Pricing and Stages
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What are the estimated fees?
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Our fee for dealing with a standard conveyancing freehold property purchase depends firstly on the purchase price for the property. Where VAT is charged, the rate is 20%.
For standard leasehold purchases, we charge an additional £300 plus VAT. For new build properties, we charge an additional £175 plus VAT with a minimum of £1,495 plus VAT. If you will be getting a mortgage, we would normally act for the lender for an additional £250 + VAT fee. We charge at least £10 + VAT on each matter for obtaining and reviewing Land Registry OS1 and Bankruptcy checks. This may be higher if there are multiple purchasers or properties being purchased. We charge £10 + VAT per person for conducting and reviewing AML checks for new clients. We charge £250 + VAT for ordering and reviewing searches. Additional fees may apply for matters that fall outside of a normal conveyancing transaction. Please see “Potential Additional Fees” section below. This is of particular significance in leasehold transactions as the lease can often reveal the need for dealing with additional documentation. AND If we are arranging the transfer of funds electronically, we will charge a fee for our time involved in arranging each transfer, for example sending completion money to your seller’s solicitors on completion. Our cost for this is £45 plus VAT. If your matter requires urgent attention, please let us know at the outset so we can adjust our fees accordingly. In cases where matters become protracted or more complicated than initially anticipated, you will be notified and any additional work will be charged at an hourly rate of £350 + VAT. |
Our fee for dealing with a standard conveyancing freehold property sale depends firstly on the sale price for the property. Where VAT is charged, the rate is 20%
For standard leasehold sales, we charge an additional £300 plus VAT. If you will be redeeming a mortgage, we would charge an additional £200 + VAT We charge approximately £10 + VAT for obtaining and perusing freehold Land Registry documentation on each matter and a further £15 + VAT for leasehold documentation, if applicable. This may be higher if there are many registered documents for the property We charge £10 + VAT per person for conducting and reviewing AML checks for new clients. Additional fees may apply for matters that fall outside of a normal conveyancing transaction. Please see “Potential Additional Fees” section below. This is of particular significance in leasehold transactions as the lease can often reveal the need for dealing with additional documentation. AND If we are arranging the transfer of funds electronically, we will charge a fee for our time involved in arranging each transfer, for example sending the proceeds of sale to you on completion. Our cost for this is £45 plus VAT. If your matter requires urgent attention, please let us know at the outset so we can adjust our fees accordingly. In cases where matters become protracted or more complicated than initially anticipated, you will be notified and any additional work will be charged at an hourly rate of £350 + VAT. |
Our fee for dealing with a standard re-mortgage on a freehold property is £600 plus VAT. For standard leasehold re-mortgages we charge £750 plus VAT. Where VAT is charged, the rate is 20% We charge at least £10 + VAT on each matter for obtaining and reviewing Land Registry OS1 and Bankruptcy checks. This may be higher if there are multiple borrowers or properties being mortgaged. We charge £10 + VAT per person for conducting and reviewing AML checks for new clients. AND We charge £250 + VAT for ordering and reviewing searches, if applicable. If we are arranging the transfer of funds electronically, we will charge a fee for our time involved in arranging each transfer, for example sending the proceeds of sale to you on completion. Our cost for this is £45 plus VAT. If your matter requires urgent attention, please let us know at the outset so we can adjust our fees accordingly. In cases where matters become protracted or more complicated than initially anticipated, you will be notified and any additional work will be charged at an hourly rate of £350 + VAT. |
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For conveyancing matters, we will charge £100 + VAT for every additional vendor/purchaser/landlord. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Average Timescales
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How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your new home will depend on several factors.
The average process for a freehold property takes between 6 to 8 weeks to exchange, and a further 2 weeks before completion, dependent on all parties involved being agreeable to the completion date. Leasehold transactions can take longer due to the information packs that are required from the freeholder/landlord. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first-time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could several months. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer. In such, a situation additional charges would apply. |
How long it will take from you accepting the buyer’s offer to completing sale will depend on several factors.
