Leasehold Residential Purchase Pricing

Thank you for looking at our property services. Whether you are a first-time buyer or an investor, we are here to take the stress out of buying and selling leasehold property.

We will guide you through each step of your transaction, tailoring our service to fit your requirements, so you can have complete peace of mind that every detail has been properly handled. Where necessary, we can also recommend other professionals such as Surveyors, IFA’s and property valuers, giving you access to all the expertise you need.

At a time where money really matters, we take care to provide a high quality, value-for-money service you can rely on. We will keep you regularly advised of every detail you need to know so you can make informed decisions and conclude your leasehold property transaction promptly and with the minimum possible stress and hassle.

Why Us

We have an experienced team who understand the stresses involved in selling property. Our approach is a simple – we provide a first-class service from our expert team who make the difference by taking care of all the important legal details and removing any confusion and uncertainty from the process of selling a property.

We are always available to take your call, and we have a door you can knock on and offer face to face meetings.

We  have personal local knowledge of the area in which you are likely to be buying or selling your property.

Whether you are selling your property through an estate agent or privately, we will make everything as clear as possible. Our team are made up of highly experience solicitors, executives and supportive staff who have the legal and technical “know how” to resolve any issues as they arise in a professional and efficient manner.

We also recognise that communication is key, especially where there are complex issues to deal with, so will ensure you are always kept up-to-date and get answers to your questions in plain English.

We want you to feel confident that you are a priority, with our aim being that any member of the team is available to speak with you when you need some clarity and certainty at any stage in the process. We feel this provides reassurance and gives you an outlet for any concerns that you may have. We know property is often the biggest investment you have, so we want to offer a reliable, first-class service to protect that investment, while giving you value for money with no hidden fees.

Our estimates include work which other firms often charge separately for, so please call us on 01303 851185 or 01304 202411 for a full tailored quotation and explanation of our fees.

We are proud to hold Lexcel and CQS Accreditations, issued by the Law Society. This involves the firm undergoing a rigorous audit process which ensures we maintain high levels of client care.

Pricing

The fees involved in any transaction are important and we review our fees on a regular basis, considering client feedback to ensure we always offer good value for money. We typically work on a fixed fee basis, so that from the outset you know what the fees will be for your transaction.

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:

Leasehold 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 is in Wales

Please call us on 01303 851185 (Folkestone) or  01304 202411 (Dover) for a full detailed quotation and explanation of our fees or if you have received another estimate and would like a comparison.

Disbursements

Disbursements are any costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as search fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

There are certain disbursements which will be set out in the individual lease relating to the Property. The disbursements which we anticipate will apply are set out separately below. This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller’s solicitors.

Other disbursements payable which may increase costs and are specific to an individual property are:-

• Notice of Transfer fee, this fee is chargeable if set out in the lease from £15 to £200 + VAT
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged), this fee is set out in the lease from £15 to £200+VAT
• Deed of Covenant fee, this fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate from £100 to £200 +VAT
• Certificate of Compliance fee – to be confirm upon receipt of the lease from £15 to £150 +VAT

These fees vary from property to property and can on occasions be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.

You should also be aware that ground rent and service charges are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as we receive this information.

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 HMRC's website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority's website.

Exclusions

We do not undertake tax advice.

If the value of the property exceeds £1million our charges are based on a percentage of the value of the property.

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
• If the landlord is absent, slow or difficult

Timescales

For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and other factors involved. The average process takes between X-X 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 X weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between X and X months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

Our fee assumes that:

• This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise, including (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
• This is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease
• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise
• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation
• No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required

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 giving you initial advice
• Checking finances are in place to fund purchase and contacting lender's solicitors if needed
• Receiving and advising on contract documents
• Carrying out searches
• Obtaining further planning documentation if required
• Making any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
• Giving you advice on all documents and information received
• Going through the conditions of your mortgage offer
• Sending the final contract to you for signature
• Draft Transfer
• Advising you on joint ownership
• Obtaining pre-completion searches
• Agreeing a completion date (the date from which you own the property)
• Exchanging contracts and notifying you that this has happened
• Arranging for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
• Completing purchase
• Dealing with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Dealing with application for registration at Land Registry