Our charges
RESIDENTIAL CONVEYANCING – A GUIDE TO OUR FEES
The purpose of this guide is to provide clear and easily understandable information about the main types of residential conveyancing work that we deal with, the professionals within the firm who undertake this work together with an indication of how long these transactions typically take and how much they cost.
Our Conveyancing Team
Our team of residential conveyancing Solicitors, Licensed Conveyancers and Executives specialise in all aspects of buying, selling and remortgaging residential property. We understand that buying a new home or selling your existing home can be one of the more stressful times of your life and our aim is to guide you through the process with a high quality, personal service which is responsive, effective and competitively priced. Our team collectively has many years’ experience and knowledge on residential conveyancing which helps to ensure that transactions proceed as smoothly as possible.
Whilst our fees are competitive, at the same time we offer a very personal service. Our conveyancing Solicitors, Conveyancers and Executives will personally deal with your matter together with our friendly and capable team of support staff and all parts of the transaction, from start to finish, are dealt with by your assigned Lawyer and their support team.
We can advise clients on a wide range of residential property matters including:
- Buying and selling both freehold and leasehold property
- Buying new build properties
- Remortgages
- Transfers of Equity
- Buy to let properties
- Auction sales and purchases
We have a team of eight residential conveyancers who will be supervised either by Christopher Georgiou, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing or Ruth Berry, Partner and Head of Winscombe office.
Weston-super-Mare Office
Christopher Georgiou – LL.B (Hons)
Chris is Head of our Residential Conveyancing Team and has over 20 years’ experience in residential conveyancing work.
Chris supervises the Residential Property Teams at our Weston-super-Mare, Winscombe and Worle branches.
Sarah Hooper – Solicitor
Worle Office
Helen Hall – FCILEx
Harvey West – Solicitor
Winscombe Office
Ruth Berry – BA (Hons)
Peter Whicher – LL.B
Vanessa Dawson – FCILEx
Bronwyn Roberts – Licensed Conveyancer
LAW SOCIETY CONVEYANCING QUALITY SCHEME
We are proud to have secured membership of the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) when it was first introduced in 2012. By securing CQS status this demonstrates the high standards of our Residential Property service.
OUR FEES
Purchase of a freehold residential property
Our fees will generally cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home/property, including dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England (all Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property is in Wales) and dealing with registration of your title at the Land Registry.
Our fees for freehold transactions are generally based on the purchase price and the table below provides an indication of our fees at various price levels.
Legal Fees – Freehold Purchase
| Purchase price: | Fees and payments: | VAT (@ 20%): | Fee: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £199,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£230.00 | £1150.00 £1380.00 |
| £200,000 - £299,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£240.00 | £1200.00 £1440.00 |
| £300,000 - £399,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£250.00 | £1250.00 £1500.00 |
| £400,000 - £499,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£270.00 | £1350.00 £1620.00 |
| £500,000 - £599,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£290.00 | £1450.00 £1740.00 |
| £600,000 - £699,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£310.00 | £1550.00 £1860.00 |
| £700,000 - £799,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£340.00 | £1700.00 £2040.00 |
| £800,000 - £899,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£360.00 | £1800.00 £2160.00 |
| £900,000 - £999,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£380.00 | £1900.00 £2280.00 |
For purchase prices of £1,000,000.00 and above please contact us for a personal estimate.
Legal Fees – Leasehold Purchase
| Purchase price: | Fees and payments: | VAT (@ 20%): | Fee: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £199,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£260.00 | £1300.00 £1560.00 |
| £200,000 - £299,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£270.00 | £1350.00 £1620.00 |
| £300,000 - £399,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£290.00 | £1450.00 £1740.00 |
| £400,000 - £499,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£310.00 | £1550.00 £1860.00 |
| £500,000 - £599,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£330.00 | £1650.00 £1980.00 |
| £600,000 - £699,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£350.00 | £1750.00 £2100.00 |
| £700,000 - £799,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£380.00 | £1900.00 £2280.00 |
| £800,000 - £899,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£400.00 | £2000.00 £2400.00 |
| £900,000 - £999,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£420.00 | £2100.00 £2520.00 |
For purchase prices of £1,000,000.00 and above please contact us for a personal estimate.
Additional Payments (Disbursements)
In addition to our legal fees above, there are further payments which will need to be made as part of your purchase transaction. These are called disbursements and are costs relating to your matter that are payable to third parties such as Stamp Duty payable to HMRC and Land Registry fees. We handle payment of the disbursements on your behalf as part of our service.
The usual disbursements payable on a purchase transaction are set out below:
Stamp Duty (or Land Tax in Wales)
The amount payable will depend on the purchase price of your property and whether you own any other residential property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator or, if the property is located in Wales, by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website.
Local Authority/Drainage/Environmental Searches
We will normally obtain a search package provided by an accredited personal search agency. This will include a Local Authority Search, Water and Drainage search and Homebuyer's Environmental search. The cost of this search package is £174.00 inclusive of VAT.
