Purchase of a freehold residential property

Head of department is Geoffrey Morris. Further details of our team are here. All non-partner members of the team are supervised by a partner.

Our fees cover the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, to include consideration of the draft contract and title evidence, raising appropriate enquiries and conducting the usual searches, considering the survey report and/or information received with a view to agreeing the form of contract and proceeding to exchange and completion, dealing with registration at the Land Registry and the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax if the property is in England or Land Transaction Tax if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

Assuming a standard transaction we estimate our fees will be in the following ranges.

Purchase Price	Estimated Fee Range (Plus VAT at 20%)
Up to:
£300,000	£850 - £1,500
£400,000	£2,000 - £2,500
£500,000	£2,500 - £3,750
£750,000	£3,750 – £5,000
£1,000,000	£5,000 -£6,250
£1,250,000	£6,250 - £7,500
£1,500,000	£7,500 - £8,750
£1,750,000	£8,750 - £10,000
£2,000,000	£10,000 - £15,000
£3,000,000	£15,000

Disbursements

Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as land registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursement	Amount
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. *See links below: Gov UK - Calculate Stamp Duty Land Tax; Welsh Revenue Authority - Land Tax Calculator
Land Registry fee	This depends on the purchase price of your property. Fees range from £20-£910. *See link below: Gov UK - Land Registry fees
Land Registry priority search	£3 per title
Searches	£350-£550
Bank transfer fee	£30 per transfer
BACS transfer fee	£6 per transfer
Bankruptcy searches	£2 per person

No property is exactly the same and our fees will reflect the particular requirements of your transaction. These fees can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We will give you a more accurate figure once we have details of the intended transaction.

Timeframe:

The timeframe of each transaction varies but in experience it usually takes some six to eight weeks to exchange contracts on a typical straightforward purchase. The completion date may be agreed by the parties at the outset and will be incorporated as a term of the contract on exchange. It is typically some two to four weeks after exchange of contracts but may be sooner or later depending on the agreement reached. The timing of exchange may be affected by a number of different factors, which may include availability of search results, mortgage finance and existence and extent of a chain of transactions. We will let you know if there is likely to be any delay.

Stages of the process:

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, the usual key stages may include:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice

• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender/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 solicitors

• Give you advice on all documents and information received

• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you

• Send final contracts to you for signature

• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)

• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened

• Advise you of all monies needed to complete

• Draw down mortgage advance

• Complete purchase

• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax

• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

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 specificdocuments.

Occasionally unforeseen matters may arise including for example (but not limited to):

• Your lender is separately represented

• Defects in title

• Properties that are unregistered

• Properties sold subject to existing tenancies

• Undue delay or lack of co-operation from third parties

• Purchase under a help to buy scheme, equity loan or share ownership

• Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

Our fees for the additional work will be based on a timed basis. Our hourly rates range from £350 to £585 plus VAT at 20% depending on the fee earner dealing with the transaction. We will let you know when any complications arise and fully discuss the potential consequences and way forward.

Purchase of a leasehold residential property

Our fees cover the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, to include consideration of the draft contract and title evidence, raising appropriate enquiries and conducting the usual searches, considering the survey report and/or information received with a view to agreeing the form of contract and proceeding to exchange and completion, dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax if the property is in England or Land Transaction Tax if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

Assuming a standard transaction we estimate our fees will be in the following ranges.

Purchase Price	Estimated fee range (plus VAT at 20%)
Up to:
£300,000	£1,300 - £1,500
£400,000	£1,500 - £1,800
£500,000	£1,600 - £1,900
£750,000	£1,750 - £2,000
£1,000,000	£2,100 - £2,550
£1,250,000	£2,600 - £3,100
£1,500,000	£3,100 - £3,550
£1,750,000	£3,500 - £4,000
£2,000,000	£4,700 - £5,250
£3,000,000	£5,800 - £6,300
£3,000,000	£6,300

Disbursements:

Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as land registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursement	Amount
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. *See links below: Gov UK - Calculate Stamp Duty Land Tax; Welsh Revenue Authority - Land Tax Calculator
Land Registry fee	This depends on the purchase price of your property. Fees range from £20-£910. *See link below: Gov UK - Land Registry Fees
Land Registry priority search	£3 per title
Searches	Searches
Bank transfer fee	Bank transfer fee
BACS transfer fee	£6 per transfer
Bankruptcy searches	£2 per person
Notice of Transfer fee	Usually between £50-£200*
Notice of Charge fee (If to property is to be mortgaged)	Usually between £50-£200*
Deed of Covenant fee	This fee is provided by the management company and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £50-£200.*
Certificate of Compliance fee	This fee is provided by the management company and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £50-£200.*

No property is exactly the same and our fees will reflect the particular requirements of your transaction. These fees can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We will give you a more accurate figure once we have details of the intended transaction.

