Conveyancing Fees:
Selling your house:
Each residential conveyance may have additional costs incurred. Our standard conveyancing fees for the SALE of a residential property are as follows:
| Sale from: | - | Sale up to: | Our fee | V.A.T. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 | - | £100,000 | £480 | £96 | £576 |
| £100,001 | - | £200,000 | £510 | £102 | £612 |
| £200,001 | - | £300,001 | £550 | £110 | £660 |
| £300,001 | - | £500,000 | £600 | £120 | £720 |
| £500,001 | - | £750,000 | £850 | £170 | £1,020 |
| £750,001 | - | £1,000,000 | £1,050 | £210 | £1,260 |
| £1,000,001 | - | £1,250,000* | £1250 | £250 | £1,500 |
*We do not perform conveyancing above this amount.
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.
Buying a house:
Each residential conveyance may have additional cost incurred. Our standard conveyancing fees for the PURCHASE of a residential property are as follows:
| Purchase from: | - | Purchase up to: | Our fee | V.A.T. | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 | - | £100,000 | £530 | £106 | £636 |
| £100,001 | - | £200,000 | £550 | £110 | £660 |
| £200,001 | - | £300,001 | £600 | £120 | £720 |
| £300,001 | - | £500,000 | £650 | £130 | £780 |
| £500,001 | - | £750,000 | £1,000 | £200 | £1,200 |
| £750,001 | - | £1,000,000 | £1,250 | £250 | £1,500 |
| £1,000,001 | - | £1,250,000* | £1,450 | £290 | £1,740 |
*We do not perform conveyancing above this amount.
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.
Additional fees:
In some circumstances, more work will be required which will incur extra costs in addition to our standard fees:
| Reason for extra work: | Our Extra fee | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sale/Purchase of a new build property or barn conversion | £300 | £60 | £360 |
| Help to Buy purchase where there is shared beneficial ownership (including a second equity charge) | £300 | £60 | £360 |
| Housing Association Shared ownership purchase | £300 | £60 | £360 |
| Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA | £50 | £10 | £60 |
| Sale/purchase of part of a title only | £300 | £60 | £360 |
| To purchase in a company name | £150 | £30 | £180 |
| To re-mortgage in a company name | £100 | £20 | £120 |
| Where property is subject to tenants (per Tennancy Agreement) | £100 | £20 | £120 |
| If Property is unregistered | £150 | £30 | £180 |
| If a flat or new leasehold property built within the last 25 years | £300 | £60 | £360 |
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.
We reserve the right to charge extra on complex titles / matters, or where there are separate lenders / solicitors. Any additional work will be charged at £200 per hour + 20% VAT = £240 per hour total.
Disbursements
As a part of your conveyancing, there may be additional disbursements to be paid, as follows:
| Disbursement: | Fee | Vat | total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anti Money Laundering (AML) fee | £4.96 | £0.99 | £5.95 |
| Banking transfer fee (per transfer) | £20 | £4 | £24 |
| Bankruptcy Search fee (per person) | £2 | £0 | £2.00 |
| Combined Local, Drainage & Enviromnental Search | £121.67 | £24.33 | £146.00 |
| Land registry search fee (pre-completion) | £3 | £0 | £3.00 |
| LMS FEE (only with certain Mortgages) | £35 | £7 | £42 |
| Office Copy Entries (per copy)* | £3 | £0 | £3 |
*Office copy entries – usually 2 to 4 copies required on a sale.
Land Registry fees: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.
Other Transactions:
| Transaction Type | Value From | Value to | Our Fee | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Equity Release | £0 | £500,000* | £600 | £120 | £720 |
| Transfer of Equity/Gifts | £0 | £500,000 | £400 | £80 | £480 |
| Transfer of Equity/Gifts | £500,001 | £1,000,000* | £800 | £160 | £960 |
*We do not undertake equity release transactions above this amount.
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.
Transfers and Remortgages:
| Re-Mortgage From | - | Re-Mortgage To | Our Fee | VAT | Total: |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 | - | £500,000 | £400 | £80 | £480 |
| £500,001 | - | £1,000,000* | £600 | £120 | £720 |
*We do not perform transfers or remortgages above this amount.
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT):
When purchasing a home you may be required to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). for more information please visit:
https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/stamp-duty-and-other-tax-on-property-detailed-information
If you are required to pay SDLT the correct amount can be calculated at:
https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#!/intro
Overview of a Residential conveyancing transaction in the UK:
Residential conveyancing involves the legal process of transferring property ownership from the seller to the buyer. Here is a brief overview of the key steps involved, along with average timescales for each stage:
- Instruction
– Timescale: 1-2 weeks.
– Process: The buyer and seller each instruct a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. The solicitors will exchange initial information and set up client files.
- Pre-Contract Stage
– Timescale: 2-4 weeks.
– Process: The seller’s solicitor prepares the draft contract and gathers relevant documents, including property title deeds, and completes property information forms. The buyer’s solicitor conducts searches (local authority, environmental, drainage, etc.) and raises any pre-contract enquiries.
- Mortgage and Survey
– Timescale: 3-4 weeks (concurrent with pre-contract stage).
– Process: The buyer arranges a mortgage (if applicable) and a survey of the property. The mortgage lender will carry out its own valuation.
- Contract Approval and Exchange
– Timescale: 1-2 weeks after pre-contract stage.