Should you require official searches by the Local Authority or direct Water and Drainage searches from Bristol/Wessex Water, we are able to provide these and can confirm costs on request.
Pre-Completion Search Fees
These are Land Registry searches against the property title and against each purchaser and are undertaken prior to completion.
The Land Registry search fee is currently £3.00 and the search fee per individual is £2.00.
Land Registration Fee
This also depends on the purchase price of your property and the table below sets out the current Land Registration Fees:
| Value or amount | Registration fee* |
|---|---|
| 0 to £80,000 | £20 |
| £80,001 to £100,000 | £40 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £100 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £150 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £295 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £500 |
*The Land Registry fees quoted above are on the basis of the reduced (50%) fee scale which applies where we are able to deal with the registration on the Land Registry Portal. Generally, this applies to the registration of transfers involving the whole of an existing registered title. Transactions which will be subject to the 100% fee will include purchases from developers of new build properties and purchasers where the seller’s title is not already registered at the Land Registry, or transfers of part of a title.
Additional Disbursements for Leasehold Properties*
In addition to the disbursements set out above in respect of freehold properties, leasehold transactions will usually also involve payment of the following further disbursements:-
- Notice of Transfer fee – this fee, if chargeable, is set out in the lease. This charge will vary from lease to lease and can range from £25 plus VAT in older leases but can rise to in excess of £100 plus VAT. We will advise you of the fee payable when we report to you on the lease.
- Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – again this fee is set out in the lease and is normally the same as or similar to the transfer fee referred to above.
- Deed of Covenant fee – where the lease requires a new owner to enter into a deed of covenant with the management company, a deed of covenant fee will be payable. The fee is charged by the management company which deals with the property and can be difficult to estimate. The fee is often in the region of £125 to £200 plus VAT. Again, we will confirm this with you once we receive confirmation from the management company.
- Certificate of Compliance fee – this fee is also charged by the management company and will vary from lease to lease. We will confirm the fee to you, if applicable, when we report on the lease and receive the management company information.
*these fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We will provide you with an accurate figure once we have had sight of your specific documents and the information from the seller’s solicitor and the management company.
You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the leasehold property. We will confirm the ground rent and anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.
PLEASE NOTE:
All payments to third parties included in any estimate may be subject to change.
Estimates provided are an indication only of the likely costs and are subject to confirmation via personal estimate provided by the branch you intend to use subject also to our terms of business. Whilst the legal fees quoted should apply in most cases, these may be subject to change and to local variations.
Our fees may also increase if your transaction involves any unforeseen issues or complications which result in extra work having to be carried out however should this happen, an estimate of any further charges will be discussed with you at the earliest opportunity and where practicable, prior to the work being carried out.
There are ordinarily very few instances where the scope of the work proves to be greater than what was initially discussed however examples of instances where costs will increase are where the legal title is defective, the title to the property or part of the property is unregistered or the property lacks certain necessary rights for example, rights of way.
Legal Fees – Freehold Sale
| Sale price: | Fees and payments: | VAT (@ 20%): | Fee: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £199,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£210.00 | £1050.00 £1260.00 |
| £200,000 - £299,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£225.00 | £1125.00 £1350.00 |
| £300,000 - £399,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£240.00 | £1200.00 £1440.00 |
| £400,000 - £499,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£255.00 | £1275.00 £1530.00 |
| £500,000 - £599,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£270.00 | £1350.00 £1620.00 |
| £600,000 - £699,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£295.00 | £1475.00 £1770.00 |
| £700,000 - £799,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£315.00 | £1575.00 £1890.00 |
| £800,000 - £899,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£335.00 | £1675.00 £2010.00 |
| £900,000 - £999,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£365.00 | £1825.00 £2190.00 |
For sale prices of £1,000,000.00 and above please contact us for a personal estimate.
Legal Fees – Leasehold Sale
| Sale price: | Fees and payments: | VAT (@ 20%): | Fee: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £199,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£240.00 | £1200.00 £1440.00 |
| £200,000 - £299,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£250.00 | £1250.00 £1500.00 |
| £300,000 - £399,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£265.00 | £1325.00 £1590.00 |
| £400,000 - £499,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£285.00 | £1425.00 £1710.00 |
| £500,000 - £599,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£305.00 | £1525.00 £1830.00 |
| £600,000 - £699,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£325.00 | £1625.00 £1950.00 |
| £700,000 - £799,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£345.00 | £1725.00 £2070.00 |
| £800,000 - £899,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£365.00 | £1825.00 £2190.00 |
| £900,000 - £999,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£390.00 | £1950.00 £2340.00 |
For sale prices of £1,000,000.00 and above please contact us for a personal estimate.
