Residential Conveyancing: Our Pricing Structures

General

This information is provided pursuant to the Transparency Rules which require solicitors to provide detailed information about prices of certain services.

The Transparency Rules came into force in December 2018 and apply to residential conveyancing (freehold sale or purchase, leasehold sale or purchase, mortgages and re-mortgages).

The information set out in this document is accurate as at December 2018 and is designed to provide a general indication of your legal fees and the likely disbursements payable based on the assumptions set out in the examples given below.  However, the disbursements can vary considerably between matters depending upon the particular circumstances of each case and your individual circumstances so please contact us and we will be pleased to provide you with a fixed fee for your sale or purchase together with a full breakdown of the likely disbursements payable.

Please note that we do not have any referral arrangements with any firms of estate agents so we are completely independent and are able to act in your best interests accordingly.

Our Team

We have a specialist residential property team who have been providing expert advice and assistance in property related matters in some cases since 1970!

There are currently five people who may work on your matter.  All work is supervised by Kim Chambers, Director, Solicitor and Head of our Property Department.

We pride ourselves on our own personal, friendly and efficient service with the majority of our work coming from repeat business and recommendations.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs which relate to your case but which we pay to third parties on your behalf (such as Land Registry fees).

Our Fees

The tables below detail our fees.  Our fees are primarily calculated on the value of the property and include all of the work required to complete the transaction as set out in the following examples.

We aim to be as open and transparent about costs as possible and do not charge additional fees for dealing with unregistered properties, obtaining off the shelf indemnity insurance policies or for dealing with a mortgage on the property you are buying or for repaying the mortgage on the property you are selling.

Sale – Freehold Residential Property

Sale/Purchase PriceLegal FeesVAT
Up to £125,000£600.00£120.00
£125,001 and £250,000£750.00£150.00
£250,001 and £350,000£850.00£170.00
£350,001 and £500,000£950.00£190.00
£500,001 and £750,000£1,250.00£250.00
£750,001 plusfrom £1,500.00£300.00

Example 1: Sale of a freehold residential property for £200,000

Our fees (based on the assumptions set out below) cover all of the work required to complete the sale of a freehold property including the repayment of any mortgage. The stages of the process of selling a freehold property are set out below. The costs incurred in the process of selling a freehold property are set out below.

Our Charges:-

Our charges in connection with the sale £750.00
VAT on our charges£150.00
Telegraphic transfer facility fee (including VAT) (if mortgage to be repaid)£36.00
Online Identification Check fee (including VAT) per person£4.20
Total:£940.20

Payments to Others (Disbursements):-

Land Registry fee for obtaining up to date land registry entries
(assuming that the property is registered under a single title)
£6.00
Estimated Total£946.20

Assumptions

  • The property is freehold
  • The sale is with vacant possession
  • You are selling the whole of the property that you own
  • The property is registered under a single title
  • This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
  • We are not required to arrange bespoke legal indemnity insurance on your behalf
  • We are not required to evidence any rights the property may enjoy but which are not referred to in the title documents
  • We are not required to obtain the prior consent of a third party (other than a lender) in order for the sale to proceed
  • We are not required to undertake a site inspection
  • The matter is not, or does not become, unusually urgent and you do not ask us to give the matter special priority
  • The title to the property does not involve overage or similar provisions to secure the payment of additional monies to a third party.

There may be additional charges if any of these assumptions are not correct. In that situation, we will notify you of any changes to our charges.

How long will my house purchase take?

The average process between you accepting an offer for your property and the date the sale completes is usually between 8 to 12 weeks. However, this can be quicker or slower as it is dependent upon a number of factors.  For example, how long it takes the buyer to obtain their mortgage offer and/or the search results and the other parties in the chain.

