Conveyancing fees

kmmr

My solicitor changes £650 +VAT for his work (buying or selling), plus searches (up to a few hundred) + £20 transfer fee. Plus stamp duty if you are buying.

Hopejack

Richard - I thought there was VAT on the whole solicitor's fees at the end? Is it not the case for office copies then? Sorry, genuinely interested and I know you are always very helpful on here with people

Is it not the case that solicitors charge what they wish for office copies - not what it actually costs for them to obtain them?

Also, while on the subject, my house is leasehold so I have been told by a solicitor (whom I was thinking of engaging) that they will have to obtain a copy of the lease from the leaseholder (I have a certified copy anyway - why can't they use this?) and also the deeds from the LR - again, I have the deeds - why can't they use these too? Sorry to go off topic slightly.... why do they want to charge for copies of things I already have in posession. Also, one solicitor said they were happy to take certain things (can't recall what - maybe lease?) out of the HIP rather than obtain them (and charge) again - wish I could remember which one it was lol!

Welsh_Totster

selling @£125k buying at £158k solicitors fees for work are £1155 all in including the searches

Richard_Webster

Is it not the case that solicitors charge what they wish for office copies - not what it actually costs for them to obtain them?

I try to charge only what it actually costs. I think some firms may either get the official copies via a third party and then there is some admin cost and VAT to add, or they make a separate "professional" charge for obtaining them!

Also, while on the subject, my house is leasehold so I have been told by a solicitor (whom I was thinking of engaging) that they will have to obtain a copy of the lease from the leaseholder (I have a certified copy anyway - why can't they use this?)

Yes, they can use your copy if it is a decent one. Trouble is that with many leases of houses in my area they are large handwritten documents dating from around 1900 and are not easy to photocopy (have to spend time sticking bits together unless you have an A2 copier!) and may not be legible when they have been copied. So in some cases we do have to charge the client for obtaining an official copy. I do agree though that where the copy is easily copyable I would use that and not spend the £24.

and also the deeds from the LR - again, I have the deeds - why can't they use these too?

As far the register and title plan are concerned the copies have to be up to date. If you have a decent copy of the conveyance/transfer deed when the builder sold the house then we can photocopy that and maybe save you £6. It is a balance of staff time doing the copying against cost. If the transfer deed contains a large coloured plan we may find it easier to spend the £6 and get an official copy.

I got a quote for selling my leasehold flat and buying a house arounf £170k and it will cost £1500 by a local recommended solcitor.

We're paying around £850 through local solicitor with good recommendations... I believe it's worth paying a bit more for better service. Wer're not selling, only buying at £135,000.

selling @£125k buying at £158k solicitors fees for work are £1155 all in including the searches

These are still confusing because it isn't clear what is and isn't included in these figures, and how much searches cost as they vary from place to place.

G_M

As I said (post 5)

"when comparing quotes be careful of 'extras'. Read this first."

itmakessense

Ask you solicitor to confirm in writing that they are not paying a referral fee to the estate agent who has already been overpaid for the transaction.

This is a very common practice, the Estate Agent (lives under a stone and knows nothing and has no qualification) does the easy work for lots of cash and the skilled solicitor gets paid a pittance in comparison for doing the difficult stuff.

pay more and use a good recommended solicitor who does not pay half your fees to the agent as a bribe for getting the work!

The bigger esate agents in the south are the worst (chains) they wont even let you make an offer if you refuse to use their recommende solicitor (because they wont get their extra greedy £200

My wife is a solicitor and will not pay for work as it underminds the profession and creates conflict of interest

go ahead if you want to buy your house using a cheap quote, but don't moan when you come to sell and a good solicitor working for the buyer discovers that your extention is over a main sewer, or your loft conversion does not have planning or final inspection etc etc

it is endless what comes up when the solicitors on the other side are slow and just blame everyone else for their tardyness!!

especially in Brighton!!!