The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires law firms to publish pricing details for certain services. The information below explains how we price these services, how we will help you and the key stages of the process. We also indicate how long the work may take. Please remember that this guidance is based on typical circumstances and situations with complex or unusual aspects may take longer to resolve. It’s always best to get in touch for a free, no-obligation consultation so we can discuss your situation and provide a bespoke cost proposal for the work.
We start every piece of work with a telephone conversation. Initially, we simply want to know the details of your situation, and what you need help with. This discussion is completely confidential, and does not commit you to instructing us. We follow up with a clear outline of the work, including how much it will cost and how long it will probably take. If you choose to instruct us, we will send you our comprehensive Client Care letter at the outset of the case. We will complete the work as quickly and cost-effectively as possible, and keep you informed of our progress throughout.
Each purchase is as unique as you yourself are, but there are certain well-defined stages common to them all.
These are our standard fees for straightforward conveyancing. As stated above, if there are circumstances that make the transactions difficult or unusual, we will let you know at the outset.
HM Land Registry Fee: n/a for a sale; according to a scale and whether it is a first registration for a purchase. We will advise you on an estimate specific to your purchase.
Land Registry Searches: n/a for a sale; £3.00 per title for a purchase.
Search Fees: n/a for a sale; £250-£350 +VAT at 20% for a purchase (if necessary).
Stamp Duty Land Tax: This tax is based on the value of your property. To understand how much you will need to pay, we recommend the HMRC Stamp Duty Calculator.
Land Registry Official Copy Entries: £6.00 – £20.00 for both sale and purchase (if necessary).
If you already own a leasehold property and would like to extend the lease or buy the freehold, Moss Beachley Mullem & Coleman will be able to advise you.
HM Land Registry Fee: n/a for a sale; HMLR sets fees according to a scale for purchases. We will advise you as to your likely fee.
Land Registry Searches: n/a for a sale; £3.00 per title for a purchase.
Search Fees: n/a for a sale; £250 – £300 + VAT at 20% (if necessary).
Stamp Duty Land Tax: HMRC calculates this on the basis of the value of the property. To understand how much you will need to pay, we recommend the HMRC Stamp Duty calculator.
Land Registry Official Copy Entries: £6.00 – £20.00 for both sale and purchase (if necessary).
Notice of Transfer Fee: n/a for sale; commonly between £50 – £150 + VAT at 20% for a purchase.
Notice of Charge Fee: n/a for a sale; this fee applies if the property is to be mortgaged and the fee is set in the lease. Often the fee is between £50 – £150 + VAT at 20%.
Deed of Covenant Fee: n/a for a sale; this fee is set by the management company or landlord for the property. It is often between £250 – £300 + VAT at 20% (if required), but is difficult to estimate.
Certificate of Compliance Fee: n/a for sale; if required, it is confirmed upon the receipt of the lease and can range between £250 – £350 + VAT at 20%.
Management Pack: on a sale, a Management Pack is required from the Freeholder of Managing Agents whose fees may range from £250 – £500 + VAT at 20%; n/a on a purchase.
Ground Rent and Service Charge: n/a on a sale; as soon as we receive the information, we will confirm to you the Ground Rent and Service Charge that will apply throughout your ownership of a leasehold property.
Occasionally other work is necessary which may not have been anticipated at the outset of the transaction. Some of the common areas of extra work are listed below.
Indemnity Insurance Policies: £100 + VAT at 20% minimum charge per policy for arranging or approving.
Repayment of unsecured loans or debts: £100 + VAT at 20% minimum charge per loan.
Deeds of Covenant pursuant to Leases or Freehold Transfers involving Management Companies:
£125 + VAT at 20% minimum charge.
Transfer of Share of Freehold Interest (with lease): £250 + VAT at 20% minimum charge.
Corresponding with previous solicitors: £45 + VAT at 20% per letter, in or out minimum.
