What does the service cover?
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a freehold residential property vary according to the circumstances but the following gives an overview of the key stages:
- Pre-Exchange of Contracts – review and advice on legal title, lease, search results, Landlord/Management Company information pack, replies to legal enquiries and mortgage offer conditions, report to lender, procurement of signed documents and deposit money.
- Effecting the Exchange of Contracts – whereby you enter a legally binding contract to purchase the property.
- Pre-Completion – procure signed documents, pre-completion checks and searches, prepare financial statement, draw down of funds.
- Effecting Completion – transfer of money to the seller’s solicitors, release of keys and apportionment of ground rent and service charge.
- Post Completion – payment of Stamp Duty Lax Tax (England) or Land Transaction Tax (Wales) and the relevant tax return where applicable, notification of change of ownership to Landlord/Management Company and submission of application for registration of your ownership at Land Registry.
How much does the service cost?
We offer fixed fees for a standard leasehold purchase transaction. The following is designed to be a general guide to costs but we can provide a personalised and accurate quote if you would like to call our office on 01462 427558 or email [email protected]
Legal fees and costs subject to VAT
| Cost | £ |
| Legal Fees | Starting from 1,600.00 plus VAT |
| Bank Transfer Fee | 35.00 plus VAT |
| Stamp Duty Form Completion and Submission Fee | 60.00 plus VAT |
| File Storage Fee | 25.00 plus VAT |
| Case Management Fee | 31.50 plus VAT |
| Anti Money Laundering Search (per person) | 15.00 plus VAT |
Where your mortgage is administered by LMS (Legal Marketing Services) the case fee of £25.00 plus VAT charged by LMS will be collected from you.
The following additional costs may also apply-
| Cost | £ |
| Help to Buy or Lifetime ISA Bonus Drawdown | 50.00 plus VAT |
| Second mortgage | 75.00 plus VAT |
| Help to Buy Equity Loan | 300.00 plus VAT |
| New build | 200.00 plus VAT |
| Declaration of Trust | 100.00 plus VAT upwards |
Although we reserve the right to increase our fixed fee quote if the matter becomes more complex or protracted than expected, that would be very unusual.
Disbursements not subject to VAT (payable to third parties)
We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
| Cost | £ |
| Approximate cost for local, drainage and environmental searches | 350.00 to 400.00 |
| Bankruptcy Search (per person) | 2.00 |
| Land Registry Search | 3.00 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (England) Land Transaction Tax (Wales) | This will vary depending on a number of factors. Please use the HMRC calculator on the link below: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/ This will vary depending on a number of factors. Please use the calculator on the Welsh Government link below: Calculate Land Transaction Tax | GOV.WALES |
| Land Registry Fee | This will vary depending on a number of factors. Please use the Land Registry website link below: https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees |
Leasehold disbursements
There are certain disbursements to be paid to third parties which will be unknown at the beginning of your leasehold purchase. These fees vary from property to property and can, on occasion, be significantly more than the ranges given below.
This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of the lease. We will confirm the exact amount of these disbursements when the information becomes available.
| Cost | £ |
| Notice of Transfer and Charge Fee | 100.00 plus VAT to 400.00 plus VAT |
| Deed of Covenant Fee | 50.00 plus VAT to 200.00 plus VAT |
| Certificate of Compliance | 50.00 plus VAT to 200.00 plus VAT |
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 and make the necessary apportionments as at the date of completion.
How long will it take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your property will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes around 10 to 14 weeks but it can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a cash buyer, purchasing a leasehold property and no onward chain, it could take as little as 8 weeks. However, if you are obtaining a mortgage and buying a property with several other connected freehold or leasehold transactions in the “chain”, the process can take significantly longer. If you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, negotiations with the Landlord may extend the process by several weeks, possibly several months and, in such a situation, additional charges will apply.