At Bate & Albon Lewes Smith we recognise that every property is different and every client is different in terms of need and expectations. Moving house can be uniquely stressful.
It doesn’t have to be like that – our aim is to attempt to make your move easier. Our service is always personal and we will always provide you with a written estimate and our terms of engagement having discussed your transaction with you first.
The legal fees quoted relate to properties situated in England & Wales. They cover all of the professional work required to complete the sale of your home or the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and 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.
| Purchase | £1,000 - £2,900 + VAT (20%) for properties up to £1,000,000. |
|---|---|
| Sale | £1,000 - £2,900 + VAT (20%) for properties up to £1,000,000. |
| Re-Mortgage | £795 - £995 + VAT (20%) |
| Transfer Of Equity | £795 - £995 + VAT (20%) |
| Equity Release | £950 - £1,250 + VAT (20%) |
| Building Safety Act | If your property is within a building that is over 11 metres or four storeys in height, our conveyancing team will need to involve a partner with expertise in the Building Safety Act 2022, which will incur an additional fee of £1,200 plus VAT. |
The figures quoted above assume a straightforward transaction without unforeseen complexity or issues. If the matter becomes complex then there will be an additional fee, examples of which include (but are not limited to):
- Where your mortgage lender instructs its own solicitor
- Where your purchase of a leasehold property includes the purchase of a share of the freehold title
- Where a lease extension is involved
- Where freeholder consent for any reason may be required
- Where there is a perceived defect in title
- If leasehold, that it is the transfer of an existing lease and not the grant of a new lease
- Shared ownership transactions
- Missing or absentee landlords
- Compulsory Purchase
- Where a transaction is required to be expedited
- Contract races
- Lock out/exclusivity agreements
Obviously each transaction is different and we will try our best to inform you as soon as we become aware of any feature that might have an impact on the quoted fee.
Likely Disbursements
Disbursements are costs or expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursement on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
The following comprise the usual disbursements:
- Electronic payment fee: £35 + VAT. Our charge for the time spent inputting the data and transmitting funds to your bank, mortgagee or third party solicitor.
- Local Search Fees – vary depending on the local authority and search provider involved and the number of searches required. Usually between £275.00 and £400.00.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax Fee charged by Searchflow £8.68
- Stamp Duty Land Tax & Land Transaction Tax – amount payable depends upon a variety of factors. A calculator is available through the HMRC website for England and the Welsh Revenue Authority for Wales
- Land Registry Fee – current fees are available through the Land Registry website.
- Managing Agents pack on sale of leasehold – this can only be ascertained on receipt of documents but the average charge is approximately £360.00 including VAT, but can vary depending on the Managing Agent or Freeholder
- Notice and compliance fees on leasehold purchases – these can only be ascertained during the transaction but typically can range between £240.00 to £480.00 including VAT.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax processing fee approximately £9.
How long will my house purchase take?
How long a property transaction might take depends on a number of factors. The average time taken can be between 8 – 12 weeks.
It can be quicker or longer, depending on the number of parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a freehold property with a mortgage offer in place, it could take 8 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 to 4 months.
Details of the steps involved can be found here: