Residential
Conveyancing

Can my legal costs change?

Yes, if something not anticipated arises that requires us to conduct additional work over and above that normally required. For example:

• if legal title is defective or part of the property is unregistered
• if we discover building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained
• if crucial documents we have requested have not been provided

A list of the potential additional costs charged is supplied with our online quote. If you have any questions about this issue please do not hesitate to contact us by telephone to speak to a member of our team.

How much is Stamp Duty Land Tax / Land Transaction tax

If you buy a property or land over a certain price in England or Wales, when you complete the purchase you need to pay either:

• Stamp Duty Land Tax, (SDLT) or
• Land Transaction Tax (LLT)

The amount you will need to pay depends on factors including the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using the Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator (if the property is in England) or the Land Transaction Tax calculator (if the property is in Wales). You should also be aware that rates can change, and you must pay SDLT/LLT at the prevailing rate which could have altered since the original calculation.

Each case is different. SDLT/LLT is a self-assessment tax. You have full responsibility for the content and accuracy of your own tax return, even though that return is completed on your behalf and filed by us. If your transaction is complex you should seek advice from an adequately qualified tax advisor. If you do not have an accountant who might be able to provide such advice, please let us know and we can make the necessary arrangements for you.

Disbursements

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

How long does it take?

It depends on a number of factors. For example, if there are a number of parties in your property chain it is likely to take longer compared to someone who is a chain-free buyer.

On average the whole process can take between 6-12 weeks.

What are the main stages involved?

There are a number of stages, all of which may vary according to the circumstances of your property purchase. Our experts can represent you during each stage, as follows:

Pre-contract

After you have made an offer on the property we will prepare the legal documents you need to transfer ownership of the property to you. We will begin the due diligence procedure including verification of your identity and source of funds and wealth.

The seller will prepare a contract for this which will include the selling price, legal details about the property, and other information such any planning restrictions. Before you exchange contracts we will find as much information as possible for you about the property by conducting searches and making relevant enquires about the property.

We advise you to get a full property survey at this stage, and can also receive documents from your mortgage provider if you are using one.

Exchange of contracts

When you and the property seller are happy to agree to the contract you will both sign, and we will arrange for copies to be sent to each other alongside arrangements for paying the deposit to the seller – often this is ten per cent of the purchase price.

Before completion

We will make sure that everything is ready for you, including checking the legal documents to transfer ownership, making arrangements for the transfer of your funds to the seller, and completing final HM Land Registry checks.

Completion

We will continue to oversee the process during the completion stage to make sure thing progress as smoothly as possible. This includes making sure you receive the legal documents that prove your new ownership.

After completion

We will register the change of ownership with HM Land Registry and pay your SDLT/LLT.

Who We Help

We provide you with a fixed fee so you have the comfort of knowing what your are paying.

Our team will be here to guide you through the process no matter your level of experience.

We can help with any area of residential property.

Types of Work

• Purchases
• Sales
• Remortgages
• Transfers of Equity
• Portfolio purchase and sale