Prices for conveyancing

This firm has two offices both with experienced property teams. We act for people living on the Waterside, New Forest, Southampton and beyond. We also act for clients of high value properties in London and countrywide. Our client base has developed principally through recommendation. We also have a specialist new build team based in our Totton office.   

It is normal practice for us to give a tailored quote by email setting out the charges together with a total price. We prefer to do because we can then tailor it precisely to your requirement and you will not be committed to using this firm until you accept the quote and complete a client instruction form. 

The fees for acting for you on a sale or a purchase depend on a number of factors. Our base fee range is as follows.

Sales and Purchases

VAT rate is currently 20%   

Up to £200,000           850 plus VAT (170)               = £1020

   £200,000 – 500,000       1200 plus VAT (240)          = £1440

        £500,00 – 750,000        1,600 plus VAT  (320)           =£1920      

£750,000-1,000,000    2,000 plus VAT  (400)            =£2400

£1,000,000 -1,500,000 2,500 plus VAT  (500)           =£3000

£1,500,000-£2,000,000 3,000 plus VAT (600)          =£3600

£2,000,000-£3,000,000 5,000 plus VAT (1000)          =£6000

We do not accept instructions for transactions over £3,000,000

Additional fees

Bank admin fees                                  £50 plus VAT (10)   £60

SDLT return fees                                  £75 plus VAT (15)    £90

    Acting for your lender                         £50 plus VAT (10)  =  £60       

Leasehold supplement                       £150 plus VAT (£30) = £180

Solar panel lease supplement            £100 plus VAT (20)  =  £120

Shared ownership supplement           £250 plus VAT (50) =  £300

HCA shared equity charge                 £250 plus VAT (50) =  £300

New build supplement                        £200 plus VAT(40) = £240

Forces Help to buy supplement         £100 plus VAT (20)  = £120

Second charges/restrictions   from    £100 plus VAT  (20)  = £120

Indemnity policy arrangement fee      £25 plus VAT  (5)     = £30

Unregistered land supplement           £100 plus VAT (20)   = £120

Lease extensions £500 plus VAT (100) = £600

as part of sale and/or purchase

Lease extensions standalone £750 plus VAT (150) = £900

Declaration of trust as part of purchase £350 plus VAT (70) = £420

If standalone advice and document £500 plus VAT (100) = £600

Applications for first registration £400 plus VAT (80) = £480

Right to buy £750 plus VAT (150) = £900

Transfers of equity

We are not now taking instructions for transfers of equity except pursuant to a relationship breakdown

Transfer £750 plus VAT (150) = £900

 ADD £100 plus VAT (20) =£120 (consent to mortgage)

Remortgage £500 plus VAT (100) = £600

Transfer and remortgage £1000 plus VAT (200) = £1200

Severance of Joint Tenancy

Execution and registration £100 plus  VAT (20) = £120

In addition to the fixed base price there are normally additional expenses. These are sometimes referred to as disbursements and 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 expenses which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the property. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors.

As part of our AML checks we will need to carry out a search using a company called Thirdfort. The fee for each search is £20 plus VAT (4) = £24  per person.

We also need to carry out an AML search on anyone making a gift of money to be used for a purchase. This is £20 plus VAT (4) = £24 per person 

We also do a source of funds check is £20 plus VAT (4) = £24 per source

There are other searches to be done on a purchase which are optional if there is not mortgage but a lender will require them to be done. The search pack ranges between £230-£300 including vat depending on area.

Land registry fees are payable on a purchase. the fees are set out below. For up to date information and guidance on Land Registry fees please use this link https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees#scale-1-fee

No VAT is added to the Land Registry fees. We apply using the portal.

