Help understanding conveyancing quote

perhaps_2

I've had a quote for conveyancing fees from a local solicitor. Are there any savings to be had or fees that aren't necessary to pay or can be made cheaper?

• I believe you can do the Land Tax Return form yourself fairly easily so thats £85 saved.
  
• Given that both the place I'm selling and the place I'm buying both have HIPs, why are there fees for HM Land Registry search,Environment search and Local search? I thought they were included in the HIP?

Freehold Sale
Price: £175,000

Freehold Purchase
Price: £220,000

Our fees on your sale £475.00
Bank Transfer fee plus VAT on your sale £30.00
Our fees on your purchase £495.00
Bank Transfer fee plus VAT on your purchase £30.00
Land Tax Return completion fee plus VAT on your £85.00
purchase
Online ID check search fee per name plus VAT £10.00
Total fees £1,125.00

In addition, we will have to make a number of payments to government and others including (at present rates):
Bankruptcy search fee per name on your purchase £2.00
Chancel check search fee on your purchase £17.63
Environment search fee on your purchase £41.98
HM Land Registry search fee on your purchase £8.00
Land Registry fee on your purchase £280.00
Local search £85.00
Office copy documents on your sale £12.00
Office copy entries on your sale £16.00
Stamp Duty Land Tax on purchase £2,200



Thanks


-P

DJ_Mike

My solicitors insisted on doing a Local Authority Search despite there being one in the HiP. I guess it's because the one that's included doesn't answer all of their queries.

jessbob

Land Registry Searches are not included in the HIP. This is a final search carried out by your solicitors prior to completion to ensure that there have been no changed to the title since they received official copies of the register.

The HIP pack does not contain an environmental or chancel search either.

Ask your Solicitors about the local search contained in the HIP pack. It may be that this is now out of date, as they are only valid for 6 months. Most searches in the HIP pack are carried out by an agency, and not as such a FULL search which is the requirement of some Lenders.

As for the Stamp Duty Land Transaction Form. Again, check with your Solicitors. The form is not as straight forward as people may think, and if you complete this yourself you should be aware of the financial penalties for late submission.