Sale and purchase conveyancing with best value guarantee
Expert legal support for your property sale and purchase with transparent pricing and no hidden fees
Legal fees
The first component is the legal fee – what we charge for our work. This is what you pay for our lawyers’ time looking after your sale and purchase. Think of it as the labour charge for both transactions, similar to a mechanic or plumber.
The fee varies depending on the property price, because the level of responsibility increases for more expensive transactions.
Best Value promise: We keep our fees competitive and represent good value for money for sale and purchase conveyancing.
Total transparency: Some internet providers don’t quote these fees upfront – they’re added later. We’re totally transparent with fixed fees and no extras. All quotes include VAT.
Additional fee components
There are additional components in the conveyancing legal fee, depending on circumstances:
Mortgaged transactions
Small additional fee for dealing with mortgage companies. We ensure your mortgage is paid off before transfer and advise on your purchase obligations. Your mortgage company doesn’t pay for this extra work.
Leasehold properties
Small additional fee for dealing with managing agents and handling extra queries from other solicitors.Shared Ownership
Small extra fee for complex schemes involving both mortgage and rental aspects, with complicated provisions for property shares and maintenance.
Declaration of Trust
Additional fee for formal legal documents setting out respective property interests – whether equal shares or different proportions.
⚠️ Important: If mortgage work isn’t handled carefully, you could face moving out but still owing money to the mortgage company, or having mortgage debt with insufficient property security.
Disbursements
Disbursements are various other expenses associated with selling or buying property. Think of them as the “parts” of your transaction – your case handler needs them to do a proper job, but has less ability to control costs.
Disbursements don’t vary much between solicitors. In sale transactions they’re usually very modest (except possibly leasehold sales, where management company fees can be quite high).
Bank fes
Fee for electronic bank transfers (CHAPS) to send your deposit and completion funds securely. Most solicitors need to make at least two transfers during a transaction, and banks charge for each one. This is a pass-through cost from the bank to you.
Identity verification
Small fee to verify your identity. All solicitors and regulated professionals must be satisfied who they’re dealing with to reduce money laundering risk. This is a legal requirement, but the fee is very small.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Government tax on land and property transactions. For your sale and purchase conveyancing, this applies to the purchase. The amount depends on transaction size, working like income tax with different brackets.
You only pay tax at particular rates on amounts within each band. We can’t control the tax amount but can advise how it works. This is always the most significant element in any quote.
| Property Value Range | Stamp Duty Rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 – £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 – £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 – £1,500,000 | 10% |
| Above £1,500,000 | 12% |
Example Calculation:
£295,000 Property
First £125,000: £0 (0% rate)
Next £125,000 (up to £250,000): £2,500 (2% rate)
Final £45,000 (up to £295,000): £2,250 (5% rate)
Total SDLT: £4,750
Our quotes don’t include SDLT, which can be calculated using the HMRC SDLT calculator.
When paying SDLT, your solicitor submits a detailed form to HMRC with necessary figures. There’s a small fee for this important task.
Property searches
Fixed Price Search Bundle £219 + VAT
Nationwide coverage including: Local Authority Search (CON29), Local Land Charges Search, Drainage & Water Search (CON29DW), Environmental Search.
🏗️ Planning & Development
Planned roads, developments, or changes that could affect your property
🌍 Environmental Risks
Historical land use, contamination, flooding, or radon gas risks
⛏️ Mining History
Old mine workings that could cause subsidence (additional search if needed)
🚄 HS2 Route
Whether the new railway line affects your property (additional search if needed)
💧 Drainage & Utilities
Water supply, sewerage, and drainage information
⛪ Chancel Repair
Whether you might be liable for church repairs (relevant near historic churches)
⚠️ Why Searches Are Essential
Under “caveat emptor” (buyer beware), once contracts exchange, any problems become your responsibility. Searches protect you from expensive surprises later.
Land Registry fees
Office Copy & Plan Fee
Small HM Land Registry fee for copies of legal documents including Registers of Title and plans. Your purchaser’s solicitor requires these to advise on property title. Fees increase slightly for leaseholds and properties with additional past documents.
Registration Fee
Small HM Land Registry fee to register ownership change, securing your interest once you’ve bought. Solicitors use online portals where possible to keep costs down. Higher fees apply where online registration
Additional checks
Bankruptcy Search
Small fee (£2 per name) to check with the Official Receiver that no party is bankrupt. Where bankruptcy exists, we must deal with the trustee in bankruptcy or Official Receiver regarding the bankrupt’s property interest.
Leasehold Disbursements
For sales: management company fees for service charge information and additional Land Registry charges. For purchases: fees for giving notices and obtaining certificates necessary for registration restrictions.
Other sale disbursements
Occasionally, unpredictable issues arise during transactions. The most common is indemnity insurance.
Example: Building Regulations Insurance
If a house extension was built without clear Building Regulations compliance, buyers may insist on insurance covering future objections to missing completion certificates. This primarily protects them when they eventually sell the property.
Other instances may require Statutory Declarations about property aspects you’re selling. Your solicitor will discuss these unusual costs if they arise during the conveyancing process.
Get your sale and purchase conveyancing quote today
If you want to go further with your sale and purchase conveyancing quote, or even if there is any aspect of your quote you’re not sure about, please don’t hesitate to get in touch – we’re always happy to help, and we’re only a phone call or email away! Call us now on 08000 387 007