A typical cost

 Sale

A typical cost of a sale of a registered freehold house at £700,000 assuming one mortgage and no unforeseen problems would be: 

Our fees £1920 including VAT

Bank transfer arrangement fee to pay off the mortgage £60

Copies of the register from the land registry £6

Bank transfer arrangement fee to pay proceeds to you £60

Total including VAT £2046

 Purchase

A typical cost (excluding SDLT land Tax) for acting for you in the purchase of a £700,000 registered freehold house with a mortgage assuming no unforeseen issues would be:

Our fees £1920 including VAT

        Our fees for acting for the lender – £60

Search Fees £230 ( this can vary depending on what searches would be relevant to the particular property)
Bankruptcy search £6.40 (assuming joint owners)

Land Registry search £4.20

Land registry fees £270 ( see fee breakdown)

Bank transfer arrangement fee to purchasers £60

Total including VAT £2550.60

The above are for illustration purposes only and do not constitute a quote.

The sale work will consist of the following:
(a) drafting a contract package;
b) assisting you in answering replies to enquiries about the property from the purchasers;

(c) negotiating a transfer document;
(d) proceeding to exchange of contracts and then completion of the sale;
(g) redeeming your mortgage (if appropriate), settling your estate agents’ commission account (if appropriate)

The purchase work for a purchase will typically consist of the following:

• 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.

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.

We will not be carrying out any enquires into the past use of the property and will assume that you will be using it for residential purposes. The local search will not reveal planning applications in the vicinity of the property and if you require more information about this we would recommend that you look on the local Council’s website. We will not be dealing with the transfer of any guarantees and you will need to take appropriate meter readings and notify the utility companies accordingly. We would also recommend that you have your own survey carried out as you buy the property subject to the phrase “the buyer beware” and would also suggest that you ensure you can arrange suitable buildings insurance before we exchange contracts.

The price has been calculated on the basis that:
(a) both properties are currently held under a single freehold title at the Land Registry with no title defects;
(b) one contract is submitted to one purchaser;
(c) the sale and purchase will be on the basis of an unconditional contract and the property is acquired with vacant possession;
(d) completion takes place on the date agreed in the contract;

If it becomes apparent that there are unforeseen circumstances in connection with the sale and purchase we may have to increase our charges, but if that is the case, we shall inform you before we incur any additional costs. Examples of unforeseen circumstances may be the need for insurance because of a problem with the legal title, further charges on the property being sold we were not made aware of, the need to draft a deed of variation. We will advise you of the additional costs of any further work. 

If you are buying a leasehold property we may have to give formal notice to the freeholder that you are the new legal owner and there may be fees charged by the freeholder. Furthermore, if you are selling a leasehold property we may have to obtain management information from the managing agents or freeholder. They may make a charge for providing this information which you will need to pay for upfront. The charges vary from leaseholder to leaseholder and there can be a delay waiting for the information to be provided.

The fees payable for the transmission of your SDLT return do not include any subsequent correspondence with HMRC except in circumstances where the issue has been caused by us.
If we find that any other additional expenses need to be incurred after we have considered the contract, searches and title documents, we shall let you know the reason for the extra expense, the likely amount, and when we shall need payment.
If, for any reason, we have to abort the transaction related to the sale or purchase of your property, we will break the transaction down into stages and advise what percentage of the estimated fee will be charged at each stage. 

The fees are normally the same irrespective of which office is dealing with the transaction.

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 12-16 weeks but obviously this is dependent on a number of factors, e.g. if there is a chain involved, if a mortgage is required etc. we will work closely with you to ensure as we are able that your timescale requirement is met. There are two key stages. Exchange of contracts where the parties are contractually bound to buy/sell on a date in the future and the completion date – the set date where the money changes hands and the move takes place. The amount of time between exchange and completion will depend on the parties. It is typically between 1-2 weeks but it can range from simultaneous, if all parties agree, to several weeks in advance, again by agreement

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 which is finished, with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4-8 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 6 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply.

The members of each office team are:

Hythe

Andrea Waring – Solicitor Head of Property and Partner. Supervisor of both offices. MLO officer. Qualified 2000. Specialist property solicitor since qualifying. Hourly rate where a fixed price has not been given £360 including VAT per hour.  Andrea has substantial experience in high value properties dealing with properties locally but also in London and throughout the country. Andrea has a very substantial case load. 