The average process takes between 6 to 8 weeks to exchange, and a further 2 weeks before completion, dependent on all parties involved being agreeable to the completion date. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are selling to a buyer involved in a chain, or a first-time buyer. However, if you are selling a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer. In such, a situation additional charges would apply. Leasehold matters often take longer due to the additional parties involved in the transaction, including landlords/managing agents/companies. |
The average process for a freehold property re-mortgage to complete can range between 2 to 4 weeks, dependent on when the offer of loan and searches are received.
Leasehold transactions can take longer due to the information that is required from the freeholder/landlord. |
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The service
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Work will be conducted by Nazmin Choudhury, the principal of the firm who was admitted as a solicitor in 1992 In acting for you in respect of your purchase of a freehold residential property, we will:
In relation to leasehold properties we will also:
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Work will be conducted by Nazmin Choudhury, the principal of the firm who was admitted as a solicitor in 1992 In acting for you in respect of your sale of a freehold residential property, we will:
In relation to leasehold properties we will also:
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Work will be conducted by Nazmin Choudhury, the principal of the firm who was admitted as a solicitor in 1992 In acting for you in respect of a re-mortgage of freehold residential property, we will:
In relation to leasehold properties we will also:
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Information on Estimated Fees
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Your fee will reflect work involved in your transaction. Our fee assumes that:
We have set out in the “Potential Additional Fees” section situations that may arise which would attract additional fees. We will of course notify you of any additional costs and disbursements before they are incurred. Please note that if for any reason we are unable to proceed, or you choose to close your matter after you have instructed us, you will still be charged for any work (including additional work) that we have carried out. Preferential rates may apply to returning clients and those that are recommended to us by one of our business partners. Please contact us to find out more about any discounts that may be applicable. |
Your fee will reflect work involved in your transaction.
Preferential rates may apply to returning clients and those that are recommended to us by one of our business partners. Please contact us to find out more about any discounts that may be applicable. |
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Likely disbursements and expenses (these are payable to third parties by us on your behalf)
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Potential Additional Disbursements
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In leasehold matters, there are additional payments that may need to be made, which vary depending per property. These are:
Other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of your lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors. You may wish to instruct a surveyor and this will be a separate charge to whomsoever you choose to instruct. |
In leasehold matters, there are additional payments that may need to be made, which vary depending per property. These are:
Other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of your lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors. |
In leasehold matters, there are additional payments that may need to be made, which vary depending per property. These are:
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Potential Additional Fees
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We always provide clients with a fee estimate at the start of each new matter, therefore if you would like a bespoke estimate for your matter, please contact us to discuss.
If your case involves unexpected complications, we will always inform you, including any additional fees that may apply, so that you can make an informed decision as to how to proceed. You should be aware that additional fees will apply in the following situations: Fees are listed without VAT (20%) which will be payable.
This list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional fees. In addition to our legal fees for some items above you may incur an associated disbursement, such as additional Land Registry fees, or landlord fees (if appropriate). We will inform you accordingly. |
We always provide clients with a fee estimate at the start of each new matter, therefore if you would like a bespoke estimate for your matter, please contact us to discuss.
If your case involves unexpected complications, we will always inform you, including any additional fees that may apply, so that you can make an informed decision as to how to proceed. You should be aware that additional fees will apply in the following situations: Fees are listed without VAT (20%) which will be payable.
This list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional fees. In addition to our legal fees for some items above you may incur an associated disbursement, such as additional Land Registry fees, or landlord fees (if appropriate). We will inform you accordingly. |
We always provide clients with a fee estimate at the start of each new matter, therefore if you would like a bespoke estimate for your matter, please contact us to discuss.
If your case involves unexpected complications, we will always inform you, including any additional fees that may apply, so that you can make an informed decision as to how to proceed. You should be aware that additional fees will apply in the following situations: Fees are listed without VAT (20%) which will be payable.
