NHG Solicitors Fee Sneaky Increase

Robin_L

I'm currently in the process of extending the lease of my shared ownership flat.

The landlord is NHG, and in an email exchange between them and myself when I was enquiring about the process, they informed me in April this year that their solicitors fee's are £705+VAT.

Today, their solicitors are telling me their fee is actually £800+VAT, a not insubstantial increase of £95.

I'm challenging this with NHG, but legally, I'm wondering where I stand with this. Do I have to simply stomach the increase or does the fact the price was told to me a couple of months ago mean the solicitors have to stick to that price?

Thanks in advance,

Robin

TBG01

How is it "sneaky".

MeteredOut

Is it not as simple as it was £705 in April but its not April any more? Tesco won't sell me bread or milk at April's price either. Sneaky

propertyrental

Robin_L said:

I'm currently in the process of extending the lease of my shared ownership flat.

The landlord is NHG, and in an email exchange between them and myself when I was enquiring about the process, they informed me in April this year that their solicitors fee's are £705+VAT.

Today, their solicitors are telling me their fee is actually £800+VAT, a not insubstantial increase of £95.

I'm challenging this with NHG, but legally, I'm wondering where I stand with this. Do I have to simply stomach the increase or does the fact the price was told to me a couple of months ago mean the solicitors have to stick to that price?

Thanks in advance,

Robin

Was this a fixed fee quote and did have it confirmed by the solicitors?

Or was it an estimate (as opposed to a quote, based on April's prices??

Bonniepurple

MeteredOut said:

Is it not as simple as it was £705 in April but it’s not April any more? Tesco won't sell me bread or milk at April's price either. Sneaky

How mean of Tesco.  Mind you, which April are you going back to?  1900?

Jonboy_1984

Probably as simple as their solicitors having an annual price increase in April to coincide with the new tax year.

Robin_L

TBG01 said:

How is it "sneaky".

Because I wasn't informed of the price change until the moment I'm issued with an invoice. I've budgeted for one price given to me by NHG when I started the lease extension process in April.

MultiFuelBurner

If this was an official quote for work then contact them and suggest they honour that price.

Robin_L

MeteredOut said:

Is it not as simple as it was £705 in April but its not April any more? Tesco won't sell me bread or milk at April's price either. Sneaky

I was asking from a contractual perspective since I was given a price in writing which has now changed. I asked for a price for a service, I've engaged that service and now the price has gone up during the process. Sneaky.

Robin_L

propertyrental said:

Robin_L said:

I'm currently in the process of extending the lease of my shared ownership flat.

The landlord is NHG, and in an email exchange between them and myself when I was enquiring about the process, they informed me in April this year that their solicitors fee's are £705+VAT.

Today, their solicitors are telling me their fee is actually £800+VAT, a not insubstantial increase of £95.

I'm challenging this with NHG, but legally, I'm wondering where I stand with this. Do I have to simply stomach the increase or does the fact the price was told to me a couple of months ago mean the solicitors have to stick to that price?

Thanks in advance,

Robin

Was this a fixed fee quote and did have it confirmed by the solicitors?

Or was it an estimate (as opposed to a quote, based on April's prices??

In the email from NHG, they didn't say whether it was an estimate or a quote. I'm not allowed direct contact with NHG solicitors so I cannot have them confirm it. I'm resigned to paying the increase but am asking here if I have grounds that I was given a price that has now since changed. Thank you.

Robin_L

Jonboy_1984 said:

Probably as simple as their solicitors having an annual price increase in April to coincide with the new tax year.

It probably is this. I confirmed I wanted to proceed with the lease extension on 12th May. The price I was given was on the 12th April. I wasn't told about any price increase and only found out about this when my solicitors contacted me yesterday telling me that NHG solicitors now required £800 to being drafting documents. Thanks.