The Eric Whitehead Partnership

We will agree a fixed fee with you to cover all of the work required to complete the sale or purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (purchase matters) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.

We reserve the right to increase our fees in excess of those indicated below in exceptional circumstances. We will make this clear to you at the outset and ensure we receive your consent to proceed. Please contact clientcare@ericwhitehead.co.uk for more information or to talk to us directly.

Example Purchase of Leasehold Property with value at: £250,000.

Stamp Duty Land Tax – this depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using the HMRC’s Website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority site here

Land Registry Fees – this varies based on the price of your property and the type of registration. Full details of costs can be found using the fee calculator on HM Land Registry website.

Example Sale of Freehold Property with value at: £250,000

Example Re-mortgage of Freehold Property with value at: £250,000

Please note, in some instances a ‘Search Pack’ £400 including VAT may be applicable for a re-mortgage depending upon the Lender.

Timescales

How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process takes between 10 – 12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4 – 6 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer and additional charges may apply. The precise stages involved in the sale or purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances.

Our fee assumes that:

1. This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction.
2. The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
3. All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
4. No indemnity policies are required. Additional fees & disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.
5. Additional fees may be payable in circumstances where the property is new build, shared ownership or purchased using a Help to Buy ISA.
6. If you are receiving a gift or loan from a third party in order to purchase a Property (i.e. a gift or loan of the deposit from parents or friends etc..) an additional fee for each gift will be payable to cover costs associated with additional due diligence and disclosure obligations to any mortgage lender (where appropriate).
7. Leasehold properties – there are certain disbursements which may be chargeable under the terms of the Lease relating to the Property. These fees are dictated by the Landlord or their Agent and vary from property to property. As such, we will only be able to give you an accurate figure once we have sight of the leasehold management information. The below list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the terms of the Lease.
   • Notice of Transfer & Charge fee – This fee, if chargeable, is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £120 – £240.
   • License to Assign – £350 + VAT
   • Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £200 – £350.
   • Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £150 – £250.

Our Team

Our conveyancing team is made up of Elizabeth Collins (Solicitor and Director), Ellen Brian (Solicitor), Lisa Allbutt (Conveyancing Executive), Sarah Cann (Paralegal) and Philip Salt (Paralegal). The team is supervised by our senior conveyancing Director, Timothy Halliday. The team has over 50 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to residential conveyancing.

Conveyancing Quality Scheme

We are proud have achieved accreditation with The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). In order to achieve accreditation, practices must demonstrate compliance with the CQS protocol and prove that they have the skill and expertise to offer quality advice. This grade of excellence has helped to continually raise the standards across the sector since its inception in 2011.

Membership is awarded for 12 months and must be renewed each year. It allows our team to benefit from CQS training programmes, with the requirement to complete mandatory training within six months from the date on which the practice receives confirmation of re-accreditation. This enables us to maintain and implement the required procedure and keeps us up to date with the latest residential conveyancing methods and information.

If you require help from our team of experts, get in touch with our Conveyancing department on 01538 755761, or email clientcare@ericwhitehead.co.uk