This list is not exhaustive, and there may be additional fees. In addition to our legal fees for some items above you may incur an associated disbursement, such as additional Land Registry fees, or landlord fees (if appropriate). We will inform you accordingly. |
Residential Lease Extension (landlord)
Stages
The length and steps of a lease extension depends largely upon whether a formal notice is served or not. Our fees are based on a lease extension initiated by notice. If the lease extension is dealt by way of notice, the tenant can be made to the pay the landlord’s costs and disbursements.
- Get instructions from you
- Serve a counternotice on the tenant after obtaining a valuation of the property from a surveyor.
- Once the premium is agreed, either by notice or not, the lease extension deed can be prepared and completed.
Our Fees
Premium | Base Price (£) | VAT (£) | Total (£) |
< 50,000 | 1,250 | 250 | 1,500 |
£50,000+ | 1,500 | 300 | 1,800 |
Additional Expected Fees | |||
Surveyor’s Fee | In the process of most lease extensions, both parties instruct a surveyor to assess the value of the property. This usually ranges from around £700 – £1,200. The tenant is usually required to pay this. |
Residential Lease Extension (tenant)
Stages
The length and steps of a lease extension depends largely upon whether a formal notice is served or not. Our fees are based on a lease extension initiated by notice.
- Get instructions from you. This would be after you have appointed a surveyor is the extension is to be initiated by a notice.
- Serve notice on the freeholder, if applicable
- Wait up to two months for a counternotice with a different offer
- Either agree to or dispute the premium for the lease, if applicable. This can be referred to the Property Tribunal after six months of receiving the counternotice if no response is received. In this eventually, we will charge additional fees
- Once the premium is agreed, either by notice or not, the lease extension deed can be prepared and completed.
Our Fees
Premium | Base Price (£) | VAT (£) | Total (£) |
< 50,000 | 1,250 | 250 | 1,500 |
£50,000+ | 1,500 | 300 | 1,800 |
Additional Expected Fees | |||
Surveyor’s Fee | In the process of most lease extensions, both parties instruct a surveyor separate from the solicitor to assess the value of the property, though when a notice is served, it is the tenant’s responsibility to pay for both sets of surveyor’s fees. The fees usually ranges from around £700 – £1,200 per surveyor. | ||
Deed of Substituted Security Fee If you have a mortgage on your property, we will need to obtain a deed of substituted security from your lender. Your lender may also charge a fee for this. It is normally less than £120. |
75 | 15 | 90 |
Tribunal Application fee If we cannot reach an agreement with the landlord, we will be required to make an application to the Property Tribunal |
200 | 40 | 240 |
Landlord’s Legal Costs | When a notice is served to obtain a lease extension, the tenant would normally pay the landlord’s costs as well as their own. | ||
Disbursements | |||
Office Copies (freehold) | 6 | – | 6 |
Office Copies (leasehold) | 9 | – | 9 |
Management Pack / LPE1 (leasehold) | This is set by the landlord and would normally range from around £100 – £300. |
Probate
Stages
For the base price, we will obtain the grant of probate, close the accounts of the deceased, sell or transfer any shares and arrange for payment of Inheritance Tax from the assets of the Estate. These fees could be higher if there are a considerable number of distribution payments to make or the deceased has a large number of shares or accounts. The sale of any properties of the deceased are not dealt with within the estimate. These fees are only for uncontested probate.
The length of a probate matter is heavily dependent upon the size of the estate. For a small estate, the matter could complete in around 3 to 6 months. For larger estate with, the process could take 2 years or more. The stages in a probate matter are as follows:
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- Obtain instructions from you
- Create a schedule of assets of the deceased
- Complete the relevant IHT forms
- Pay the whole or first instalment of IHT
- Prepare an oath to be sworn by the executors.
