Is no sale, no fee essential for conveyancing?

rosie383

Exactly as the question asks. I decided to go with a local firm yesterday and now looking through the small print we are liable for fees even if the sale or our purchase doesn't happen. Also if either falls through, we will be liable for the costs for both the abortive process plus whichever sale goes through.
Is there a decent company which doesn't do this? Or do I just go with it? Having already had both sale and purchase fall through you can imagine my reluctance.

And I know there will be those who will shoot me down in flames saying that I shouldn't expect the sols to work for nothing. I get that, but as I have already made a couple of mistakes so far, and this is a money saving site, I want to be sure before we send any contracts back.

LandyAndy

If you are happy with the local firm in other respects then ask if they will vary their contract so that you only pay for a completed transaction.

LandyAndy

Although, as you say, you shouldn't expect people to throw away hundreds of pounds of fees for no fault of their own.


In any case you will have to pay them for any disbursements.

caprikid1

OP , Are you happy to work for nothing ?

I certainly am not.

Rarely a fault of the solicitor when it falls through.

Richard_Webster

It is usually a trade off in that if "No Sale No Fee" is offered then the fee levels will generally be higher to cover those cases that do not go ahead.

Also remember that such schemes rarely cover disbursements such as search fees.

rosie383

I realise that any disbursements would need to be covered. That wasn't what I was thinking about tbh as I considered that as a given.

penguine

Having used both I found my local solicitor to be more thorough. I prefer to pay for peace of mind knowing they have reduced the likelihood of any nasty (and expensive) surprises cropping up later.

Thrugelmir

rosie383 wrote: »

And I know there will be those who will shoot me down in flames saying that I shouldn't expect the sols to work for nothing.

Would you work for nothing? I doubt it.

eddddy

If you google ' No sale no fee conveyancing' you will find lots of solicitors/conveyancers who do this.

My own solicitor offers an optional 'no completion/no fee' deal as follows:

- If completion doesn't happen, you pay no legal fees at all (just disbursements).

- But if completion does happen, you have to pay an extra £100+vat to the solicitor (in addition to his normal fee).

You could say it's a bit like a £100 insurance premium.

nubbins

Hi Rosie,

A couple of properties have fallen through for me this year and I have gone with RMNJ (not a plug) as they had reasonable reviews and they had an option to pay £85 up front and face no further fees or just go for it and not pay the £85. I went for the 85 quid route because i've spent approx 2k this year in valuations and solicitors fees on failed property transactions.

Bart1

Thrugelmir wrote: »

Would you work for nothing? I doubt it.

Oh please...... As the Op pointed out this is a money saving site and plenty of businesses work on a no cure no fee basis as a business tactic. The plumer who comes out to give a no obligation quote, estate Agents who fail to sell the house etc etc