Freehold plan

zoemk12

What is a freehold plan and why would our solicitor need to order one and charge an extra £84 for the privilege? 

Thanks 

user1977

Might help if you told us a bit more about what you think your transaction is - is this in relation to a purchase? A sale? Something else? 

zoemk12

Hi
we’re selling a house (and buying), this is on the sale element. 

House is an Edwardian terrace 1904. We signed up for fixed fee conveycing service but this is outside of that fee and we don’t understand why it’s necessary. Cant see online what it’s for. 

GDB2222

Are there perhaps two titles that would need to be merged?

Tiglet2

What did your solicitor say to you when they said they needed to order this plan and they needed your agreement for the £84 fee?  

zoemk12

Hi sorry for delay in response. 

They actually didn’t provide any reason needing it and didn’t ask before they went ahead- just sent a bill! As below:

anselld

It certainly looks like you are paying £84 for what you could download yourself for £6 from Land Registry.  I guess they have to pay a secretary to press the buttons for you which explaIns the 2x£30 but not sure how the 2x£3 LR fee becomes 2x£12.

Tiglet2

When you are selling a property, your solicitor has to obtain documents from the Land Registry.  They always need the official copy of the title register and plan (two documents), but in your case there were the two Conveyances as well.  However, those charges are outrageous.  It costs the solicitor £3 for each document they purchase from the Land Registry, plus they may add on a fee for the admin in obtaining them.  I would query those fees.

Tiglet2

anselld said:

It certainly looks like you are paying £84 for what you could download yourself for £6 from Land Registry.  I guess they have to pay a secretary to press the buttons for you which explaIns the 2x£30 but not sure how the 2x£3 LR fee becomes 2x£12.

The base cost would be £12 for these documents.  The Register, Plan, 2 Conveyances would be charged as 4 documents.  Even so, the cost to the client here is unbelievably high.

Pok3mon

TBF this is what you get with fixed fee. Any extras will cost a lot more than standard solicitor. I learned this lesson a while ago same with online conveyancing cheaper and more cost effective to use a local solicitor. What you may save in costs online you will save in hassle, time and postage.

zoemk12

@Tiglet2 thanks for this. I will query tomorrow ( or Wednesday because our solicitors are having an extended bank holiday)!