advice please - legal costs

ausbird

I recently bought a new flat. The lease needed extending. The cost was 10,500, which was fine. The legal work has been completed. I received a bill from solicitors yesterday. I have to find another 3,500. I was never made aware by my solicitors that I would have to pay the freeholders costs. I want to know if i can contest the amount charged by the freeholders solicitors, my solicitor has charged 1,180 for all work. The freeholder is charging me 250.00 per hour , 7hrs 1,875 for something that I suspect a clerk would of done. Also, £350.00 for the agent that manages the flats, I dont what that was for. I know I have to pay but the cost does not reflect the work carried out.
Can anyone advise or guide me to a site that can help with out costig me more money.

many thanks

ausbird

silvercar

Ask your solicitor's opinion if the other sides charges are fair.

Normally you could complain using the solicitors own complaint procedure; I don't know if you can in this case as the freeholder is the client not you.

Your next place to try would be the Law Society.

palmeras69

I do sympathise - the freholder's fees sound far too high and should have been capped at the outset (if they would agree to that).

However, your comment that the work is something a clerk could do is not fair or accurate. It implies that the job is easy/low grade/uncomplicated. I can assure you that, if done properly, it isn't.

Do you think plumbing is easy or do you accept that it is something you can't do yourself and pay someone the going rate for doing something that you can't?

Like I say - I do sympathise and the freeholder's costs need to be checked. In my view, your own solicitor's costs sound reasonable (although relatively high when compared against the driven down conveyancing costs that people are used to paying).

ausbird

thanks, i know what i said was not correct but i this was an unexpected amount and I wasnt made aware of the costs when purchasing the flat and of course i dont have the funds

palmeras69

No problem - sorry if my post came across as a litle harsh! I still think the freeholder's costs are steep. Unfortunately, this is how freeholders make money. The freeholds themselves are worth very little so they try to charge costs verging on the extortionate to leaseholders.

ausbird

just an update, apparently i cannot challenge the costs of the other solicitor as i am not their client, the freeholder is. It is unlikely that he will challenge on my behalf. Also, if I challenge i may not get the lease extension, cant win. Just going to have to pay.

Diane