Stages of the process

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Obtain your deeds or copies of the title documents from the Land Registry
  • Send you the Law Society protocol forms for you to complete and to assist you completing them if necessary
  • Prepare and submit the Contract papers to the buyer’s conveyancers
  • Obtain a current repayment figure from your lender
  • Take your instructions and reply to any pre-contract enquiries raised by the buyer’s conveyancer
  • Settle the final form of the Contract with the buyer’s conveyancer
  • Meet with you or send the final form of the Contract to you for signature
  • Agree completion date.
  • Exchange contracts and notify you and the estate agents that this has happened
  • Approve the draft transfer
  • Reply to requisitions on title
  • Obtain a final repayment figure from your lender based on the completion date and send it to you for approval
  • Obtain estate agent’s commission account and send it to you for approval
  • Complete the sale
  • Repay mortgage
  • Pay estate agent
  • Account to you for the net proceeds of sale

Purchase – Freehold Residential Property

Sale/Purchase PriceLegal FeesVAT
Up to £125,000£750.00£150.00
£125,001 and £250,000£850.00£170.00
£250,001 and £350,000£950.00£190.00
£350,001 and £500,000£1,250.00£250.00
£500,001 and £750,000£1,450.00£290.00
£750,001 plusfrom £1,750.00£350.00

Example 2: Purchase of a freehold residential property for £200,000

Our fees (based on the assumptions set out below) cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of a freehold property including dealing with the registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax if the property is in England or Land Transaction Tax if the property is in Wales.  The stages of the process of selling a freehold property are set out below.  The costs incurred in the process of buying a freehold property are set out below.

Our Charges:-

Our charges in connection with the purchase£850.00
VAT on our charges£170.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax Return fee (including VAT)£48.00
Telegraphic transfer facility fee (including VAT) £36.00
Online Identification Check fee (including VAT) per person£4.20
Total:£1,108.20

Payments to Others (Disbursements):-

Land Registry Application fee£100.00
Land Registry Search fee£3.00
Bankruptcy search fee (£2.00 per client)£2.00
Seller's Conveyancers Verification Check fee (including VAT) if the
Seller’s conveyancers are not already known to us
£22.56
Local Authority Search fee, Drainage Search fee and
Environmental Search fee (estimated)
£250.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction TaxSee below
Estimated Total excluding Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax£1,485.76

Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax is calculated on the purchase price of the property and on your individual circumstances. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using the calculator on HMRC website (https: //www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax) or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s calculator (https://lttcalculator.wra.gov.wales/).  For illustrative purposes only the Stamp Duty Land Tax payable on a freehold property purchase in England for £200,000 assuming you are not a first time buyer and do not own any other properties would be £1,500.

Assumptions

  • The property is freehold
  • The property is registered under a single title
  • This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
  • We are not required to arrange bespoke legal indemnity insurance on your behalf
  • We are not required to evidence any rights the property may enjoy but which are not referred to in the title documentation
  • The Contract provides for vacant possession
  • The Contract does not involve the sale of part
  • The title to the property does not involve overage or similar provisions to secure the payment of additional monies to a third party
  • The matter is not, or does not become, unusually urgent and you do not ask us to give the matter special priority
  • We are not required to undertake a site inspection or a personal completion at the property
  • The purchase does not involve any shared ownership scheme or help to buy scheme
  • We are not required to obtain the local authority’s consent under any local occupancy condition
  • In the case of joint ownership, we are not required to prepare a separate trust document to record your respective interests in the property
  • The requirements of any lender can be met by giving a standard unconditional certificate of title to the property, the lender has adopted the Council of Mortgage Lenders or the Building Societies Association’s protocols and is not separately represented
  • It is not a new build property
  • There is not a management company in place in relation to common areas
  • The purchase does not involve any a Help to Buy mortgage, Help to Buy ISA, Lifetime ISA or a Forces Help to Buy Loan

There may be additional charges if any of these assumptions are not correct. In that situation, we will notify you of any changes to our charges.

How long will my house purchase take?

The average process between your offer being accepted until the date you move in is usually between 8 to 12 weeks. However, this is dependent upon a number of factors and can be quicker or slower depending on how long it takes to receive your mortgage offer and/or the search results and the other parties in the chain.  If you are purchasing a new build property then completion will usually take place 2 weeks after the property has been certified as structurally complete by the New Home Warranty provider or professional consultant who is supervising the build.

