Change of title / solicitor fees

Gardenpot

Hi


We are currently changing the title of a property we rent out currently, by adding my wife's name to the title alongside mine.


Although were almost finished now, I'm slightly confused by the solicitor fees around "deed of covenant"
for this.


As the property is leasehold, we apparently have a "deed of covenant" with the leaseholder/landlord and another with the management company that deal with the property which are two separate fees.


Our solicitor has then set there fees for their work on these two "deeds of covenant" as £125+vat each one.


Is this right, firstly that there are 2 separate "deeds" required for changes of title, and secondly that two separate fees from the solicitor is normal practice ?


Any help / experience / advice would be very much appreciated - thanks in advance.

G_M

Yes it's quite feasible that there'd be 2 Deeds.

Yes, a decent solicitor would break down the fees for each Deed so that it is clear what he's charging for (why would you prefer a single £250 fee?)

But clearly if you have doubts, or don't understand, the person to ask is the solicitor!

btw - what is the relevance of the property being BTL?

(and as this is a moneysaving site, why did you use a solicitor in the first place......?)

Gardenpot

Thanks for your reply


We have to use the solicitor as its a leasehold property and we are adding my wifes name to the title.
As theres a mortgage involved, then the solicitor needs to be too....

Gardenpot

Thanks for the reply,


Our confusion is that the Deed in context is exactly the same in this title change so the fees seem quite severe as both the "landlord / leaseholder", and the "management company", are charging their fee for this change plus the solicitor is charging on top of both their charges. Totally four separate fees for one title change - is this normal practice - as it seems like were being taken advantage of ?

G_M

I think you mean

Gardenpot wrote: »

Thanks for your reply


We have to use the solicitor as [STRIKE]its a leasehold property and we are adding my wifes name to the title.
As [/STRIKE]theres a mortgage involved, then the solicitor needs to be too....

You did not originally mention a mortgage. No obligation on a leasholder to use a solicitor.

G_M

Gardenpot wrote: »

.... both the "landlord / leaseholder", ....?

I assume you mean "landlord / freeholder"? I understood you to be the leaseholder...?

There are 2 Deeds. Each requires work by your solicitor, and each requires a fee paid to the other party.

Yes, your solicitor could have drawn up his invoice differently, but the end result would be the same.

The key question is, do his fees match the quote he originally gave you before you instructed him?