Timeframe:

The timeframe of each transaction varies but in experience it usually takes some six to eight weeks to exchange contracts on a typical straightforward purchase. The completion date may be agreed by the parties at the outset and will be incorporated as a term of the contract on exchange. It is typically some two to four weeks after exchange of contracts but may be sooner or later depending on the agreement reached. The timing of exchange may be affected by a number of different factors, which may include availability of search results, mortgage finance and existence and extent of a chain of transactions. We will let you know if there is likely to be any delay.

Stages of the process:

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, the usual key stages may include:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice

• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender/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 solicitors

• Checking contents of the management information pack

• Give you advice on all documents and information received

• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you

• Send final contracts to you for signature

• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)

• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened

• Advise you of all monies needed to complete

• Draw down of mortgage advance

• Complete purchase

• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax

• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry and informing the landlord/management company of the change of ownership

Occasionally unforeseen matters may arise including for example (but not limited to):

• Your lender is separately represented

• Defects in title

• Properties that are unregistered

• Properties sold subject to existing tenancies

• Undue delay or lack of co-operation from third parties

• Purchase under a help to buy scheme, equity loan or share ownership

• Licence to assign and/or deposit deed required by the landlord

• Unauthorised alterations requiring drafting of additional documentation.

• Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

• Grant of a new lease

• Lease extension

• Dealing with transfer of share of freehold.

Our fees for the additional work will be based on a timed basis. Our hourly rates range from £350 to £585 plus VAT at 20% depending on the fee earner dealing with the transaction. We will let you know when any complications arise and fully discuss the potential consequences and way forward.

Sale of a freehold residential property

Our fees cover the work required to complete the sale of your property, including preparing draft contract, documentary evidence of the title and other matters, dealing with any enquiries raised by the buyer, exchanging and completing on your behalf, remitting net sales proceeds and redeeming any existing mortgages, and dealing with post-completion matters.

Assuming a standard transaction we estimate our fees will be in the following ranges.

Purchase Price	Estimated Fee Range (Plus VAT at 20%)
Up to:
£300,000	£800 - £1,000
£400,000	£850 - £1,150
£500,000	£1,050 - £1,250
£750,000	£1,300 - £1,550
£1,000,000	£1,750 - £2,100
£1,250,000	£2,250 - £2,500
£1,500,000	£2,650 - £2,850
£1,750,000	£3,050 - £3,250
£2,000,000	£3,850 - £4,050
£3,000,000	£5,050 - £5,250
£3,000,000	£5,250

Disbursements:

Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as land registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursement	Amount
Estate agents commission	Please check with your estate agents
Bank transfer fee	£30 per transfer
Transfer fee	£6 per transfer
Land registry documents	£3 per document

No property is exactly the same and our fees will reflect the particular requirements of your transaction. These fees can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We will give you a more accurate figure once we have details of the intended transaction.

Timeframe:

The timeframe of each transaction varies but in experience it usually takes some six to eight weeks to exchange contracts on a typical straightforward sale. The completion date may be agreed by the parties at the outset and will be incorporated as a term of the contract on exchange. It is typically some two to four weeks after exchange of contracts but may be sooner or later depending on the agreement reached. The timing of exchange may be affected by a number of different factors, which may include availability of search results, mortgage finance of the buyer and existence and extent of a chain of transactions. We will let you know if there is likely to be any delay.

Stages of the process:

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, the usual key stages may include:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice

• Draft contract and prepare title documents

• Dealing with additional enquiries raised by the buyer

• Send final contracts and other documents to you for signature

• Agree completion date (date from which you will need to give up possession of the property)

• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened

• Complete the sale

• Pay all disbursements and redeem any existing mortgages

• Remit net sales proceeds to you and deal with any post completion matters

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 specificdocuments.

Occasionally unforeseen matters may arise including for example (but not limited to):

• Your lender is separately represented

• Defects in title

• Properties that are unregistered

• Properties sold subject to existing tenancies

• Undue delay or lack of co-operation from third parties

• Sale of shared ownership property

• Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

Our fees for the additional work will be based on a timed basis. Our hourly rates range from £350 to £585 plus VAT at 20% depending on the fee earner dealing with the transaction. We will let you know when any complications arise and fully discuss the potential consequences and way forward.

Sale of a leasehold residential property

Our fees cover the work required to complete the sale of your property including preparing draft contract, documentary evidence of the title and other matters, obtaining management information pack, dealing with any enquiries raised by the buyer, exchanging and completing on your behalf, remitting net sale proceeds and redeeming any existing mortgages, and dealing with post completionmatters.