Stages of the process

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
  • Receive and advise on contract documents
  • Carry out searches
  • Obtain further planning documentation if required
  • Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s conveyancer
  • Give you advice on all documents and information received
  • Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
  • Send final contract to you for signature
  • Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
  • Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
  • Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
  • Complete purchase
  • Deal with payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax
  • Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Sale – Leasehold Residential Property

Sale/Purchase PriceLegal FeesVAT
Up to £125,000£900.00£180.00
£125,001 and £250,000£1,000.00£200.00
£250,001 and £350,000£1,350.00£270.00
£350,001 and £500,000£1,500.00£300.00
£500,001 and £750,000£1,700.00£340.00
£750,001 plusfrom £1,900.00£380.00

Example 3: Sale of a leasehold residential property for £200,000

Our fees (based on the assumptions set out below) cover all of the work required to complete the sale of a leasehold property including the repayment of any mortgage. The stages of the process of selling a leasehold property are set out below. The costs incurred in the process of selling a leasehold property are set out below.

Our Charges:-

Our charges in connection with the sale£1,000.00
VAT on our charges £200.00
Telegraphic transfer facility fee (including VAT) (if mortgage to be repaid)£36.00
Online Identification Check fee (including VAT) per person£4.20
Total:£1,240.20

Payments to Others (Disbursements):-

Land Registry fee for obtaining up to date land registry entries
(assuming that the property is registered under a single title)
£6.00
Estimated Total £1,246.20

Additional anticipated disbursement – Leasehold Information Pack fee – around £150-£450.  This fee is charged by the Landlord/Management Company.  The fee can vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more.

Assumptions

  • The property is Leasehold and the sale does not include the grant of a new lease or lease extension
  • The property is registered under a single title
  • You are selling the whole of the property that you own
  • This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
  • We are not required to arrange bespoke legal indemnity insurance on your behalf
  • We are not required to evidence any rights the property may enjoy but which are not referred to in the title documentation
  • The Contract provides for vacant possession
  • The Contract does not involve the sale of part
  • The title to the property does not involve overage or similar provisions to secure the payment of additional monies to a third party
  • The sale does not involve the grant of a new lease
  • We are not required to obtain the prior consent of a third party (other than a lender) in order for the sale to proceed
  • We are not required to undertake a site inspection
  • The matter is not, or does not become, unusually urgent and you do not ask us to give the matter special priority

There may be additional charges if any of these assumptions are not correct. In that situation, we will notify you of any changes to our charges.

How long will my house sale take?

The average process between you accepting an offer for your property and the date the sale completes is usually between 8 to 12 weeks. However, this can be quicker or slower as it is dependent upon a number of factors.  For example, how long it takes the buyer to obtain their mortgage offer and/or the search results and the other parties in the chain.

Stages of the process

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Obtain your deeds or copies of the title documents from the Land Registry
  • Send you the Law Society protocol forms for you to complete and to assist you completing them if necessary
  • Obtain information from the landlord/management company/managing agent
  • Prepare and submit the Contract papers to the buyer’s conveyancers
  • Obtain a current repayment figure from your lender
  • Take your instructions and reply to any pre-contract enquiries raised by the buyer’s conveyancer
  • Settle the final form of the Contract with the buyer’s conveyancer
  • Meet with you or send the final form of the Contract to you for signature
  • Agree completion date.
  • Exchange contracts and notify you and the estate agents that this has happened
  • Approve the draft transfer
  • Reply to requisitions on title
  • Obtain a final repayment figure from your lender based on the completion date and send it to you for approval
  • Obtain estate agent’s commission account and send it to you for approval
  • Complete the sale
  • Repay mortgage
  • Pay estate agent
  • Account to you for the net proceeds of sale

Purchase – Leasehold Residential Property

Sale/Purchase PriceLegal FeesVAT
Up to £125,000£1,250.00£250.00
£125,001 and £250,000£1,350.00£270.00
£250,001 and £350,000£1,500.00£300.00
£350,001 and £500,000£1,750.00£350.00
£500,001 and £750,000£1,950.00£390.00
£750,001 plusfrom £2,150.00£430.00

Example 4: Purchase of a leasehold property for £200,000

Our fees (based on the assumptions set out below) cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of a leasehold property including dealing with the registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax if the property is in England or Land Transaction Tax if the property is in Wales.  The stages of the process of buying a leasehold property are set out below.  The costs incurred in the process of buying a leasehold property are set out below.

