Residential Conveyancing

Buying and selling a house are probably the most important financial transactions most people make in their lifetime. It can also be one of the most stressful times. Our residential conveyancers understand this. We believe that the priority in any conveyancing transaction is communication with everyone involved in the process, acting quickly so that there are no delays, and providing a value for money service.

Often a house purchase or sale involves a chain of transactions which extends beyond your immediate control and it is therefore important that you are fully aware what is happening.

Our residential conveyancers are proactive. They do not simply wait for things to happen, they try to make things happen. The team have many years of experience and knowledge which helps to ensure that transactions proceed as smoothly and quickly as possible and we will keep you informed at every stage.

Our conveyancing charges are very reasonable and are competitively priced.

We can assist you with the following matters relating to residential conveyancing:

>> Buying and selling your home whether it be freehold or leasehold property
>> Re-mortgages
>> Transfer of equity
>> Equity release
>> Shared ownership
>> Right to buy
>> Buying and selling at auction
>> Purchasing the freehold of your building
>> Extending your Lease

Purchases

How long will my house purchase take?

For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and factors involved such as:

• Number of parties in the chain
• Whether you have a mortgage in place
• Whether you are buying a new build property

A typical transaction will take between 10-14 weeks. However, if any of the above apply, or there are other factors we need to take into consideration, it may increase the time by a further 4-6 weeks and additional charges may occur. We will discuss this with you at the earliest opportunity so you always have a clear picture of how long things are likely to take.

Key stages involved

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances.

• 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
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• 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

Here are an example of the costs involved for an average Purchase Conveyancing Transaction, with a property price of £150,000. However to obtain an bespoke estimate please click on the 'Get a conveyancing estimate" button above:-

Purchase Fees

PROFESSIONAL CHARGES NET VAT GROSS
Legal Fee £625.00 £125.00 £750.00
Telegraphic Transfer Fee £35.00 £7.00 £42.00
THIRD PARTY EXPENSES NET VAT GROSS

AML - ID Check (Per Person) £ 7.20 £0.00 £ 7.20
Land Registry Fee (Electronic) £100.00 £0.00 £100.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax £0.00 £0.00 £0.00
Bankruptcy Searches
(Per Person) £2.00 £0.00 £2.00
Land Registry Pre Completion
Search (Per Title) £3.00 £0.00 £3.00
Search Pack (Approx.) £240.00 £0.00 £240.00
ESTIMATED TOTAL £1,012.20 £132.00 £1,144.20

Sales

How long will my house sale take?

For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and other factors involved, such as:

• Number of parties in the chain
• Whether the buyer has a mortgage in place
• Whether the buyer requests lease extension for a leasehold property
• Whether the searches flag up any issues
• Whether buyer’s Survey shows up any issues
• Buyer’s Enquiries

A typical transaction will take between 10-14 weeks. However, if any of the above apply or there are other factors we need to take into consideration, it may increase the time by a further 4-6 weeks and additional charges may occur. We will discuss this with you at the earliest opportunity, so you always have a clear picture of how long things are likely to take.

Key stages involved

• Take instructions and give initial advice
• Obtain official copies of the Land registry title
• Supply the protocol documents to be completed by the vendor
• Draft the contract and collate the documents for the contract pack
• Send the contract and protocol documents to the buyer’s solicitor
• Forward enquiries raised by the buyer to the client
• Answer legal enquiries raised by the buyer
• Obtain redemption statements
• if required obtain indemnity Insurance quotation
• Approve the transfer document
• Obtain agents invoice
• Draft completion statement and send to client
• Send the transfer document and contract to client for signature
• Agree completion date
• Exchange contracts
• Obtain agents invoice
• Complete on sale
• Redeem mortgage
• Settle estate agents’ invoice
• Forward property documents to buyer’s solicitor
• Forward completion funds to clients nominated account

Here are an example of the costs involved for an average Sale Conveyancing Transaction, with a property price of £150,000. However to obtain an bespoke estimate please click on the 'Get a conveyancing estimate" button above:-

Sale Fees

PROFESSIONAL CHARGES NET VAT GROSS
Legal Fee £625.00 £125.00 £750.00
Telegraphic Transfer Fee £35.00 £7.00 £42.00
THIRD PARTY EXPENSES NET VAT GROSS

AML - ID Check (Per Person) £ 7.20 £0.00 £7.20
Office Copy Entries £15.00 £3.00 £18.00
ESTIMATED TOTAL £682.20 £135.00 £817.20

Re-mortgages

How long will my re-mortgage take?

A typical re-mortgage takes between 6 and 8 weeks, however, it can be longer if there are any complications such as an application being rejected. The process may also take longer if you switch lenders compared with getting a new deal with your current mortgage company.

Key stages involved

With every transaction there are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They may be as follows:

• Taking your instructions and giving initial advice based on the information you have provided
• Requesting the Title Deeds and Redemption Statement
• Obtaining Official Copies of the Title
• Checking the Title
• Checking Official Copies
• Leasehold properties will require the lease to be checked and enquiries made if relevant
• Searches
• Checking the mortgage offer
• Preparing for completion
• Requesting final redemption statement
• Requesting the mortgage advance
• Completion
• Registration

Here are an example of the costs involved for an average Re-mortgage Conveyancing Transaction, with a property price of £150,000. However to obtain an bespoke estimate please click on the 'Get a conveyancing estimate" button above:-

Remortgage Fees

PROFESSIONAL CHARGES NET VAT GROSS
Legal Fee £500.00 £100.00 £600.00
Telegraphic Transfer Fee £ 35.00 £ 7.00 £ 42.00
THIRD PARTY EXPENSES NET VAT GROSS

AML - ID Check (Per person) £ 7.20 £0.00 £ 7.20
Land Registry Fee (Electronic) £30.00 £0.00 £30.00
Bankruptcy Searches (Per Person) £ 2.00 £0.00 £ 2.00
Land Registry Pre Completion
Search (Per Title) £ 3.00 £0.00 £ 3.00
Search Pack (Approx.) £198.00 £0.00 £198.00
Office Copies £ 15.00 £3.00 £ 18.00
ESTIMATED TOTAL £790.20 £110.00 £900.20

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase) 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.
If the property is Leasehold we charge an extra £100.00 plus VAT to cover the extra work involved within a Leasehold transaction. Other disbursements may also be payable for a leasehold property such as:-

• Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £100.00 and £150.00*
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £100.00 and £150.00*
• Notice of Discharge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £100.00 and £150.00*
• Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £150.00 and £200.00*
• Certificate of Compliance fee - To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £100.00 and £150.00*

* These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.

Please click on “Get a conveyancing estimate” for your conveyancing estimate.