Gwyneth Allsopp – Consultant Solicitor. Extremely experienced specialist property solicitor dealing in domestic and commercial property work.

Lynn Freeman – Trainee Conveyancing executive. 

Support Staff

Susan Bullivant– Legal Assistant. Dealing principally with post exchange and post completion work. Highly experienced.

Michele Bennett– Conveyancing Executive with eight years residential property experience.

Sara Green – legal Assistant

Becca Ward – Receptionist/Legal Assistant

Totton

Paul Waring– Senior partner – Solicitor supervisor of Totton Office. Paul qualified in 1989 and has substantial legal and managerial experience. Paul is the compliance officer (COLP and COFA) and complaints handler.

Rebecca Freeman– Senior conveyancing executive lead conveyancer in the Totton office. Rebecca has substantial experience in general property work and new build work

Support Staff

Janine Barton– Conveyancing assistant with a wealth of experience as a support team member.

Lisa White- Conveyancing assistant supporting the conveyancing team

Probate Fees

NON-CONTENTIOUS PROBATE FEES.

We have set out below the fees we charge for a straightforward application to obtain a Grant of Probate, Grant of Letters of Administration with Will Annexed or Grant of Letters of Administration:

For preparing the application and preparing an HMRC Form IHT205: £600 plus VAT (Total £720)

For preparing the application and preparing HMRC Forms IHT205 and IHT217: £700 plus VAT (Total £840)

For preparing the application and preparing HMRC Form IHT400 (a longer Inheritance Tax Form) but excluding any application for Residential Nil Rate Band: £850 plus VAT (Total £1,020).

For preparing the application and preparing HMRC Form IHT400 and to include making an application for Residential Nil Rate Band and/or Transferable Residential Nil Rate Band: £950 plus VAT (Total £1,140).

There is an additional fee payable in all cases of £155 to the Probate Registry for the issue of a Grant of Representation. A copy of the Grant that is stamped with the embossed seal of the Court costs 50p.
There is a fee payable of £7 maximum to a Commissioner for Oaths for each Executor or Administrator who applies for a Grant.

These costs are based on the time taken to prepare the application forms. Should the application be unusual in nature or in time required to make it we will advise you in advance of how much additional work is envisaged and what the additional costs would be.

As part of the fee we will typically:

• Identify the legally appointed executors or administrators and beneficiaries
• Accurately identify the type of Probate application you will require
• Obtain the relevant documents required to make the application
• Complete the Probate Application and the relevant HMRC forms
• Draft a legal oath for you to swear
• Make the application to the Probate Court on your behalf
• Obtain the Probate and securely send two copies to you

Typically it takes about 6-12 weeks to obtain a grant and 12-16 weeks to obtain letters of Administation.

The fees do not include any charges for the administration of a deceased estate.

The Administration of a deceased estate would be charged at an hourly rate. This would involve all the elements of winding up and distributing a deceased estate. It would not include any costs incurred for the sale of particular assets (i.e. selling a house or a stockbroker’s commission selling shares). A lot depends on the complexity of the estate and the number of beneficiaries. Recent costs have ranged from £1,850 plus VAT to £7,900 plus VAT. The range varies considerably because it depends on the individual circumstances of the matter. For instance if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries a property and multiple bank accounts costs will be at the higher end. The amount of time it takes to wind up an estate varies significantly. Collecting in assets can take 10-20 weeks and distribution 2-6 weeks but there are so many different elements that could shorten or lengthen the time it is difficult to give a typical time length. 

The costs of locating beneficiaries (Genealogist’s fees) would be extra and would depend on the amount of research undertaken.
The work is carried out by Matthew Knight. Matthew is an Oxford University graduate and a solicitor who qualified in 1998 and has practised in this area since then.  Matthew’s present hourly charging rate is £ 270 per hour incl VAT. This rate is subject to review.

Matthew Knight is supported by Jayne Shefferd who is a very experienced legal assistant. 

If you would like to know more please call Matthew Knight on 02380 849381

Other areas of work

Please contact the office if you wish to discuss our fees for any other area of work we do. Our team are always happy to help.