Our legal costs
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.
Fees |
Amount |
20% VAT |
Total |
Fixed fee |
£1,025.00 to £2,750.00 |
£205.00 to £550.00 |
£1,230.00 to £3,300.00 |
Client onboarding fees
We are required by law to obtain satisfactory evidence of the identity of our clients and the persons connected to them. In certain circumstances, we may also require evidence to establish the source of funds paid to us during your retainer. We pass on this cost to you as a client onboarding fee. Our client onboarding fees are:
|
Fee |
20% VAT |
Total Fee (including VAT) |
Source of funds (purchase only) |
£8.34 |
£1.67 |
£10.00 |
Individuals |
£12.50 |
£2.50 |
£15.00 |
Other types of businesses |
£37.50 |
£7.50 |
£45.00 |
Legal entity |
£91.67 |
£18.33 |
£110.00 |
Legal entity (non-UK jurisdiction) |
£125.00 |
£25.00 |
£150.00 |
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.
Type |
Amount |
20% VAT |
Total |
Identification fee |
£10.00 per person |
£2.00 per person |
£12.00 per person |
CHAPs fee |
£25.00 |
£5.00 |
£30.00 |
Help to Buy ISA fee |
£50.00 |
£10.00 |
£60.00 |
Lifetime ISA fee |
£50.00 |
£10.00 |
£60.00 |
OS1 fees |
£3.00 per title |
No VAT |
£3.00 per title |
Bankruptcy search fees |
£2.00 per person |
No VAT |
£2.00 per person |
Search fees
*Local authority search fee is dependent on the area |
£15.00 to £600.00 |
£3.00 to £120.00 |
£18.00 to £720.00 |
HM Land Registration Fee |
£45.00 to £830.00 |
No VAT |
£45.00 to £830.00 |
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) Fee |
£75.00 |
£15.00 |
£90.00 |
Total |
£270.00 to £1,645.00 |
£45.00 to £162.00 |
£315.00 to £1807.00 |
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 terms 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 |
If this fee is chargeable, its value will be set out in the lease. |
Notice of charge fee (only applicable if the property is mortgaged) |
If this fee is chargeable, its value will be set out in the lease. |
Deed of covenant fee |
This fee is provided by the management company for the property and is difficult to estimate. |
Certificate of compliance fee |
This fee is to be confirmed upon receipt of the lease. |
Clawback of ground rent and service charges |
This fee is applicable if the seller has paid in advance of the completion date. |
Fees vary from property to property and 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 charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.
Grand total costs
Total legal fees |
£1,230.00 to £3,300.00 |
Client onboarding fees (per individual) |
£10.00 to £150.00 |
Total disbursements (including Stamp Duty or Land Tax) |
£315.00 to £1,807.00 |
Total |
£1,555.00 to £5,257.00 |
Please note: the costs outlined above are to act as a guide only. They provide a range of the likely fees, as not all disbursements will be applicable for each client matter.
How long will the purchase of my property take?
The length of time between your offer being accepted until you can move into your house will depend on a number of factors.
The average process takes between 16-18 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on each individual’s circumstances, although we will progress matters as swiftly as possible.
The key stages of the process:
- 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 documents if required.
- Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitors.
- Give you advice on all documents and information received.
- Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you.
- Send the final contract to you for signature.
- Draft transfer.
- Advise you on joint ownership.
- Obtain pre-completion searches.
- Agree on 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 the lender and you.
- Complete purchase.
- Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax.
- Deal with the application for registration at Land Registry.
Our conveyancing 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 complications arise.
- All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from the parties providing documentation.
- No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.
- No lease extension work is required.
- There is no element of help to buy in any property in the chain.
- Any joint purchasers are proposing to hold the property as joint tenants.
- The property is not a new build.