Residential Conveyancing

We have helped clients buy and sell their homes since 1955, offering a personal, end-to-end service with no hidden extras. Our reviews demonstrate our commitment to customer excellence. All fees below are exclusive of VAT and disbursements.

We are on all the major lending panels. This means that if you are purchasing by way of a mortgage you do not have to instruct a separate solicitor to act for the mortgage lender, we can do it all for you. You will be clear of what your costs are at the outset enabling you to plan your budget accurately with no surprises at the end.

We are proud to hold Lexcel and CQS Accreditations, issued by the Law Society. This involves the firm undergoing a rigorous audit process which ensures we maintain high levels of client care.

We always agree costs with you in advance before we start any work and will not exceed any agreed costs without prior agreement first. Our range of fees is based upon the agreed sale or purchase price of the property.

If during the transaction there is a new development, we will discuss the change in fees with you and agree a way forward.

What is included in our fee?

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
• Act for your mortgage lender (we are on all the major lending panels and will act for the lender saving you the cost of instructing another solicitor to deal with this)
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Carry out searches
• Receive and advise on Lease ( if leasehold)
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Preparation and serving of notices of transfer and or mortgage to the Landlord or Managing Agent ( Leasehold)
• Preparation of a Deed of Covenant if applicable ( Leasehold)
• Research and set up an Indemnity Policy for defective title or lack of planning consent/building regulations or covenant consent if required
• Prepare a Statutory Declaration of Title if required
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Prepare a Deed of Variation or Occupier Deed of Consent to mortgage or re-mortgage if required
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Prepare or approve a key undertaking
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Complete the purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry including registering a restriction if necessary

All of our legal advisors are experienced in the property work they undertake. For a full description individuals experience and qualifications please refer to our ‘Meet The Team’ page.

What’s not included: 

• Stamp Duty Land Tax or Land Transaction Tax
• Payment of disbursements which are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties.
• HM Land Registry fees
• Local search fees
• Lease-related disbursements (e.g. notice fees, compliance certificates)
• Tax advice

Visit the Stamp Duty calculator or Land Registry fees to estimate additional costs. 

Disbursements/Expenses to be paid to third parties, not included in our fees will typically include:

• Search Fees (These will be specific to your property and can be quoted for upon request)
• HM Land Registry Fee (to register your property at the Land Registry)
• Electronic Money Transfer Fee – payable when sending money to sellers upon completion
• Stamp Duty Land Tax
• Vat payable

Timescales

It is really difficult to give an accurate time estimate on conveyancing transactions as they are dependant on so many external factors such as searches, length of chain, if you have a lender and the cooperation of all parties in the chain. Our best guess is that freehold purchases or sales should take between 8-12 weeks  and for leasehold 10-14 weeks.