Residential Conveyancing

Moving home is one of the biggest decisions you will ever have to make. It is an exciting time, but it can also be a stressful time and we understand the pressure you may be under when buying and selling a property. Property law is a complex area and you need to understand what everything means, whether it is mortgage or lease–related.

At SL & Co you will receive a personal and professional Conveyancing service at competitive rates. You will also receive a service of Quality and Excellence.

You will be kept informed and updated regularly about the progress of your matter by email, text message or telephone call.

We understand that moving house can be one of the most stressful times in people’s lives and you will receive a service designed to minimise that stress, by guiding you through the entire Conveyancing process.

Your matter is important to us and will only be entrusted to an experienced professional.

Our specialists can help you:

• Buy or sell your property (freehold or leasehold)
• Purchase the freehold of your house
• Extend the lease of your flat
• Transfer equity
• Re-mortgage
• Enter into an option agreement with a developer.

Conveyancing Quality Scheme

We became one of the first practices in the country to secure membership to the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS). This is the mark of excellence for the home buying process.

Stamp Duty and Land Tax

When a property is bought in England, a tax known as Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) is levied. SDLT is a progressive tax and is charged at different rates depending on the purchase price of a property. Anyone buying a second home or additional residential property worth £40,000 or more will have to pay additional stamp duty. Stamp Duty and Land Tax can be calculated by visiting the Government Stamp Duty and Land Tax Calculator

Residential Conveyancing

Our fees cover all the work required to complete your sale and/or purchase of your home. This includes Registration at the Land Registry (purchase only), completing Stamp Duty Land Tax and dealing with the payment; together with liaising with Estate Agents and the Solicitors for your Buyer and/or Seller.

The timescale in which it can take from receiving initial instructions to completion of your sale and/or purchase can vary according to the circumstances i.e. the length of the chain and the speed of other parties involved in the transaction. A straightforward transaction from initial instructions to completion should usually take place within 6-8 weeks but this can never be guaranteed.

The key stages of work carried out to complete your sale and/or purchase is as follows:-

• Taking initial instructions, requesting a signed copy of Terms & Conditions of Business, ID and monies on account to cover initial disbursements (i.e. Land Registry fees)
• Sending an initial letter to you enclosing the relevant forms for you to complete and return to us enable us to prepare a Contract.
• Preparing the Contract documentation.
• Obtaining the information pack from Managing Agents if there is a maintenance charge.
• Obtaining the Leasehold Information pack from the Managing Agents.
• Carrying out searches on your behalf.
• Dealing with any enquiries raised.
• Advising you accordingly on documentation received.
• Perusal and advising you of the mortgage offer (if any- for a purchase only)
• Advising you of the process in readiness for exchange.
• Exchanging Contracts and notifying you.
• Obtaining mortgage redemption figure (sale)
• Arranging the transfer of monies to complete your purchase.
• Eventual completion of your matter on your behalf.
• Paying any outstanding maintenance charge/ dealing with any Service Charge or Ground Rent.
• Submission of Stamp Duty Land Tax Form online (purchase)

The costs and any disbursements incurred in dealing with your matter can vary and these are dependent upon the sale/purchase price, if there is a mortgage to redeem, where the property is situated and whether the property is a new build.

The Land Registry usually charge £3 for every deed they provide a copy for. We would anticipate that the Land Registry searches will be between £6-£9. However this may be higher if circumstances change.

Any monies that are telegraphically transferred on your behalf are subject to a money transfer administration fee of £16 plus VAT (each transfer). There will be a fee payable for properties that are being sold with a maintenance charge and where the property is Leasehold there will be a charge for the Leasehold Information Pack from the Managing Agents.

Our costs do vary and are dependent on the circumstances, but we estimate our fees to be in the region of between £790 plus VAT plus disbursements and £1,800 plus VAT plus disbursements. A cost estimate will be provided to you with the estimated fee once an enquiry has been made and we have all the details related to your specific transaction.

Our fees

Sale Price or Purchase Price less than £500,000
Our fees would start at £790 plus £98 (Lender) plus VAT.

Sale Price or Purchase price over £500,000 we charge 0.2%
If the property you are purchasing is £600,000 then our fees would be £1,200 plus VAT plus disbursements.

Selling or Purchasing a Flat
Our fees would start at £750 plus VAT plus Disbursements.

New Build
If the property you are purchasing is a new build our fees would start at £960 plus VAT.

Stamp Duty for the above fees can vary depending on the circumstances and the purchase price of the property. Please see this website for more information about properties in England.

Additional Fees

£16.00 plus VAT Bank Charge for the transfer of monies
£50.00 plus VAT Help to Buy ISA Administration Fee (purchase only)

Additional Services

Purchase the freehold of your house – £480 plus VAT
Extend the lease of your flat – £480 plus VAT
Transfer Equity – £480 plus VAT
Re-mortgage your property – £540 plus VAT
Declaration of Trust – £160 plus VAT

VAT added is charged at 20%

For further advice on residential conveyancing, or to discuss your case, please contact us through the online enquiry form or telephone 01564 777250 Alternatively, visit our specialist conveyancing website  for further information.