Purchase of a Freehold Residential Property

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

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements

*This figure will change if the application is for registration of a new build property or is a first registration.

** This is based on two purchasers buying with the assistance of a mortgage.

*** This fee is for South/West Yorkshire only. An increased fee may apply for all other counties may apply.

*The following factors may increase the cost of the service should they apply to your purchase, however this is not exhaustive:-

• The property is a new build
• The property is being purchased at auction
• The property is a shared ownership property
• The property has been repossessed
• The property is currently unregistered
• The property is controlled by a Management Company
• You require a declaration of Trust
• You are having a Help to Buy Mortgage or other equity loan
• You have a help to Buy ISA
• Your lender is separately represented or you are selling a property with a different Solicitor which needs to complete at the same time as your purchase

The additional fees and disbursements that may apply can be found here.

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)

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.

How long will my house purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 12 – 15 weeks minimum.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential 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 further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Send final contract to you for signature
• 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

Purchase of a leasehold 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 dealing with 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.

*This figure will change if the application is for registration of a new build property or is a first registration.

** This is based on two purchasers buying with the assistance of a mortgage.

*The following factors may increase the cost of the service should they apply to your purchase, however this is not exhaustive:-

• The property is a new build
• The property is being purchased at auction
• The property is a shared ownership property
• The property has been repossessed
• The property is currently unregistered
• The property is controlled by a Management Company
• You require a declaration of Trust
• You are having a Help to Buy Mortgage or other equity loan
• You have a help to Buy ISA
• Your lender is separately represented or you are selling a property with a different Solicitor which needs to complete at the same time as your purchase

The additional fees and disbursements that may apply can be found here.

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. There are certain disbursements which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the Property. The disbursements which we anticipate will apply are set out separately below. This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors.

Anticipated Disbursements*

• Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £75 – £250.00
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £75.00 – £250.00
• 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 £75.00 – £250.00
• Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £75.00 – £250.00

*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 throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.

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 or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website.

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential 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 further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of 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 you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 12 – 15 weeks minimum. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take X weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

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. 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 complication arise
4. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
5. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

Sale of a freehold residential property

Our fees cover all of the work* required to complete the sale of your property, including preparing the contract package for the buyers Solicitors, dealing any enquiries they may raise throughout the process, exchanging contracts, completing the sale and settling any outstanding mortgage on the property.

*The following factors may increase the cost of the service should they apply to your purchase, however this is not exhaustive:-

• The property is a new build
• The property is being purchased at auction
• The property is a shared ownership property
• The property is currently unregistered
• There is a defect which requires us to prepare a Statutory Declaration to resolve
• You have a Help to Buy Mortgage or other equity loan which we will need to settle
• You have more than one mortgage on the property

The additional fees and disbursements that may apply can be found here.

How long will my house sale take?

How long it will take from accepting an offer until the sale completes will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 12 – 15 weeks.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are selling to a first time buyer, with a mortgage in principle and you do not have a property to buy, it could take 4 weeks. However, if you are selling a property that is part of a chain and you have a second charge where the lender has very specific requirements, this can take significantly longer. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

Stages of the process

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

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Obtain completed and signed supporting documentation from you to enable us to compile a contract pack
• Draft the contract and prepare the contract package
• Submit the above to the buyers Solicitors
• Consider enquiries raised by the Buyers Solicitors and obtain your replies if necessary
• Obtain a mortgage redemption statement, if appropriate
• Liaise with any Estate Agents throughout the sale and with regards to their invoice
• Obtain your signature to the Contract and Transfer
• Prepare a financial statement for you
• Agree a completion date
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Obtain a final redemption statement and obtain your approval to the Estate Agents Invoice
• Complete sale
• Deal with settlement of any mortgage(s)
• Deal with payment of the Estate Agents account

Sale of a leasehold residential property

Our fees cover all of the work* required to complete the sale of your property, including preparing the contract package for the buyers Solicitors, dealing any enquiries they may raise throughout the process, exchanging contracts, completing the sale and settling any outstanding mortgage on the property.

*The following factors may increase the cost of the service should they apply to your purchase, however this is not exhaustive:-

• The property is a new build
• The property is being purchased at auction
• The property is a shared ownership property
• The property is currently unregistered
• The property is controlled by a Management Company
• There is a defect which requires us to prepare a Statutory Declaration to resolve
• You have a Help to Buy Mortgage or other equity loan which we will need to settle
• You have more than one mortgage on the property

The additional fees and disbursements that may apply can be found here.

How long will my house sale take?

How long it will take from accepting an offer until the sale completes will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 12 – 15 weeks minimum.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are selling to a first time buyer, with a mortgage in principle and you do not have a property to buy, it could take 4 weeks.  However, if you are in a chain and selling a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 to 6 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

 Stages of the process

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

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Contact the Landlord/Management Company regarding their fee for the Management Pack
• Obtain completed and signed supporting documentation from you to enable us to compile a contract pack
• Draft the contract and prepare the contract package
• Submit the above to the Buyers Solicitors
• Request the Management Pack and forward to the Buyers Solicitors once received
• Consider enquiries raised by the Buyers Solicitors and obtain your replies if necessary
• Obtain a mortgage redemption statement, if appropriate
• Liaise with any Estate Agents throughout the sale and with regards to their invoice
• Obtain your signature to the Contract and Transfer
• Prepare a financial statement for you
• Agree a completion date
• Obtain up to date ground rent and service charge figures and prepare an apportionment statement
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Obtain a final redemption statement and obtain your approval to the Estate Agents Invoice
• Complete sale
• Deal with settlement of any mortgage(s)
• Deal with settlement of any outstanding ground rent and service charges
• Deal with payment of the Estate Agents account

Mortgage/Re-Mortgage of a Freehold or Leasehold Residential Property

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the mortgage or a re-mortgage of your property, including dealing with the registration of the new mortgage at the Land Registry.

Conveyancing Fee

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply.

How long will my Mortgage/Re-Mortgage take?

How long it will take depends on a number of factors. The average process takes between six to eight weeks. However, each transaction is different and we will progress matters as swiftly as possible.

Key stages of the process: –

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice.
• Carry out searches.
• Obtain further planning documents if required.
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you.
• Send mortgage deed to you for signature.
• Obtain pre-completion searches.
• Agree on a completion date.
• Arrange for monies to be received from the new lender and you (if applicable).
• Complete new mortgage and repay existing mortgage (if applicable).
• Deal with the application for registration at Land Registry.

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;
• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise;
• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation; and
• No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.

For details of members of the team who may work on your matter please view our profiles section. The team are supervised by Steven Dawson.