Our Charges - Residential Property

Our prices cover all of the work required to complete your sale and/or purchase, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty).

We will always be pleased to give you an estimate tailored to your specific requirements. To obtain an estimate, please visit our online conveyancing calculator or contact us.

Biscoes are Conveyancing Quality Scheme accredited, which is a recognised quality standard in the industry. To gain this accreditation, Biscoes underwent rigorous assessment by the Law Society.

Sale

Purchase

Leasehold properties - An additional fee of £350.00 plus 20% VAT for sales and £450.00 plus 20% VAT for purchases will be added to the above.

Additional Items

• Electronic Identification (per person): from £7.20 plus 20% VAT
• Search Pack for a Purchase: from £215.00 plus 20% VAT
• SDLT submission fee for Purchase: £50.00 plus 20% VAT
• Electronic Funds Transfer fee (per transfer): £35 plus 20% VAT

Factors that could increase our prices

Prices are subject to our discretion and may increase depending on the factors of each individual transaction. We will notify you in advance should we need to increase our estimated fee. Factors that could increase our prices include (but are not limited to):

• If legal title is defective or part of the property is unregistered
• If building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained
• If crucial documents previously requested have not been provided
• If the property is shared ownership
• If the property is shared equity
• If we are required to deal with multiple lenders
• If it is a company purchase
• If you are buying with a Help to Buy ISA
• If there is a requirement for a lease extension

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

• Bankruptcy Search (per person): £2
• Land Registry Search: £3
• Official Copy Documents for a Sale: £6 for a freehold property and £12.00 for a leasehold
• Land Registry Fee: Please visit the Land Registry website
• Stamp Duty Land Tax: Please visit the HMRC website

Additional disbursements - Leasehold Properties

• Notice of Transfer fee (Sale) – This fee, if chargeable, is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £25-£200 per notice.*
• Notice of Charge fee (Purchase if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £25-£200 per notice.*
• Deed of Covenant fee (Purchase) – This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £25-£200.*
• Certificate of Compliance fee (Purchase) - To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as it can range between £25-£200.*

*These prices vary from property to property. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents. 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.

How long will a purchase take?

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you complete your purchase will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 6-8 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 new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 3 and 5 months. In such a situation, additional charges would apply.

Step By Step – Sale

The key stages of the process include:

• Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice
• Drafting and issuing the contract documentation
• Obtaining a redemption statement from any existing lender/s
• Dealing with enquiries raised by the buyer’s conveyancers
• Sending you the final contract for signature
• Agreeing a completion date (the date from which the buyer will own the property)
• Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened
• Drafting a completion statement, which sets out allocation of the sale proceeds
• Completing your sale
• Dealing with the redemption of any existing mortgage/s
• Dealing with any other post completion requirements

Step By Step – Purchase

The key stages of the process include:

• Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice
• Discussing finance arrangements
• Receiving and advising on contract documentation
• Carrying out searches
• Raising enquiries of the seller’s conveyancers
• Reporting to you on the search results and title documentation
• Dealing with any special conditions of your mortgage offer
• Sending to you the final contract for signature
• Agreeing a completion date (the date from which you will own the property)
• Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened
• Drafting a completion statement, which sets out any monies due from you
• Requesting any mortgage advance from your lender
• Completing your purchase
• Dealing with the payment of any Stamp Duty or Land Tax (as applicable)
• Dealing with the application for registration at the Land Registry
• Dealing with any other post completion requirements such as service of notices for leasehold properties