Conveyancing fees

Johnny_Doe

Hi

I'm a little confused over my conveyancing quote namely:

Local drainage and environmental search fees £60

Is this not included in the HIP?

Land transaction return £100

Bit steep? Thought it was usally £50 to fill in the form.. Can I fill this in myself?

Please advise

Many Thanks

poppy10_2

Johnny_Doe wrote: »

I'm a little confused over my conveyancing quote namely:

Local drainage and environmental search fees £60

Is this not included in the HIP?

This is a compulsory part of the HIP, but whether they specify the cost separately or just add it to the cost of the HIP is up to them.

Land Transaction Return is usually £50-£60, that does seem a bit steep.

Richard_Webster

Local drainage and environmental search fees £60

I suspect this is a standard item on a computer produced quote. An environmental search is not part of the HIP and costs £35-£50. There is no way anyone could get local search, drainage search and environmental search for £60 so I suspect they are marking up the environmental search.

£100 for filling in SDLT form is very steep. My fees (still very reasonable) may be slightly higher than some, but I don't charge anything extra for filling in this form because I regard it as part of the standard work we do. Making it a separate item is just a way of making the quote look cheaper at first sight.

bdl1brick

£60 might be for a chancel search too, although the conveyancer ought to say if it is!

£100 for SDLT form is too much though £50 should be about going rate - complain or do it yourself!

Richard_Webster

£60 might be for a chancel search too, although the conveyancer ought to say if it is!

Good point!

Johnny_Doe

Thanks all for the replies, £100 is steep but their fee is only £349plus vat which is suppose is pretty good.. I may try and fill in the SDLT myself to save more money, when does it need to be sent off and can it be done electronically? I have a previous SDLT form all filled in from my last purchase 5 years ago and it doesn't look very difficult if I use that as a guidance as well as the notes!

Yes I think there were chancel searches come to think of it... They charge £45 for bank transfer also for sale and purchase

Many Thanks