Our Charges:-

Our charges in connection with the purchase£1,350.00
VAT on our charges£270.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax Return fee (including VAT)£48.00
Telegraphic transfer facility fee (including VAT)£36.00
Online Identification Check fee (including VAT) per person£4.20
Total:£1,708.20

Payments to Others (Disbursements):-

Land Registry Application fee£100.00
Land Registry Search fee£3.00
Bankruptcy search fee (£2.00 per client)£2.00
Seller's Conveyancers Verification Check fee (including VAT) if the Seller’s conveyancers are not already known to us £22.56
Local Authority Search fee, Drainage Search fee and Environmental Search fee (estimated)
£225.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction TaxSee below
Estimated Total excluding Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax£1,085.76

Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax is calculated on the purchase price of the property and on your individual circumstances. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using the calculator on HMRC website (https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax) or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s calculator (https://lttcalculator.wra.gov.wales/). For illustrative purposes only there would be no Stamp Duty Land Tax payable on a leasehold property purchase in England for £125,000 assuming it is an existing lease, you are not a first time buyer and do not own any other properties.

There are certain other costs which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the property. The costs which we anticipate may apply are set out separately below. This list is not exhaustive and there may be other costs depending on the terms of the lease. These costs vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges set out below.  We will provide you with the specific fees payable upon receipt of the lease and management information from the Seller’s conveyancers.

  • Notice of Transfer fee – this fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £40 and £75 plus VAT.
  • Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – this fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £40 and £75 plus VAT.
  • Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £100 and £150 plus VAT.
  • Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £100 and £200 plus VAT.

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 we receive this information.

Assumptions

  • The property is leasehold and the purchase does not involve the grant of a new lease of a lease extension
  • The property is registered under a single title
  • This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
  • We are not required to arrange bespoke legal indemnity insurance on your behalf
  • We are not required to evidence any rights the property may enjoy but which are not referred to in the title documentation
  • The Contract provides for vacant possession
  • The Contract does not involve the sale of part
  • The title to the property does not involve overage or similar provisions to secure the payment of additional monies to a third party
  • The matter is not, or does not become, unusually urgent and you do not ask us to give the matter special priority
  • We are not required to undertake a site inspection or a personal completion at the property
  • The purchase does not involve any shared ownership scheme or help to buy scheme
  • We are not required to obtain the local authority’s consent under any local occupancy condition
  • In the case of joint ownership, we are not required to prepare a separate trust document to record your respective interests in the property
  • The requirements of any lender can be met by giving a standard unconditional certificate of title to the property, the lender has adopted the Council of Mortgage Lenders or the Building Societies Association’s protocols and is not separately represented
  • It is not a new build property
  • The purchase does not involve any a Help to Buy mortgage, Help to Buy ISA, Lifetime ISA or Forces Help to Buy Loan

There may be additional charges if any of these assumptions are not correct. In that situation, we will notify you of any changes to our charges.

How long will my house purchase take?

The average process between your offer being accepted until the date you move in is usually between 8 to 12 weeks. However, this is dependent upon a number of factors and can be quicker or slower depending on how long it takes to receive your mortgage offer and/or the search results and the other parties in the chain.  If you are purchasing a new build property then completion will usually take place 2 weeks after the property has been certified as structurally complete by the New Home Warranty provider or professional consultant who is supervising the build.