Assuming a standard transaction we estimate our fees will be in the following ranges:-

Purchase Price	Estimated Fee Range (Plus VAT at 20%)
Up to:
£300,000	£950 - £1,250
£400,000	£1,200 - £1,600
£500,000	£1,350 - £1,700
£750,000	£1,450 - £1,800
£1,000,000	£1,950 - £2,300
£1,250,000	£2,300 - £2,800
£1,500,000	£2,650 - £3,050
£1,750,000	£3,050 - £3,550
£2,000,000	£3,900 - £4,400
£3,000,000	£5,050 - £5,450
£3,000,000	£5,450

Disbursements:

Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as land registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursement	Amount
Estate agents commission	Please check with your estate agents
Bank transfer fee	£30 per transfer
Transfer fee	£6 per transfer
Land registry documents	£3 per document
Management Information Pack	This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £250-£500.

No property is exactly the same and our fees will reflect the particular requirements of your sale or purchase. These fees can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We will give you a more accurate figure once we have details of the intended transaction.

Timeframe:

The timeframe of each transaction varies but in experience it usually takes some six to eight weeks to exchange contracts on a typical straightforward sale. The completion date may be agreed by the parties at the outset and will be incorporated as a term of the contract on exchange. It is typically some two to four weeks after exchange of contracts but may be sooner or later depending on the agreement reached. The timing of exchange may be affected by a number of different factors, which may include availability of search results, mortgage finance of the buyer and existence and extent of a chain of transactions. We will let you know if there is likely to be any delay.

Stages of the process:

The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, the usual key stages may include:

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice

• Draft contract and prepare title documents

• Obtaining management information

• Dealing with additional enquiries raised by the buyer

• Send final contracts and other documents to you for signature

• Agree completion date (date from which you will need to give up possession of the property)

• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened

• Complete the sale

• Pay all disbursements and redeem any existing mortgages

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 specificdocuments.

Occasionally unforeseen matters may arise including for example (but not limited to):

• Your lender is separately represented

• Defects in title

• Properties that are unregistered

• Properties sold subject to existing tenancies

• Undue delay or lack of co-operation from third parties

• Licence to assign and/or deposit deed required by the landlord

• Unauthorised alterations additional documentation

• Sale of shared ownership property.

• Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

• Grant of a new lease

• Lease extension

• Dealing with transfer of share of freehold

Our fees for the additional work will be based on a timed basis. Our hourly rates range from £350 to £585 plus VAT at 20% depending on the fee earner dealing with the transaction. We will let you know when any complications arise and fully discuss the potential consequences and way forward.

Mortgage and remortgage of a residential property

Our fees cover work required to complete the mortgage of the property, including obtaining title documents, perusal of title deeds, raising additional enquiries with you, submitting certificate of title and arranging release of funds and redeeming any existing mortgage.

Our fee estimate:

Purchase Price	Estimated Fee Range (Plus VAT at 20%)
Up to:
£300,000	£800 - £1,000
£400,000	£850 - £1,150
£500,000	£1,050 - £1,250
£750,000	£1,300 - £1,500
£1,000,000	£1,750 - £2,000
£1,250,000	£2,250 - £2,500
£1,500,000	£2,650 - £2,850
£1,750,000	£3,050 - £3,250
£2,000,000	£3,850 - £4,050
£3,000,000	£5,050 - £5,250
£4,000,000	£6,850 - £7,050
£5,000,000	£8,650 - £8,850

Disbursements:

Disbursements are expenses related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as land registry fees. We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

Disbursement	Amount
Management Information Pack (if required)	This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £50 to £450.
Land Registry fee	This depends on the purchase price of your property. Fees range from £20-£910. See link: Gov UK - Land Registry Fees
Land Registry Priority search	£3 per title
Searches	£350-£550
Bank Transfer fee	£30 per transfer
BACS Transfer fee	£6 per transfer
Bankruptcy searches	£2 per person

Timeframe:

The timeframe of each transaction varies but in experience it usually takes some two to four weeks to complete the mortgage. The timing of completion may be affected by a number of different factors, which may include the availability of search results, mortgage finance and co-operation from third parties. We will let you know if there is likely to be any delay.

Stages of the process:

The precise stages involved in the mortgage/remortgage of a residential property vary according to circumstances. However, the usual key stages may include:-

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice

• Deducing title deeds and documents

• Carry out searches if required

• Obtain further planning documentation if required

• Make any necessary enquiries with you

• Obtaining information from the management company

• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you

• Sending documents for your signature

• Agree completion date (date from which you mortgaged/remortgaged theproperty)

• Request for funds from the lender

• Completing the mortgage and dealing with post-completion matters

• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Our fees assume that this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to):

• Your lender is separately represented

• Defects in title

• Properties that are unregistered

• Properties sold subject to existing tenancies

• Undue delay or lack of co-operation from third parties

• If the mortgage/remortgage includes a change of ownership

• Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

Our fees on the additional work will be based on a timed basis. Our hourly rates range from £350 to £585 plus VAT at 20% depending on the fee earner dealing with the transaction. We will let you know when any complication arises and fully discuss the potential consequences and way forward.