Transparency Policy
Conveyancing
All our conveyancing work is carried out by a qualified solicitor with at least 20 years’ experience. You can therefore be assured of the best service and expertise throughout your matter.
Our fees depend on the purchase/sale price of the property and the type of transaction. You can obtain a personal estimate for our professional fees and disbursements (costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties such as search fees) by emailing us or telephone 0151 480 6636.
Additional charges can sometimes apply depending upon the transaction and it’s complexities. Often full costs may not be known at the outset as various matters may arise throughout a transaction which are not able to be gleaned at the outset, for example missing title documents, missing paperwork for works undertaken, amends required to titles. Details of our additional charges that may arise are set out below.
How long will it take?
How long it will take will depend on numerous factors. The average process takes between 8-13 weeks from when contract papers are issued. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain and the work involved in the transaction.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the transaction will vary according to the circumstances;
Selling
In a straightforward property sale key stages are as follows:
- Contact your Estate Agent (if any).
- Obtain up-to-date redemption figure(s) on any financial charges.
- Prepare and send out a draft Contract to your Purchaser’s Solicitors.
- Reply to any enquires sent to us by your Purchaser’s Solicitors.
- Arrange for signature of the legal documents.
- We would then be in a position to discuss dates for completion.
- Exchange contracts-this is the stage where the date of completion is legally fixed and there are legally binding obligations on all parties to the Conveyancing chain.
- On the date of completion you must vacate your property.
- We redeem any financial charges and account to you with any net proceeds of sale.
Buying
In a straightforward property purchase key stages are as follows:
- Take your instructions i.e. details of the property to be purchased etc.
- Obtain a draft Contract from the Vendor’s Solicitors.
- Obtain all relevant Conveyancing Searches that are applicable to the property.
- Raise standard Enquiries of the Vendor’s Solicitors re: Boundaries, Fixtures and Fittings, building works carried out etc.
- Investigate Legal Title.
- Receive a copy of your mortgage offer from your Bank or Building Society.
- Report to you on the property that you are purchasing and obtain your signature on all the legal paperwork and obtain your deposit monies.
- Discuss dates of completion with you and the rest of the Conveyancing chain.
- When all of the chain is ready we exchange contracts- this is the stage where the date of completion is legally fixed and there are legally binding obligations on all parties to the Conveyancing chain.
- Carry out the completion searches.
- You may move in on the date of legal completion.
- We register you as the new legal owners of the property at the Land Registry.
Conveyancing Estimate
We offer personalised conveyancing estimates, please email us or telephone us for a personalised conveyancing estimate. We charge on the basis of fixed fees rather than hourly rates as below applicable to each matter. Average range of costs are below (subject to variation and updates and dependant on each transaction circumstances):
FREEHOLD SALE
We deal with the sale of your property through to completion.
| Sale Price | SOLICITORS FEES (below are inclusive of VAT) | TOTAL (minimum) |
| Up to £200,000 | £425.00 £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £20 | £528.00 |
| £200,001 to £300,000 | £445.00 £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £25 per party Bank admin fees £20 | £538.00 |
| £300,001 to £400,000 | £525.00 £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £20 | £628.00 |
| £400,001 to £500,000 | £545.00 £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £20 | £648.00 |
| Over £500,000 | We will provide a personalised estimate. |
Office copy entries need to be obtained usually £3.00 per document
LEASEHOLD SALE
Above fees apply plus £165.00 additional legal fees as leasehold sales require significantly more work.
DISBURSEMENTS
A disbursement is money that we spend on your behalf. We make no profit and simply charge you the fee that we get charged by our suppliers.
Office copy entries need to be obtained normally £3 per document.
Additional disbursements usually payable for leasehold properties for information required to be obtained from the landlord and/or management company. Their fee for providing information varies but can be from £100.00 to £400 plus any VAT. In addition the lease may contain requirements with additional fees. Our additional legal fees for dealing with additional matters can be found in the additional costs section.