Stages of the process

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
  • Receive and advise on contract documents
  • Carry out searches
  • Obtain further planning documentation if required
  • Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s conveyancer
  • Give you advice on all documents and information received
  • Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
  • Send final contract to you for signature
  • Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
  • Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
  • Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
  • Complete purchase
  • Give notice of assignment and charge (if applicable) to the landlord
  • Deal with payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax/Land Transaction Tax
  • Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Re-mortgage – Freehold Residential Property

Sale/Purchase PriceLegal FeesVAT
Up to £250,000£600.00£120.00
£250,001 and £350,000£650.00£130.00
£350,001 and £500,000£700.00£140.00
£500,001 and £750,000£750.00£150.00
£750,001 plusfrom £800.00£160.00

Example 5: Re-mortgage or mortgage of a residential freehold property valued at £200,000

Our fees (based on the assumptions set out below) cover all of the work required to complete the mortgage or re-mortgage of a residential freehold property including dealing with the registration at the Land Registry.  The stages of the process of mortgaging or re-mortgaging a residential freehold property are set out below.  The costs incurred in the process of mortgaging or re-mortgaging a residential freehold property are set out below.

Our Charges:-

Our charges in connection with the mortgage/re-mortgage £600.00
VAT on our charges£120.00
Telegraphic transfer facility fee (including VAT) (if mortgage to be repaid)£36.00
Online Identification Check fee (including VAT) per person£4.20
Total:£760.20

Payments to Others (Disbursements):-

Fee to obtain up to date Land registry entries and title plan£6.00
Land Registry Application fee which is calculated on the value of the
loan but for illustrative purposes only would be £30 based on a loan
between £100k and £200k
£30.00
Land Registry Search fee£3.00
Bankruptcy search fee (£2.00 per client)£2.00
No search indemnity insurance premium which is dependent upon the
lender’s requirements but which is usually calculated on the value of
the loan. For illustrative purposes only the premium would be
£17.00 based on a loan between £150k and £200k. If the lender does not
accept search insurance then fees of approximately £225 will be
payable for the Local Authority Search fee, Drainage Search fee and
Environmental Search fee

£17.00
Estimated Total on basis lender will accept search insurance£818.20
Estimated Total on basis lender will not accept search insurance£1,026.20

Assumptions

  • The property is freehold
  • The property is registered under a single title
  • This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
  • We are not required to arrange bespoke legal indemnity insurance on your behalf
  • We are not required to evidence any rights the property may enjoy but which are not referred to in the title documentation
  • You are mortgaging the whole of the property that you own
  • The title to the property does not involve any shared ownership scheme or help to buy scheme
  • The title to the property does not involve overage or similar provisions to secure the payment of additional monies to a third party
  • The matter is not, or does not become, unusually urgent and you do not ask us to give the matter special priority
  • We are not required to undertake a site inspection at the property
  • The requirements of any lender can be met by giving a standard unconditional certificate of title to the property, the lender has adopted the Council of Mortgage Lenders or the Building Societies Association’s protocols and is not separately represented
  • The re-mortgage/mortgage does not involve a related change of ownership for example a transfer of equity in divorce proceedings
  • We are not required to submit a Stamp Duty Land Tax return in relation to any associated transfer of equity
  • The property is not a Buy to Let property

There may be additional charges if any of these assumptions are not correct. In that situation, we will notify you of any changes to our charges.

How long will the mortgage take?

The average process between receiving your mortgage offer and completing the mortgage or re-mortgage is approximately 4 weeks.  However, this is dependent upon a number of factors and can be quicker or slower depending on whether or not your lender will accept search insurance.

Stages of the process

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Obtain your deeds or copies of the title documents from the Land Registry
  • Send you our standard forms and questionnaires for you to complete. These enable us to report to your lender and enable the drawdown of the mortgage advance
  • Obtain a current repayment figure from any existing lender
  • Order the searches or obtain a quotation for no search indemnity insurance
  • Review the title documents, replies to the forms/questionnaires and search results
  • Prepare and submit the report to the lender
  • Meet with you or send you the Mortgage deed for signature
  • Obtain a final repayment figure from your lender based on the completion date and send it to you for approval
  • Complete mortgage
  • Repay any existing mortgage
  • Account to you for the net proceeds of the mortgage advance
  • Deal with the application for registration at Land Registry

