Freehold Residential Purchase Pricing
Why Us
The fees involved in any transaction are important and we review our fees on a regular basis, considering clients’ feedback so we can make sure we always offer the best value for your money.
We typically work on a fixed fee basis, ensuring that you know what the fees will be for your transaction from the outset. If, during the transaction, there is a new development, we will discuss the change in fees with you and agree a way forward.
Our fees are set out as:
Freehold Residential Property
Our fees cover all the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales.
These are the same figures our online calculator uses, so your quote will match.
| Legal fee | Amount | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purchase price up to £125,000 | £900 | £180 | £1,080 |
| Purchase price £125,001 to £200,000 | £950 | £190 | £1,140 |
| Purchase price £200,001 to £350,000 | £1,050 | £210 | £1,260 |
| Purchase price £350,001 to £500,000 | £1,250 | £250 | £1,500 |
| Purchase price £500,001 to £700,000 | £1,400 | £280 | £1,680 |
| Purchase price £700,001 to £850,000 | £1,500 | £300 | £1,800 |
| Purchase price £850,001 to £1,000,000 | £1,700 | £340 | £2,040 |
| Purchase price over £1,000,000 | 0.15% of the price plus VAT | ||
| Supplements, where they apply | |||
| New build property | £250 | £50 | £300 |
| Shared ownership purchase (legal fee in place of the bands above) | £1,200 | £240 | £1,440 |
| Shared ownership new build purchase (legal fee in place of the bands above) | £1,500 | £300 | £1,800 |
| First Homes Scheme purchase (legal fee in place of the bands above) | £1,500 | £300 | £1,800 |
| Disbursements (paid to third parties) | |||
| Property search pack (local authority, water and drainage, environmental) | £182.86 | No VAT | £182.86 |
| HM Land Registry registration fee (set by HM Land Registry, depends on price) | £20 to £1,105 | No VAT | £20 to £1,105 |
| Land charges search | £8.80 | No VAT | £8.80 |
| Onboarding and ID check (per person) | £16.80 | No VAT | £16.80 |
| Bankruptcy search (per person) | £7.80 | No VAT | £7.80 |
| Same day bank transfer | £42 | No VAT | £42 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (set by HMRC, depends on price and your circumstances) | Shown in your quote | ||
Other charges, only where they apply
These are not part of every transaction and are not included in the online quote. If one applies to you, we will tell you before we start.
| Item | Amount | VAT | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mortgage Admin Fee | £75.00 | £15.00 | £90.00 |
| Post Completion Fee (including AP1 & SDLT Submission) | £30.00 | £6.00 | £36.00 |
| Help to Buy Equity Loan | £150.00 | £30.00 | £180.00 |
| Help to Buy Isa Admin Fee | £50.00 | £10.00 | £60.00 |
| Help to Buy LISA | £75.00 | £15.00 | £90.00 |
| Gifted Deposit Supplement | £50.00 | £10.00 | £60.00 |
| Occupiers Consent to Mortgage | £50.00 | £10.00 | £60.00 |
| Flood search | £30.00 | £6.00 | £36.00 |
| HM Land Registry Priority Search (per Title) | £3.75 | £0.75 | £4.50 |
| HM Land Registry Index Map Search (per title - unregistered title) | £4.75 | £0.95 | £5.70 |
| Lawyer Checker Check (if required) | £18.00 | £3.60 | £21.60 |
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
These fees may be subject to change if further information relating to your property becomes available, for example, if you require additional searches.
Stamp Duty Land Tax
This will depend on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority's website here.
Exclusions
We do not undertake tax advice.
Our fees are fixed, however there may be factors which would typically increase the cost of the fees estimated above. Where there is likely to be any additional cost, we will make sure you are informed of this at the earliest opportunity and a clear estimate of those extra costs will be provided.
Factors that may lead to an increase in cost include:
- If a legal title is defective or part of the property is unregistered
- If you discover building regulations or planning permission has not been obtained
- If crucial documents, we have previously requested from you have not been provided to us
- If the property is a new build
- If the property is less than 10 years old
- If you require to exchange within 6 weeks of instructing us
- If you require completion within 6 weeks of instructing us
- If you require simultaneous exchange and completion
Time Scales
For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and factors involved such as:
- Number of parties in the chain
- Whether you have a mortgage in place
- Whether you are buying a new build property
- Whether you need a lease extension for a leasehold property
A typical transaction will take between 8 and 12 weeks. A leasehold purchase can take an extra 4 to 6 weeks, while we wait for the management information and deal with the landlord’s requirements. With a new build, exchanging contracts is often quicker, as developers usually set an exchange deadline, but completion can be weeks or months after exchange if the property has not yet been built. If any of the other factors above apply, it may take longer and additional charges may occur. We will discuss this with you at the earliest opportunity so you always have a clear picture of how long things are likely to take.
