Conveyancing Fees
Smalleys Solicitors LTD is fully regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA). This ensures that we adhere to strict transparency requirements in our pricing. Below, you will find detailed information about our pricing for conveyancing services.
If you have any enquiries, feel free to contact us at (0115) 955 6555 or send us a message through the contact page.
Fixed Fee Service
We offer a fixed fee service for property transactions, including sales, purchases, and re-mortgages. Our fees start at £480 for a re-mortgage, but to provide a precise estimate, we will need to consider the following:
- Whether you are a first-time buyer.
- Whether the property is a freehold or leasehold.
- Whether the property is a new build.
- Whether first registration of title applies.
- Whether or not there is a mortgage.
- Whether or not there is an Islamic mortgage.
- In purchase cases, whether the property is a primary residence, buy-to-let, or second/holiday home.
- Whether there are multiple owners or purchasers.
- Whether there is a shared ownership scheme.
- Whether there is a Help to Buy scheme.
- Whether the purchase is under a right to buy scheme.
- Whether the property was purchased at auction.
- Whether the property has been repossessed.
NB: This list is not intended to be exhaustive.
For a no-obligation quote, please use our free conveyancing calculator.
Fees can range from £480 – £1,150 plus VAT, for a property valued under £1m. However, final fees will depend upon the nature of the transaction.
VAT
All fees are quoted exclusive of VAT. We will charge VAT at the standard rate applied by the Government, which is 20%.
Disbursements
During the sale or purchase, several disbursements are payable. These are costs payable to third parties related to the matter, such as stamp duty and fees payable to HM Land Registry. There will also be additional disbursements for searches. A mortgage lender may insist that searches are undertaken as part of the investigation of title. The searches we recommend are:
- Local Search: This is almost invariably required on any purchase of a property. It is conducted with the Local Authority responsible for the property. The cost varies across the country but is typically in the region of £80 to £140. This search looks into matters such as:
- Road Proposals
- Adoption of the Highways
- Planning Permissions
- Environmental Health Matters
- Compulsory Purchase Orders
- Tree Preservation Orders
- Enforcement Notices
- Mining Search: This report is relevant in known coal mining areas where coal reserves are known to exist or have been mined in the past. The cost is typically £50-£65. The report is generated electronically and does not involve a physical inspection. Other similar searches are available for tin, china, brine, and limestone mining.
- Drainage Search: If purchasing with a mortgage, the lender will require a search application to the relevant water company to check if the property is connected to the mains water supply and whether sewers and drains are maintained by the water company or if the property owner is responsible. This search usually costs £55-£70.
- Environmental Search: Local Authorities inspect and identify contaminated sites. An Environmental Search may be necessary to ascertain if the property may be affected by factors such as flooding, subsidence, or landslip. The search provides information on these factors, as well as air quality, landfill sites, waste sites, or contaminated sites near the property. This search usually costs £55-£65.
- Additional Searches:
- Chancel Search: The land on which the property is built may have a liability to contribute to the cost of repairs to the chancel of a church in the parish. This liability can affect old or new properties and can be significant. A search costs around £40 to identify this risk.
- Plan Search: Provides current and historical planning information, beyond what is included in the Local Authority Search. It costs about £30.
- Flood Search: Carried out with the environment agency and home insurers to check the risk or potential risk of flooding based on the property’s postcode. Each search costs approximately £30.
- Telecommunications, Railway, Electric, and Similar Searches: Applicable where equipment runs near or through the property. Fees vary from £20-£100 and include details of relevant infrastructure and rights or obligations affecting the property.
- Commons Search: Identifies whether the land is registered as Common Land or Village Green. This search usually costs around £15.
Time Estimates
Providing a precise time estimate for completing a sale or purchase can be challenging due to various factors, such as property chains or complexities. For non-complex, freehold sale and purchase transactions, the average time to conclude a conveyance is between 6-12 weeks. Leasehold properties and those requiring extensive enquiries or management company responses may take longer.
Referral Agreements
If the matter was introduced to us via an Estate Agent or Mortgage Adviser with whom we have a business relationship, we are required by the Solicitors Regulation Authority to disclose that we will pay a referral fee. This fee ranges from £100 to £200 plus VAT and is paid from our own funds upon completion of the case. This standard charge is used to attract business. Any advice provided will be independent, and clients are free to raise questions about all aspects of the transaction. If a conflict of interest arises, we may need to cease acting for one or both parties involved.
Fees can range from £480 – £1,150 plus VAT, for a property valued under £1m. However, final fees will depend upon the nature of the transaction.
If you have any enquiries, feel free to contact us at (0115) 955 6555 or send us a message through the contact page.