Hourly Rates
Our fees are based on the various criteria laid down by statute which states that our fees are to be fair and reasonable having regard to all the circumstances.
As our time and expertise are the core elements of our service, our fees are calculated by all of the time spent working on and dealing with your matter by reference to the hourly rate unless we have agreed an alternative basis of charging
or a fixed fee.
Prices from:
Based on our Grade D hourly rate (plus 20% VAT)
£
0
Grade A
Solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives with over 8 years qualified experience;
£265 – £300
plus 20% VAT
Grade B
Solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives with over 4 years qualified experience but less than 8 years;
£225 – £260
plus 20% VAT
Grade C
Solicitors and Chartered Legal Executives with less than 4 years qualified experience;
£205 – £220
plus 20% VAT
Grade D
All other Fee Earners
£150 – £200
plus 20% VAT
Conveyancy Fees
Sale, Purchase or Remortgage of a freehold or leasehold residential property in England or Wales
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration of your title at the Land Registry.
Our fees, which are calculated using a scale and are based on the value of the transaction i.e. the sale or purchase price, are as follows:
Purchases
To 200,000
£750 plus 20% VAT200,001 to 400,000
£850 plus 20% VAT400,001 to 600,000
£950 plus 20% VAT600,001 to 800,000
£1095 plus 20% VAT800,001 to 900,000
£1240 plus 20% VATOver 900,000
POA, min £1595 plus 20% VAT
Sales
To 200,000
£750 plus 20% VAT200,001 to 400,000
£850 plus 20% VAT400,001 to 600,000
£950 plus 20% VAT600,001 to 800,000
£995 plus 20% VAT800,000 to £1m
£1250 plus 20% VATOver 1m
POA, min £1595 plus 20% VATRedemption of charges
Price per charge
£100 plus 20% VAT
Leasehold/Shared Ownership
Leasehold surcharge
£350 plus 20% VATShared ownership fixed fee
(for transactions up to £150k)
£950 plus 20% VAT
Remortgages
To 250,000
£495 plus 20% VAT250,001 and above
(for transactions up to £150k)
£545 plus 20% VAT
Transfer of Equity & Remortgage
To 250,000
£620 plus 20% VAT250,001 and above
(for transactions up to £150k)
£670 plus 20% VAT
Transfer of Property Subject to Existing Mortgage
Flat rate
£570 plus 20% VAT
Additional Fees
Electronic money transfer fee £35 per transfer
£35 plus 20% VATSDLT Return to HMRC
Completing and submitting your SDLT Return to HMRC on a purchase where duty is payable
£50 plus 20% VATHelp to Buy purchase supplement
£200 plus 20% VATTitle Indemnity Insurance Policy Handling Fee
£50 plus 20% VAT
Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)
Up to £125,000
ZeroThe next £125,000
(the portion from £125,001 to £250,000)
2%The next £675,000
(the portion from £250,001 to £925,000)
5%The next £575,000
(the portion from £925,001 to £1.5 million)
10%The remaining amount
(the portion above £1.5 million)
12%
Stamp Duty or Land Tax
The amount payable by you to the Government depends on the purchase price of your property.
You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website.
Higher rates for additional properties
You’ll usually have to pay 3% on top of the normal SDLT rates if buying a new residential property means you’ll own more than one.
You may not have to pay the higher rates if you exchanged contracts before 26 November 2015.
If you’re replacing your main residence
You will not pay the extra 3% SDLT if the property you’re buying is replacing your main residence and that has already been sold.
If there’s a delay selling your main residence and it has not been sold on the day you complete your new purchase:
- You will have to pay higher rates because you own 2 properties
- you may be able to get a refund of the surcharge element if you sell your previous main home within 36 months
There are special rules if you own property with someone else or already own a property outside England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search and notice fees.
We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. If the property is leasehold there are certain disbursements which will be set out in the lease document relating to the Property.
The disbursements which we anticipate will apply are set out separately below. This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors.
HM Land Registry fee – this is based on the price paid for the property and can be accessed via the Land Registry website
Search fees – these include a Local Authority Search, Drainage Search and Environmental Search. You should budget £200 for these.
How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors.
The average process takes between 10 – 12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain.
For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a completed new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer and in such a situation additional charges would apply.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:
On a leasehold purchase, you should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property.
We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.
Get in touch for a quote
For a full quotation you can use our online Estimation Of Costs calculator or contact us on 01908 410844 and we can discuss your requirements.
Employment
Our pricing for bringing and defending claims for unfair or wrongful dismissal are based on our hourly rates and the level of fee earner dealing with your matter.
These fees are calculated by the complexity:
Simple
£5,000 -£10,000
plus 20% VAT
Medium
£10,000 -£25,000
plus 20% VAT
Complicated
£25,000 -£50,000
plus 20% VAT
The fees above exclude disbursements (see below) which will be charged in addition.