Key Milestones
With every transaction there are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They may be as follows:
- Taking your instructions and give initial advice based on the information you have provided
- Checking finances are in place to fund the purchase and contacting the lender’s solicitors if needed
- Receiving and advising on contract documents
- Undertaking searches
- Obtaining further planning documentation if required
- Making any necessary enquiries of the seller’s solicitor
- Providing advice on all documents and information received
- Advising you of the mortgage offer conditions
- Finalising contracts and sending to you for signature
- Agreeing a completion date (the date from which you will legally own the property)
- Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened
- Ensuring all monies have been received from you and the lender(s)
- Completing the purchase
- Dealing with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
- Completing and submitting an application for registration at the Land Registry
Example total costs
These are real quotes using our current figures, so you can see the total cost. Your own quote depends on the price, the property and your circumstances.
| Our legal fee | £950 |
| VAT at 20% | £190 |
| HM Land Registry fee | £100 |
| Onboarding and ID check (1 person) | £16.80 |
| Bankruptcy search (1 person) | £7.80 |
| Property search pack | £182.86 |
| Land charges search | £8.80 |
| Same day bank transfer | £42 |
| Total cost | £1,498.26 |
| Plus Stamp Duty Land Tax (first-time buyer relief), paid to HMRC | £0 |
| Our legal fee | £1,050 |
| VAT at 20% | £210 |
| HM Land Registry fee | £150 |
| Onboarding and ID check (2 people) | £33.60 |
| Bankruptcy search (2 people) | £15.60 |
| Property search pack | £182.86 |
| Land charges search | £8.80 |
| Same day bank transfer | £42 |
| Total cost | £1,692.86 |
| Plus Stamp Duty Land Tax, paid to HMRC | £2,500 |
How long it usually takes
A typical transaction takes 8 to 12 weeks. Stages overlap, and chains, mortgages and searches can all change the timings.
- 1Instruct usID checks and client care paperwork
- 2Contract and searchesDraft contract received, searches ordered, enquiries raised
- 3Reports and signingSearches back, enquiries answered, mortgage offer reviewed, you sign
- 4Exchange and completionCompletion date agreed, contracts exchanged, keys collected
Key stages and how long each takes
A typical transaction takes 8 to 12 weeks. This is how that time usually breaks down. Every transaction is different, and chains, mortgages and searches can all change the timings.
- Week 1You instruct us. We carry out ID checks and send our client care paperwork.
- Weeks 1 to 4We receive the draft contract from the seller’s solicitor, order your searches and raise enquiries.
- Weeks 4 to 8Searches come back, enquiries are answered and we review your mortgage offer. We report to you and you sign the contract.
- Weeks 8 to 12We agree a completion date and exchange contracts. On completion day the money is sent and you collect the keys.
- After completionWe pay any Stamp Duty and register you as the owner at HM Land Registry.
Who will deal with your matter
All of our residential conveyancing is supervised by Jenny Musgrave, Partner and Head of Conveyancing. Your matter will be handled by one of the people below.
Jenny MusgravePartner and Head of ConveyancingQualified as a solicitor in 2006, joined SBB in 2014 and became a Partner in 2019. Specialises in residential property and supervises all of our residential conveyancing work.
Kelly BarracloughConveyancing ExecutiveOver 20 years with the firm. Handles sales, purchases, remortgages and transfers of equity in our Residential Conveyancing Department. Supervised by Jenny Musgrave, solicitor.
Annette CulverConveyancing ExecutiveHas worked in residential conveyancing since 2001 and has specialised only in residential conveyancing since 2006. Joined SBB in 2020. Supervised by Jenny Musgrave, solicitor.
Hollie LeesAssociate SolicitorAssociate Solicitor in our residential conveyancing team, based at our Goole office. Supervised by Jenny Musgrave, solicitor.
Lucy FoxConveyancing ExecutiveWith SBB since 2005, she worked her way up from Conveyancing Assistant and runs her own caseload of residential sales and purchases. Supervised by Jenny Musgrave, solicitor.They are supported by Tracy Lumb, Ellie Donnelly, Alisha Martin and Sarah Leddy. Meet the conveyancing team.
Need a personalised quote?
Every matter is different. Contact us to discuss your specific requirements.
Based in North Lincolnshire? See our conveyancing solicitors in Scunthorpe.