Re-mortgage – Leasehold Residential Property

Sale/Purchase PriceLegal FeesVAT
Up to £250,000£700.00£140.00
£250,001 and £350,000£750.00£150.00
£350,001 and £500,000£800.00£160.00
£500,001 and £750,000£850.00£170.00
£750,001 plusfrom £950.00£190.00

Example 6: Re-mortgage or mortgage of a residential freehold property valued at £200,000

Our fees (based on the assumptions set out below) cover all of the work required to complete the mortgage or re-mortgage of a leasehold property including dealing with the registration at the Land Registry.  The stages of the process of mortgaging or re-mortgaging a leasehold property are set out below.  The costs incurred in the process of mortgaging or re-mortgaging a residential leasehold property are set out below.

Our Charges:-

Our charges in connection with the mortgage/re-mortgage £700.00
VAT on our charges£140.00
Telegraphic transfer facility fee (including VAT) (if mortgage to be repaid)£36.00
Online Identification Check fee (including VAT) per person£4.20
Total:£818.20

Payments to Others (Disbursements):-

Fee to obtain up to date Land registry entries and title plan£6.00
Land Registry Application fee which is calculated on the value of the
loan but for illustrative purposes only would be £30 based on a loan
between £100k and £200k
£30.00
Land Registry Search fee£3.00
Bankruptcy search fee (£2.00 per client)£2.00
No search indemnity insurance premium which is dependent upon the
lender’s requirements but which is usually calculated on the value of
the loan. For illustrative purposes only the premium would be
£17.00 based on a loan between £150k and £200k. If the lender does not
accept search insurance then fees of approximately £225 will be
payable for the Local Authority Search fee, Drainage Search fee and
Environmental Search fee

£17.00
Estimated Total on basis lender will accept search insurance£938.20
Estimated Total on basis lender will not accept search insurance£1,146.20

Assumptions

  • The property is leasehold
  • The property is registered under a single title
  • This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction
  • We are not required to arrange bespoke legal indemnity insurance on your behalf
  • We are not required to evidence any rights the property may enjoy but which are not referred to in the title documentation
  • You are mortgaging the whole of the property that you own
  • The title to the property does not involve any shared ownership scheme or help to buy scheme
  • The title to the property does not involve overage or similar provisions to secure the payment of additional monies to a third party
  • The matter is not, or does not become, unusually urgent and you do not ask us to give the matter special priority
  • We are not required to undertake a site inspection at the property
  • The requirements of any lender can be met by giving a standard unconditional certificate of title to the property, the lender has adopted the Council of Mortgage Lenders or the Building Societies Association’s protocols and is not separately represented
  • The re-mortgage/mortgage does not involve a related change of ownership for example a transfer of equity in divorce proceedings
  • We are not required to submit a Stamp Duty Land Tax return in relation to any associated transfer of equity
  • The property is not a Buy to Let property

There may be additional charges if any of these assumptions are not correct. In that situation, we will notify you of any changes to our charges.

How long will the mortgage take?

The average process between receiving your mortgage offer and completing the mortgage or re-mortgage is approximately 4 weeks.  However, this is dependent upon a number of factors and can be quicker or slower depending on whether or not your lender will accept search insurance.

Stages of the process

  • Take your instructions and give you initial advice
  • Obtain your deeds or copies of the title documents from the Land Registry
  • Send you our standard forms and questionnaires for you to complete. These enable us to report to your lender and enable the drawdown of the mortgage advance
  • Obtain a current repayment figure from any existing lender
  • Order the searches or obtain a quotation for no search indemnity insurance
  • Review the title documents, replies to the forms/questionnaires and search results
  • Prepare and submit the report to the lender
  • Meet with you or send you the Mortgage deed for signature
  • Obtain a final repayment figure from your lender based on the completion date and send it to you for approval
  • Complete mortgage
  • Repay any existing mortgage
  • Account to you for the net proceeds of the mortgage advance
  • Give notice of the mortgage, and assignment if there is a change of ownership, to the landlord (there will be an additional fee payable for this set by the Landlord)
  • Deal with the application for registration at Land Registry