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Sale of a freehold property
Our fees
Some transactions are inevitably more straightforward than others. So that our charges fairly reflect the complexity of a matter, we charge according to the time needed to be spent by our professional staff to undertake each matter.
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Our current hourly rates are:
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£250 for partners,
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£225 for senior solicitors
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£205 for solicitors
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£180 for conveyancing assistants
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£135 for trainee solicitors.
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The majority of our residential conveyancing transactions are undertaken by senior solicitor Joanna Leslie and/or her conveyancing assistant Lisa Jenkins. Joanna has been undertaking residential conveyancing work since 1998 and Lisa since 2006.
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We are always happy to provides quotes of our charges for particular transactions, but the following will hopefully be a guide as our typical charges for transactions which do not present unexpected difficulties:.
Our charges are likely to - £725
Sale of a leasehold property - £850
Purchase of a freehold property - £850
Purchase of a leasehold property - £1,200
Purchase of a new build freehold property - £1,200
Purchase of a new build leasehold property - £1,500
Remortgage of a freehold property - £500
Remortgage of a leasehold property - £750
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VAT is payable on these rates at 20%. Where funds are remitted by telegraphic transfer/CHAPS, there is an additional charge of £24 + VAT.
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Disbursements
Disbursements are expenses which we have to pay to others to enable your transaction to proceed. The actual disbursements payable will depend upon the property. Typical disbursements on a purchase or remortgage may include:
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Local Authority Search fee - £60 - £400 + VAT depending upon the local authority involved.- those in London tend to be the most expensive.
Environmental Search fee - £49 + VAT
Chancel Check Search fee - £20 + VAT
Drainage Search fee - £41.80 + VAT
Land Registry Search fee - £3 + VAT
Land Charge Search fee - £2 per name + VAT
Land Registry fee - £40 - £910 depending upon the purchase price
Stamp Duty Land Tax - This depends on the purchase price of your property and your particular circumstances . HMRC have a calculator available here.
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How long will my house purchase take?
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 X-X weeks.
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 with a mortgage in principle, it could take X weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between X and X months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.
Stages of the process - purchase
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property will vary according to the circumstances. However, the following are typical key stages that are included in our fee estimates above.:
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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 and draft the transfer deed
Give you advice on all documents and information received
Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
Send final documents 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
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