Overcharged by £1500

london21

staceyamy said:

Depends on what website you look on but overall average. My estate agent recommended them so just went with them to save time

Next time shop around for the best value.

The estate agents get commission for the recommendation.

Also read their reviews very important especially with Conveyancing companies. 

GDB2222

staceyamy said:

I’m very confused as to why they have a set fee of £814 then an extra £600 odd for their fees

That includes an admin fee for leasehold, so they knew it was leasehold when they quoted.

It's possible there are extra costs that could not be anticipated, but apportionment of service charges for leasehold properties is absolutely standard. 

Has the purchase completed yet?

TBG01

staceyamy said:

But my own Solicitors costs were a lot more than quoted. And £80 more for land register fee. I never stayed it was lease or freehold I just gave the address 

Because the Land Reg has been generated on the basis the purchase price was £1. Was your offer accepted at that point or were you just ringing around for quotes before placing an offer?

penners324 said:

Those fees seem extortionate. Any additional fees should have been advised to you before work was done.

Go back to them questioning the additions.

Freeholders fees aren't additions. They're requirements and I'd be surprised if they haven't been put to the client.

Flugelhorn

still bemused by the extra fee for the simultaneous exchange and completion - mine purchase failed to exchange on the Friday as the vendor's solicitor was busy so mine said "oh we'll do it all on Monday" which we did and it was all fine and cost the same

staceyamy

Supposed to be completing Friday but I’m questioning the fees 

Jonboy_1984

madteapot said:

The big ones on that invoice are freeholder's notice, management companies notice and Deed of convent. These alone make over 800 of the extra amount. The freeholder and management company notices are I believe disbursements on behalf of you so not something you can back out of 

Just to confirm these are a standard part of buying a leasehold property and your solicitor is simply paying them over to the freeholders solicitor for them to do their part of the process. They therefore don’t appear in the original quotes as they are not part of your solicitors fees.

Jonboy_1984

Flugelhorn said:

still bemused by the extra fee for the simultaneous exchange and completion - mine purchase failed to exchange on the Friday as the vendor's solicitor was busy so mine said "oh we'll do it all on Monday" which we did and it was all fine and cost the same

My solicitor had them listed in the possible extra charges sheet that accompanied the original quote (that also listed extra costs for leasehold purchases, deed variations etc etc) but then didn’t charge it in the event.

user1977

Flugelhorn said:

still bemused by the extra fee for the simultaneous exchange and completion

There have been various other threads here mentioning such surcharges, though I can't say I really follow the logic of why it incurs any more time or responsibility on the part of the solicitors.

Flugelhorn

user1977 said:

Flugelhorn said:

still bemused by the extra fee for the simultaneous exchange and completion

There have been various other threads here mentioning such surcharges, though I can't say I really follow the logic of why it incurs any more time or responsibility on the part of the solicitors.

I can't get it either, surely it either takes the same time or actually a bit less

staceyamy

Thank you everyone, wish I was half as clued up as you all x I’m awaiting a response from the Solicitors