- Apply for the grant of probate
- Once probate is received, the estate can be distributed. This involves closing bank accounts, transferring or selling shares and selling or transferring any properties.
Our Estimated Fees
Our fees are dependent upon the number of assets in the estate and the number of beneficiaries. In order to provide a more accurate estimate, we would need to discuss the estate with you.
Estate Size | Base Price (£) | VAT (£) | Total (£) |
Small An estate with a few bank accounts, no shares and no property. |
1,500 | 300 | 1,800 |
Medium An estate with several bank accounts, some shares and some property. |
3,500 | 700 | 4,200 |
Large An estate with many bank accounts, many shares and several properties. |
5,500 | 1,100 | 6,600 |
Disbursements | |||
Probate Fee This will be required in all cases and is paid to HMCTS. |
273 | – | 273 |
Additional copies of grant of probate. We normally get 5 to 10 of these. |
1.50 | – | 1.50 |
Swearing the oath Each of the executors need to have the oath sworn by an independent solicitor |
7.00 each | – | 7.00 each |
Bankruptcy searches | 2.00 per beneficiary | – | 2.00 per beneficiary |
Notice of Death A notice published in the local paper and London Gazette of the death to protect against unexpected claims from unknown creditors |
The fee for this is normally around £200 | ||
Potential Additional Costs | |||
Accountant Costs | The costs of an accountant to prepare Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax return | ||
Value Element | Where a solicitor is acting as an executor (either solely or jointly with someone else) in addition to charging for the time spent on the matter our charges may include a value element to reflect the personal responsibility undertaken, depending on the complexity and size of the Estate (but if we do include a value element then we would reduce the hourly charging rate for the time spent).
If we were to include a value element where a solicitor is acting as executor, we would normally charge 3-5% of the gross value of the Estate. A decision on the value element would be made in the course of the matter. |
Business debt recovery
Our fee is based on the sum of money being claimed.
Stages
The work we would do in a normal debt recovery case are:
- Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
- Undertaking appropriate searches
- Sending a letter before action
- Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
- Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
- When Judgement in default in received, writing 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
Our Fees
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 could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.
Sum Claimed | Base Price (£) | VAT (£) | Total (£) |
< £5,000 | 950 | 190 | 1,140 |
£5,001 – £10,000 | 1,250 | 250 | 1,500 |
£10,001 – £50,000 | 1,500 | 300 | 1,800 |
Other Fees | |||
Court Fees | This will be required in all cases and are paid to HMCTS. The fee is based on the sum of money being claimed. Details are available here |
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.
Unfair Dismissal
Our fees for unfair dismissal are based upon the complexity of the case, ranging from a simple defence to lengthy hearings.
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
Stages
The fees set out above cover all of the work in relation to the following key stages of a claim:
- Taking your initial instructions, reviewing the papers and advising you on merits and likely compensation (this is likely to be revisited throughout the matter and subject to change)
- Entering into pre-claim conciliation where this is mandatory to explore whether a settlement can be reached;
- Preparing claim or response
- Reviewing and advising on claim or response from other party
- Exploring settlement and negotiating settlement throughout the process
- preparing or considering a schedule of loss
- Preparing for (and attending) a Preliminary Hearing
- Exchanging documents with the other party and agreeing a bundle of documents
- Taking witness statements, drafting statements and agreeing their content with witnesses
- preparing bundle of documents
- Reviewing and advising on the other party’s witness statements
- Agreeing a list of issues, a chronology and/or cast list
- Preparation and attendance at Final Hearing, including instructions to Counsel
Our Fees
Case Complexity | Base Price (£) | VAT (£) | Total (£) |
Simple | 1,500 | 300 | 1,800 |
Medium | 2,250 | 450 | 2,700 |
Complex | 3,000 | 600 | 3,600 |
Other Costs | |||
Counsel’s Fee | If we need to instruct counsel, they will charge a fee for reviewing the matter. This could be roughly between £400 and £1,250 + VAT |