Disbursements for sale transactions:
In addition to the above fees the following disbursements are usually payable on sale transactions:-
- Land Registry copy title fee – for freehold £6.00 – for leasehold £12.00
- Fee for obtaining freeholder information/management company legal pack – this will vary from property to property and we will advise you of this fee once we have made contact with the freeholder/management company and they have advised us of their fees.
- Funds transfer fee – there may be a further funds transfer fee if you have a mortgage to repay on completion of your sale.
Legal Fees – Remortgage of Residential Property
| Remortgage amount: | Fees and payments: | VAT (@ 20%): | Fee: |
|---|---|---|---|
| Up to £299,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£200.00 | £1000.00 £1200.00 |
| £300,000 - £399,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£210.00 | £1050.00 £1260.00 |
| £400,000 - £499,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£240.00 | £1200.00 £1440.00 |
| £500,000 - £599,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£250.00 | £1250.00 £1500.00 |
| £600,000 - £699,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£260.00 | £1300.00 £1560.00 |
| £700,000 - £799,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£270.00 | £1330.00 £1620.00 |
| £800,000 - £899,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£280.00 | £1400.00 £1680.00 |
| £900,000 - £999,999 | Legal Fees Legal Fees Total |
£300.00 | £1500.00 £1800.00 |
For remortgages of £1,000,000.00 and above please contact us for a personal estimate.
Disbursements on Remortgage Transactions:
Stamp Duty (or Land Tax in Wales)
Stamp Duty will not normally be payable on a straightforward remortgage transaction however, where the remortgage takes place in conjunction with a Transfer of Equity a Stamp Duty charge can sometimes arise. If you are remortgaging in conjunction with a Transfer of Equity, additional charges will apply as well as the possible Stamp Duty charge. Please contact us with full details so that we can provide you with a personal estimate.
Local Authority/Drainage/Environmental Searches
On the majority of remortgage transactions the Lender will require us to undertake the usual conveyancing searches in order to provide them with the required Certificate of Title in respect of the property. We would normally obtain a search package provided by an accredited Personal Search Agency. This would include a Local Authority Search, Water and Drainage Search and an Environmental Search and the cost of this search package is £174.00 inclusive of VAT.
Some Lenders will accept search insurance in place of obtaining full searches. The cost for search insurance varies on a case by case basis. Please contact us for details when you have full details of your transaction.
Pre-Completion Search Fees
These are Land Registry searches against the property title and against each purchaser and are undertaken prior to completion.
The Land Registry search fee is currently £3.00 and the search fee per individual is £2.00.
Land Registration Fee
This depends on the valuation of the property being remortgaged and the table below sets out the current Land Registration Fees.
| Property valuation | Registration fee |
|---|---|
| 0 to £100,000 | £45 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £70 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £100 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £145 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £305 |
The Land Registry fees quoted above are reduced fees which are payable in the majority of cases where we are able to deal with the registration on the Land Registry Portal. Generally, this applies to the registration of charges involving the whole of an existing registered title. Transactions which will be subject to the full registration fee will be those where the property title is not already registered at the Land Registry.
Additional Disbursements for Remortgages of Leasehold Properties
In addition to the disbursements set out above in respect of the remortgage of freehold properties, leasehold transaction will usually also involve payment of the following further disbursements:
- Notice of Charge fee – this fee is set out in the Lease and is normally the same as or similar to the Notice of Transfer fee.
- Certificate of Compliance fee – this fee is charged by the Management Company and will vary from Lease to Lease. We will confirm the fee to you, if applicable, when we prepare the Financial Completion Statement.
Please note: The above estimates provided are an indication only of the likely costs and are subject to confirmation via personal estimate provided by the branch you intend to use and subject also to our terms of business. The sale estimates above are based on the sale of a single registered title and fees may increase where the title to the property is unregistered or where the property comprises more than one title.
Other potential charges
| Type | Fee |
|---|---|
| Help to buy ISA | £150 |
| Help to buy LISA | £150 |
| Help to buy Mortgage | £500-600 |
| Deed of Easement | £1000 |
| Deed Gift | £500 |
| Gifted Deposit preparation and declaration | £150 |
| Preparing and approving Key Undertaking | £150 |
| Uplift | £500 |
| Assent (each) | £500 |
| Declaration of Trust (drafting and approval) | £300 |
| Indemnity Insurance* | £50-150 |
| Notice Severance | £250 |
| Shared Ownership | £500-800 |
| New Build Property | £500-800 |
If numerous policies are to be put in place, we will advise you of the total charge.
How long will the conveyancing take?
How long the conveyancing process takes will depend on a number of factors. The whole process usually takes between 6-12 weeks but this can exceptionally be shorter and can take longer if issues arise or if there is a long chain.
Steps involved in the conveyancing process?
The precise stages involved in the sale and purchase of residential property will vary according to circumstances however to help you better understand the main stages of the process, please click here to see our Client Guide to the Conveyancing Process.