– Process: The buyer’s solicitor reviews all information and resolves any queries. Once satisfied, the buyer and seller agree on a completion date and sign the contract. The exchange of contracts takes place, making the agreement legally binding. The buyer pays a deposit (typically 10% of the purchase price).
- Between Exchange and Completion
– Timescale: Typically 1-4 weeks.
– Process: The solicitors carry out final checks and prepare for completion. The buyer arranges for the transfer of the remaining purchase funds to their solicitor.
- Completion
– Timescale: On the agreed completion date.
– Process: The remaining purchase money is transferred from the buyer’s solicitor to the seller’s solicitor. The seller vacates the property and hands over the keys to the estate agent or directly to the buyer. Ownership is officially transferred to the buyer.
- Post-Completion
– Timescale: 2 weeks to 2 years.
– Process: The buyer’s solicitor pays any Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) due and registers the property with the Land Registry. The buyer receives the new title deeds. You can use the SDLT calculator available here: to estimate your SDLT liability.
Average Total Timescale
The entire process typically takes between 8 to 12 weeks, but it can vary depending on the complexity of the transaction and any delays that might arise. More straightforward transactions may be completed more quickly, while more complicated ones can take longer.
Disclaimer
Please note that the timescales provided are average estimates and can be affected by various factors. Transactions can take longer or be delayed due to:
– Issues with Property Searches: Delays in obtaining search results from local authorities or other agencies.
– Mortgage Approval Delays: Longer processing times from mortgage lenders.
– Complexity of the Estate: Involvement of multiple parties, unusual property structures, or legal issues.
– Survey Discrepancies: Disputes or issues arising from the property survey.
– Title Problems: Complications with the property title, such as unresolved disputes or unclear ownership.
– Chain Transactions: Dependencies on other transactions within a property chain.
– Legal Complications: Unforeseen legal issues requiring additional documentation or resolutions.
– Buyer or Seller Delays: Delays from either party in providing necessary information or responding to queries.
– Negotiations: Protracted negotiations over contract terms or repairs.
– External Factors: Delays due to external factors such as public holidays, personal circumstances, or changes in regulations.
While every effort is made to ensure a smooth and timely conveyancing process, it is important to remain flexible and prepared for potential delays. Our team will keep you informed and work diligently to resolve any issues as efficiently as possible.
Criminal Defence Fees:
Motoring Offences
Our private fees relating to motoring offences include several areas not covered by the legal aid scheme.
For cases not covered under the legal aid scheme, our services will be charged depending on the complexity of, and time required for each case. Our rate in these matters is £200 per hour plus Vat (£40) giving a total of £240 per hour. Your case will be dealt with by one of our qualified criminal defence solicitors.
For Example:
In the Magistrates court:
– A guilty plea for an uncomplicated motoring offence, concluded in a single hearing, will cost £400.00 + 20% vat (£80) = £480, or if over 3 hours £600 + 20% VAT (£120) = £720.
– A more complex matter requiring two hearings will cost £750.00 +20% vat (£150) = £1,000.
– An attendance where a not guilty plea is entered and thereafter an additional Trial hearing not exceeding one day, will cost £1,500.00 + vat (£300) = £1,800.
– A not guilty plea and thereafter an additional two-day trial will cost £2,200.00 + vat (£440) = £2,440.
Additional charges for travel time, at our standard rate of £200 per hour + vat (£40) = £240 per hour total may apply where the case is not at our local court.
In addition to the fees we charge for our work representing you, where your case requires it, we may incur additional expenses (known as Disbursements). The most common disbursements are in the form of instructing Expert witnesses or Barristers.
Expert Witnesses
Purpose: Expert witnesses provide specialized knowledge and opinions to assist the court in understanding complex evidence or technical details. They offer their expertise in various fields such as forensic science, medicine, engineering, or any area requiring specialised knowledge that is beyond the general understanding of the court.
Costs:
- Preparation Fees: There are many reasons we might instruct an expert witness, such as to prepare a specialised report regarding medical or technical evidence or enhancing CCTV. The costs for such services will depend on the precise nature of the work requested and the experience of the expert instructed. Costs can vary from £150.00 to £2000.00 plus VAT at 20% depending on the amount and complexity of the work involved;
- Attendance Fees: Generally Expert witnesses receive daily or half-day fees for attending court, which may also include an element for travel time. If an expert insists on an hourly rate this can vary from £50.00 – £200.00 per hour plus VAT at 20%,
- Travel and Subsistence: Experts are reimbursed for travel expenses via public transport, or in some circumstances may include mileage at up to 45 pence per mile.
These costs will always be agreed with you in advance.
Crown Court Appeals for Motoring Offences
When appealing a motoring case in the Crown Court, the most significant cost factor will be your choice of advocate. Depending on your budget and the seriousness of the allegation, we may advise you to instruct the most suitable representation, whether it be a highly experienced barrister or a less experienced High Court advocate. We will always provide an accurate fee estimate before instructing any advocate to ensure you have a clear understanding of the potential costs, key stages and timescale involved.
The total cost can be between £1,500 + vat (£300) = £1,800, to £2,000 + vat (£400) = £2,400. These costs may be higher if you wish to instruct a more experienced, or specialist Barrister.
VAT will always be charged at the prevailing rate, the current VAT rate is 20%.