FREEHOLD PURCHASE
We deal with the purchase of your property through to completion including Land Registry registration and stamp duty land tax.
| PURCHASE PRICE | SOLICITORS FEES | TOTAL |
| Up to £200,000 | £475.00 Fees £60.00 SDLT return £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £30 | £648.00 |
| £200,001 to £300,000 | £495.00 Fees £60.00 SDLT return £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £30 | £668.00 |
| £300,001 to £400,000 | £575.00 Fees £60.00 SDLT return £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £30 | £748.00 |
| £400,001 to £500,000 | £595.00 Fees £60.00 SDLT return £48.00 Electronic transfer of money per transfer Anti Money Laundering investigations / ID check £35 per party Bank admin fees £30 | £768.00 |
| Over £500,000 | We will provide a personalised quotation. |
Pre-completion searches need to be obtained usually £2.00 per bankruptcy search per party and £3.00 priority search per title
Lender portal fees where applicable usually £35.00 per transaction plus VAT
LEASEHOLD PURCHASE
Above fees apply plus £195.00 additional legal fees as leasehold sales require significantly more work.
FREEHOLD PURCHASE DISBURSEMENTS
A disbursement is money that we spend on your behalf. We make no profit and simply charge you the fee that we get charged by our suppliers.
Searches
The purpose of any search is to try and find out anything untoward regarding the property before you are committed to buy. The seller is not obliged to tell you anything so it is very much a case of a “let buyer beware.” Searches are always advised and are compulsory unless you are a cash buyer. The following searches are standard for most purchases. Additional searches may be required dependant in what the initial searches identify. (Search fees are variable dependant on property postcode and search providers and may vary, the below ar a guide only).
| Description | Amount | Notes |
| Local Authority Search Fee Liverpool Wirral Knowsley St Helens Sefton Halton | £87.00 £104.20 £85.80 £190.60 £105.00 £126.00 | The fee varies depending upon the appropriate Local Authority of the area |
| Drainage search | £54.59 | Identifies connections and equipment |
| Coal and Environmental Search | £115.57 | Identifies issues with contaminated land, radon gas, coal mining, subsidence and other matters |
| Chancel check | £24.00 | Show if the property is an affected area |
| Index map search | £4 per title | Checks title correlation |
Pre-completion searches as above
STAMP DUTY LAND TAX
Payable at the relevant rate dependent on the transaction circumstances
LAND REGISTRY FEES
Payable at the relevant rate dependent on the transaction circumstances
LEASEHOLD PURCHASE DISBURSEMENTS
Above fees and disbursements plus leasehold notice fees which depend on the lease and landlord an usually range from £50.00 to £250.00 plus any VAT per notice. Further fees should be anticipated for the following:
- Notice of Transfer and Charge
- Deed of Covenant
- Certificate of Compliance
- Licence to Assign
- Share Certificate
Please note that the above are not required for every transaction as all leasehold properties vary but they are listed for information purposes. Please see additional fees charges for our fees in dealing with these.
Additional chargeable services for legal fees (inclusive of VAT but exclusive of any associated disbursements)
Dealing with notices/Cautions/Restrictions on your title Deeds £65
Fee removing of Bankruptcy entries £165
Fee for dealing with Landlord £100
Expedited Transaction Fee £245
Reviews of management company / leasehold packs / surveys £165
Fee for arranging indemnity insurance £75
Fee for drafting a Statutory Declaration £125
Fee for final file closure and storage £60
Fee for transfers of part £165
Fee for mapsearch check where no title deeds provided and to verify titles £20
Fee for Land Registry application £85
Fee for Land Registry expedition application £65
Fee for verification of power of attorney or probate £50
Fee for late completions / notices to complete £150
Fee for right to buy matters £195
Fee for leasehold title as opposed to freehold £165
Fee for unregistered land as opposed to freehold £195
Fee for dealing with leasehold retentions £125
Fee for search ordering where searches ordered for purchase £30
Fee for acting for mortgage lender on purchase usually £150-£225 dependant on work involved and lender offer plus any mortgage lender portal fee
Fee for dealing with additional titles £165 per title
Fee for notice of assignment/mortgage/transfer £60 per notice
Fee for dealing with leasehold licence to assign £95
Fee for deal with leasehold deed of covenant £95
Fee for Dealing with Management company £195
Fee for obtaining duplicate documents from NHBC/Local Authority etc £25
Redemption of mortgage (per lender) £65
Fee for dealing with Leased Solar Panels on a sale or purchase £195
Upgrade of Title £65
Fee for registering a restriction at the Land Registry £75
Fee for dealing with third party solicitors £50
Undertaking legal admin fee £30
Home visits in local area £175
Abortive sale or purchase fee depends on proportion of work undertaken