Undertaking for access between exchange of contracts and completion: £100 + VAT at 20%
Statutory Declaration (simple): £100 + VAT at 20%
Sale or Purchase of Part of Title: £200 + VAT at 20%
Sale or Purchase of Unregistered Title: £250 + VAT at 20%
Sale or Purchase of Freehold Title Involving Management Company: £200 + VAT at 20%
Help to Buy: £300 + VAT at 20%
New Build Conveyancing: £250 + VAT at 20%
Re-issue contracts to alternative solicitors if the buyers change solicitors: £50 + VAT at 20%
Cost to print bulky contract papers (if necessary): £75 + VAT at 20%
Encashment of Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA: £50 + VAT at 20% per ISA
Declaration of Trust (directing as to Beneficial Interests): £175 – £250 + VAT at 20% (straightforward); £250 plus + VAT at 20% (complicated)
Please be aware that unforeseen circumstances may require us to undertake additional work, for which additional costs may arise. For example, unusual issues with the property you are buying or selling, or if other parties involved in the transaction are causing unnecessary delays. We will always explain any additional costs in advance and will only proceed with your authorisation.
Typically, a purchase or sale takes approximately 12 weeks to complete, but circumstances can cause the transaction to proceed either more quickly or slowly. For example, one of the key factors that tends to slow down transactions is the number of other buyers and sellers in the chain. For re-mortgages, the normal estimate is six to eight weeks, but this will depend on a number of outside factors.
The precise stages may vary according to the circumstances and the lenders involved, but the standard key stages are listed below.
Our fees for the re-mortgage of a residential property are as follows:
We will discuss all disbursements with you in advance of incurring any costs on your behalf. These are third-party costs that usually arise in this sort of transaction:
At what is often a very difficult time, Moss Beachley Mullem & Coleman can help you through the probate and estate administration process. We can handle all the necessary legal and financial requirements of collecting and distributing assets after paying off any outstanding debts. The amount you pay includes the fee for our work and any necessary payments we will make to third parties on your behalf, which are associated with probate applications and estate administration.
Probate requires a personalized quote because of the varying amount of work based on the circumstances. Our quoted fees are therefore necessarily estimates. Two key factors are whether you require us to undertake just the probate application, or if you need us to carry out further work, such as paying bills and legacies and notifying third parties. Our fee will also be slightly more if the estate is subject to Inheritance Tax. To find out if Inheritance Tax applies, please consult the HMRC Bereavement Guide. An initial discussion with us will enable you to ask the right questions. We also offer services for Wills and Trusts.
As part of our fee and in accordance with your instructions in a probate matter we will:
Other work may be necessary depending on the precise circumstances of the matter and you will be advised of this and the estimated costs at the appropriate time.
To give you an indication of the likely costs, the table below provides fee ranges based on typical situations and complexity.
To obtain a Grant: Where there is a non-taxable estate whether or not there is a will, our prices would range between £1500 – £5000 + VAT at 20%
To obtain a Grant and deal with the administration of the estate: Where we are required to obtain the Grant to deal with getting in assets, paying bills, notifying third parties, paying legacies and placing advertisements then our prices would range between £2500 – £10000 + VAT at 20% plus disbursements.
To obtain a Grant: Where there is a taxable estate including handling inheritance tax but not any other taxes, our prices would range between £2000 – £10000 + VAT at 20% plus disbursements.
To obtain a Grant and deal with the administration of the estate: Where we are required to obtain the Grant, including handling inheritance tax, getting in assets, paying bills, notifying third parties, paying legacies and placing advertisements then our prices would range between £5000 – £15000 + VAT at 20% plus disbursements
Factors that can affect the complexity of the case and legal costs include the number of beneficiaries and if the deceased owned more than one property.
We will pay third-party costs, such as court fees, on your behalf. These include the following:
In addition to the above would be any tax payments, such as Inheritance Tax, Income Tax and Capital Gains Tax. If there is no will or the estate consists of any share holdings, there is likely to be additional costs.
These timescales are approximate and often depend on timely responses from HMRC and the Department for Work and Pensions.