Factors that could make a case more complex:
- If it is necessary to make or defend applications to amend claims or to provide further information about an existing claim
- Defending claims that are brought by litigants in person
- Making or defending a costs application
- Complex preliminary issues such as whether the claimant is disabled (if this is not agreed by the parties)
- The number of witnesses and documents
- If it is an automatic unfair dismissal claim e.g. if you are dismissed after blowing the whistle on your employer
- Allegations of discrimination which are linked to the dismissal
There will be an additional charge for attending a Tribunal Hearing of £1500 (plus 20% VAT) per day (excluding VAT). Generally, we would allow 1-5 days depending on the complexity of your case.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Counsel’s fees are estimated between £1,000 to £2,500 (plus 20% VAT) per day (depending on experience of the advocate) for attending a Tribunal Hearing (including preparation)
Estimation of fees between £1,000 to £2,500 plus VAT
£
1000
Key Stages
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
The stages set out above are an indication and if some of stages above are not required, the fee will be reduced. You may wish to handle the claim yourself and only have our advice in relation to some of the stages. This can also be arranged on your individual needs.
How long will my matter take?
The time that it takes from taking your initial instructions to the final resolution of your matter depends largely on the stage at which your case is resolved.
Estimated claim timescales
3-
0
Mths
If a settlement is reached during pre-claim conciliation, your case is likely to take 3-6 months.If your claim proceeds to a Final Hearing, your case is likely to take 12-24 months. This is just an estimate and we will of course be able to give you a more accurate timescale once we have more information and as the matter progresses.
Debt Recovery
These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed.
If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which will be based on an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.
If the matter is disputed it will be classed as a litigation action and will fall outside of Debt Recovery.
Pre-action:
Letter before action
Business to business
£75 plus 20% VATLetter before action
Debtor is individual or sole trader
£150 plus 20% VAT
The above fees include:
- Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation;
- Sending a letter before action; and
- If the debt is paid, receiving payment and sending onto you.
The above fees do not include any additional correspondence or communication with the debtor or their legal representative, including negotiation of payment terms. Any additional correspondence will be charged in accordance with our hourly rates.
Court Claims:
Debt Value
Court Fee
Up to £5,000
£35-£205
£5,001 - £10,000
£455
£10,001 - £100,000
5% value of the claim
Debt Value
Our Fee (plus 20% VAT)
Up to £5,000
£500
£5,001 - £10,000
£750
£10,001 - £100,000
£1000 - £2500
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:
- The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
- Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
- The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.
- The costs quoted above do not cover costs for work following receipt of a Defence.
Our fee includes:
- Drafting and issuing claim in the court;
- Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default.
- When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
- If payment is not received within 14 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs
- If a Defence is received, we shall review the defence and advise you of next steps and costs involved.
Matters usually take 4-12 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim.
This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default.
If your matter is disputed, defended or enforcement action is required then the matter will be classed as a litigation matter and the hourly rate will apply. We shall advise you if this is necessary and discuss the matter and costs going forward.
Estimated timescales
4-
0
Wks
Probate
We can help you through this difficult process by obtaining the Grant of Probate on your behalf.
We will also undertake the collecting and distributing of assets.
Fees for applying for the Grant of Probate:
Using IHT205
£1000 plus 20% VATUsing IHT400
£1500 plus 20% VAT
Fees for collecting and distributing the assets:
We charge the time taken on your matter using the traditional hourly rate plus up to 1% of the gross value of the estate plus VAT. The hourly rates vary from £200 – £300 plus 20% VAT, depending on the level of fee earner dealing with the case.
We anticipate this will take between 5 and 15 hours work. Total costs estimated at £1,000 – 4,500 (plus 20% VAT) plus the percentage uplift
The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property and multiple bank accounts, costs will be at the higher end.
We will handle the full process for you. This costs guide is for estates where there is a valid Will and there are no disputes. Intestacy cases can result in more work. Disbursements included in this fee:
- Probate application fee of £273 (no VAT) for estates over £5,000
- Certified copies of the Grant £1.50 (no VAT) each
- Office Copy Entries to establish ownership of property £3.90 each (inc any VAT). If a plan is required a further £3.90 (inc any VAT) per plan.
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.90 per beneficiary) (inc any VAT)
Trustee Act notices in the London Gazette and local Newspaper approximately £300 (VAT TBC). Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
Prices from:
(plus 20% VAT)
£
0
ph
Potential additional costs:
- If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings (stocks and bonds) there are likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
- If any additional copies of the grant are required, they will cost £1.50 (no VAT) (1 per asset usually).
- Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
How long will this take?
On average, estates that fall within this range are dealt with within 6-12 months. Typically, obtaining the grant of probate in modest estates takes 8-10 weeks.
On average
6-
0
Mths