Property

Buying or selling residential property

Purchase of a freehold or leasehold residential property
Our fees cover all the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, from the initial dealings with estate agents to dealing with registration at the Land Registry and payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property is in Wales.

Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
For our general residential conveyancing fees, please refer to the fee scale below.

If for any reason a transaction does not proceed, we may charge our costs based upon our assessment of the time spent by us. Sometimes this may result in our costs being greater than the fees set out on our rate card, for example where there are unusual aspects involved in the transaction, or where the client withdraws after substantial unforeseen work has been carried out.

Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. On the case of leasehold properties there may be certain disbursements which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the Property. The disbursements which we anticipate will apply are included below. This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of the acquisition. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of all documentation from the seller’s solicitors.

• HM Land Registry fees: £6 – £15 plus VAT
• Search fees: £300 – £450 plus VAT
• Electronic money transfer fee: £15 plus VAT

Anticipated additional disbursements (for leasehold property only)

• Notice of Transfer fee: This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £30 – £100 plus VAT.
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged): This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease and may be in addition to any Notice of Transfer fee. Often the fee is between £30 – £100 plus VAT.
• Deed of Covenant fee: Where required, this fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £100 – £150.

These fees vary from property to property and can, on occasion, be more than the ranges given above. We will give you more accurate figures once we have sight of the property documents.

In the case of a leasehold property, you should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge once we receive this information.

Stamp Duty Land Tax

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC’s website https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority’s website https://beta.gov.wales/land-transaction-tax-calculator.

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential freehold or leasehold property will vary according to the circumstances, but generally our retainer will include the following steps.

• take your instructions and give you initial advice (if possible, meeting with you to do so);
• liaise with estate agents;
• check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed;
• receive, amend and advise on draft contract documents, to suit your needs;
• carry out searches;
• obtain copy planning and associated documentation, if required;
• make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor;
• give you advice on documents and information received;
• go through the conditions of any mortgage offer;
• send final contract to you for signature;
• draft Transfer Deed;
• advise you on joint ownership, where applicable;
• obtain pre-completion searches;
• agree completion dates (date from which you own the property);
• exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened;
• report to any lender;
• arrange for all monies needed to be received from you and any lender for completion;
• complete purchase;
• deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with any notification to the landlord and/or managing agents;
• deal with application for registration at Land Registry; and
• provide you with post completion documentation.

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 4-8 weeks, although it may be quicker or slower, depending on the circumstances, your requirements and the parties in any chain. We are set up to move as quickly, or as slowly, as you may wish.

Our fee assumes that:

1. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title, or planning, which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction;
2. in the case of leasehold property, this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease;
3. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complications arise;
4. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation;
5. no indemnity policies are required, to cover a defect in title or similar (additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required); and
6. the property is an existing property (not in the course of construction) and registered at the Land Registry.

Additional time and costs may be incurred where the property is in the course of construction, unregistered or where additional documentation and advice is required (for example, in the case of shared ownership, right to buy or help to buy schemes).

The above fee scales are limited to domestic transactions. Where the purchase or sale is part of a business or commercial transaction, different fee scales will apply.

Please apply direct at: enquiries@gentlemathias.com for a more detailed fee estimate.

Sale of a freehold or leasehold residential property

As with a purchase, our fees cover all the work required to complete the sale of your property and the same principle, fees and timescales will apply, as above, save for the disbursements.

The disbursements would normally be limited to:

• HM Land Registry fees: £6 – £15 plus VAT
• Land Registry fees: £6 – £15
• Electronic money transfer fee: £12 plus VAT

In the case of a leasehold property an additional fee may be required to obtain a management pack from the landlord / managing agents. Often the fee is between £150 – £350.

Mortgage or re-mortgage of a freehold or leasehold residential property

As with a purchase, our fees cover all the work required to complete the mortgage or re-mortgage of your property and the same principle, fees and timescales will apply, as above.

The same disbursements will apply where mortgagees require (as they generally do) the usual searches.

The Land Registration fees will apply, although on a different scale. Please refer to the Land Registry fee scale here

Stamp Duty Land Tax will not be applicable.

Gentle Mathias fee scale (excluding VAT and disbursements):

Residential Conveyancing Fee Card

Purchase/Sale Price	Fee
0 – 80,000	750
80,001 – 100,000	1,000
100,001 – 250,000	1,250
250,001 – 500,000	1,750
500,001 – 1,000,000	2,000
1,000,001 +	2,500 +