Can solicitors put extra charges on me?

Richard_Webster

I agree with most of the comments to the effect that you are nearly always going to have to pay some fee requested by managing agents. The solicitors may well have explained in their terms and conditions that some fee would be payable here.

When I give an estimate I put in a figure as a guestimate for "Landlord's Information Fee" which will vary between £100 and £250 depending on where the property is and I add a note "depends on attitude of landlord/managing agent."

Solicitors can end up in a no win situation with this sort of thing.

Although I put a figure in for this and if I talk to the potential client on the phone I emphasise that it is something they are going to be stuck with whichever solicitor they use and I can only guess at the figure. However, they may not take this in.

If they get the estimate by visiting my website I may lose out to another solicitor who has not included a figure for this and therefore whose bottom line figure will be less. I don't like the practice of not putting this kind of thing in an estimate, but some solicitors feel it is more important not to put potential clients off and feel that as long as they include the possibility of the extra charges somewhere they are protected if the client complains later. Also, to be fair, there are some extras that only come up very occasionally and when we give an estimate it is only reasonable to deal with normal, rather than relatively unusual situations.

**curlywurly**

It may be tricky to see what solicitors do for their fee. But take a look at the estate agent's fee, generally £100s more, and wonder what they do for their fee!

fred7777

It's tough but you have to pay it. I recently sold a flat and was charged £175+"vat" for a similar form which was filled out by the solicitor acting for the freeholder. 20 questions all answered no at a cost of £9.63 per answer.
You could try answering the questions yourself but the buyers solicitor could insist on answers from a third party (mine did) and they can charge for it.
There could be other shocks in the future, my buyers solicitor found 2 very obscure problems with the lease and required 2 insurance policies costing over £200 then the buyer requested I service the central heating (you can tell them to do that themselves and I did).
Your solicitor should be able to advise you on what you do or don't have to pay out for. Buyers can ask for all sorts of things which they should pay for & all sorts of information which you have to pay for.