Residential conveyancing fees.
The figures below illustrate the firm’s currently published professional fees for standard transactions, together with example third-party costs and likely timescales.
Example professional fees
These examples assume a standard transaction without unforeseen title issues or unusual additional documents. VAT is shown at 20%.
| Transaction | Example basis | Fee excluding VAT | Fee including VAT |
|---|---|---|---|
| Freehold sale | Sale price £500,000 | £850 | £1,020 |
| Freehold purchase | Purchase price £500,000 | £900 | £1,080 |
| Leasehold sale | Sale price £500,000 | £950 | £1,140 |
| Leasehold purchase | Purchase price £500,000 | £1,000 | £1,200 |
| Remortgage | Mortgage amount £300,000 | £700 | £840 |
Example disbursements and total costs
Disbursements are payments to third parties. The examples below use the same transaction values as the professional-fee examples above. Actual charges can change and we will confirm the relevant amounts before they are incurred.
| Transaction | Example disbursements | Example total including VAT |
|---|---|---|
| Freehold sale | Official copies £6; bank transfer £24 including VAT | £1,050 |
| Freehold purchase | Search bundle £345.60 including VAT; OS1 £3; bankruptcy search £2 per person; Land Registry fee £135; bank transfer £24 including VAT; Stamp Duty Land Tax £15,000* | £16,589.60* |
| Leasehold sale | Official copies £6; management pack estimated at £360 including VAT; bank transfer £24 including VAT | £1,530 |
| Leasehold purchase | Search bundle £345.60 including VAT; OS1 £3; bankruptcy search £2 per person; Land Registry fee £135; notice fees estimated at £180 including VAT; bank transfer £24 including VAT; Stamp Duty Land Tax £15,000* | £16,889.60* |
| Remortgage | Official copies £6; OS1 £3; bankruptcy search £2 per person; Land Registry fee £40; search bundle £345.60 including VAT; bank transfer £24 including VAT | £1,260.60 |
*Stamp Duty Land Tax example: the £15,000 figure assumes there are no exemptions or reliefs and the buyer will own only one property on completion. Your liability depends on your circumstances and the rates in force at the time.
What the fee normally covers
- Taking your instructions and providing initial advice
- Checking funding and contacting the lender’s solicitors where needed
- Reviewing or preparing contract and transfer documents
- Carrying out searches and raising or answering enquiries
- Reporting on the title, contract and mortgage offer
- Advising on joint ownership where appropriate
- Exchange, completion and transfer of funds
- Stamp Duty Land Tax submission where applicable
- Application to HM Land Registry after completion
How long will the transaction take?
The timeframe begins when we are instructed and ends at completion. It depends on the parties, the chain, funding, the title and how quickly information is provided.
- Standard transaction: the average process takes approximately six to eight weeks.
- First-time buyer purchasing a new build: where a mortgage is agreed in principle, the example timeframe is approximately ten weeks.
- Leasehold purchase requiring a lease extension: the example timeframe is approximately two to three months and additional legal charges may apply.
A long chain, missing documents, lender requirements, title defects, additional enquiries or delays by third parties can make a transaction quicker or slower than these examples.
Assumptions behind the examples
- The matter is a standard transaction and no unforeseen title problem or additional document is required.
- A leasehold purchase is an assignment of an existing lease, not the grant of a new lease, and the lease does not need to be extended.
- All parties cooperate, the matter progresses without unreasonable delay and no indemnity policy is required.