including the time that it takes for your lender to issue an equity release offer, whether your property requires a formal valuation, the speed of the searches (if required) and the co-operation of all parties.