Introduction

As part of our professional rules, we aim to ensure that anyone using our services has the information they need to make an informed choice of legal services provider, including understanding what the costs may be.

Why instruct Peter Dunn Solicitors?

At Peter Dunn Solicitors, we understand how buying and selling a property is traditionally seen as one of the most stressful times in a person’s life. We therefore aim to make this as straightforward and as smooth a process as possible. We avoid legal jargon and offer our clients clear professional advice from lawyers with a wealth of experience gained over many years in the field of conveyancing.

Based in Sunderland and Seaham and accredited with the Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme, our approach to clients is one of friendliness and efficiency. Our clients are made to feel welcome but also confident that their legal issues are dealt with in a manner that is both expedient and competent.

We offer a high quality service so as a conveyancing client of Peter Dunn Solicitors you will benefit of having the same designated conveyancer throughout the process from start to finish.

Our Conveyancing Team

Our conveyancing team consists of Chloe Conway Hind, who is Head of Department, Ann Marie Lee, Alexandra Tindale, Andrew Tilbury and Joy Geggie.

Purchase of a property

Our Fees

Our professional fees cover all of 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.

Our professional fees in respect of a purchase start from £580 plus £116 VAT.  A full and accurate estimate of fees can be obtained by telephoning the office and speaking to a member of our Conveyancing Team.  Estimates are calculated and based upon the value of the property and the complexity of the title and/or matter in question.  Factors such as whether the property is leasehold or a new-build property will also be taken into account.  We also charge an administration fee of £50 plus £10 VAT for preparing and submitting your stamp duty return to HMRC. We also charge an administration fee of £30 plus £6 VAT per telegraphic transfer fee required on each matter. There are no “hidden extras”.

Additional Fees

There are often occasions where additional work will be required in order to complete your conveyancing transaction. This additional work will be taken into account when calculating your estimate. For example, if a Trust Deed is required to protect funds or formalise how a property is held and in what shares. Our fees to draft and register a Trust Deed start from £100 plus £20 VAT.

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. 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 nature of the property being purchased, i.e. freehold or leasehold.

• HM Land Registry fees: variable dependant on the property purchase price, whether bankruptcy searches are needed for any Lender and also the number of titles involved with your transaction. VAT is applicable on some of these fees.
• Mortgage Panel fee dependant upon which Lender is used usually £25 plus £5 VAT
• Search fees: variable and dependant on the area in which the property is located

Leasehold Disbursements

If you are purchasing a leasehold property it is likely you will be liable to pay the following to your Landlord or the Management Company.

• Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £120 – £240 including VAT but may be higher
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £120 – £240 including VAT but may be higher
• 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 £60 – £240 including VAT but may be higher
• Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £60 – £240 including VAT but may be higher.

These fees can however vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can only give you an accurate figure once we have sight of the full contractual documentation.

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 this we receive this information.

Stamp Duty or 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 here..

What is not included?

We do not report on your structural survey as this is outside our area of expertise. It is your responsibility to check the state and condition of the property you are purchasing.

How long will my house purchase take?

For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and factors involved such as but not limited to:

• Number of parties in the chain,
• Whether you have a mortgage in place,
• Whether you are buying a new build property or if any complex issues need resolving during the conveyancing process.

A typical transaction will take between 8-12 weeks. However each transaction is individual and some may complete before 8 weeks whilst some may be delayed beyond 12 weeks. Rest assured, we will complete as soon as we are able to do so and will keep you informed throughout your transaction.

Key stages involved and What is included

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances.

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact your lender or their solicitors if needed
• Receive and advise on contract documents
• Carry out searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Make any necessary enquiries of seller’s solicitor
• Give you advice on all documents and information received
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership (if applicable)
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
• Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from you and your lender
• Complete purchase
• Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Our fee assumes that:

• 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
• 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

Factors that would typically increase the cost of the service (but not limited to)

• legal title is defective, or part of the property is unregistered
• if an unexpected issue arises which needs to be resolved prior to completion

Sale of a Property

Our Fees

Our professional fees in respect of a sale start from £580 plus £116 VAT.   A full and accurate estimate of fees can be obtained by telephoning the office and speaking to a member of our Conveyancing Team. Estimates are calculated and based upon the value of the property and the complexity of the title and/or matter in question. Factors such as whether the property is leasehold or a new-build property will also be taken into account.  We also charge an administration fee of £30 plus £6 VAT per telegraphic transfer fee required on each matter. There are no “hidden extras”.

What else is payable?

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of these on your behalf to ensure a smoother process. 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 nature of the property being sold, i.e. freehold or leasehold.

• HM Land Registry fee for copy documents – a fee of £3.00 plus .60 VAT per document is payable. Usually no more than £12.00 plus £2.40 VAT is payable in total.
• Leasehold Information Pack – if your property is leasehold a pack might be needed from the managing agents and the cost is usually in the region of £200 plus £40 VAT.

How long will my house sale take?

For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on when your offer is accepted and other factors involved, such as (but not limited to):

• Number of parties in the chain
• Whether the buyer has a mortgage in place
• Whether any complex issues need to be resolved during the conveyancing process
• Whether buyer’s Survey shows up any issues
• Buyer’s Enquiries

A typical transaction will take between 8-12 weeks. However each transaction is individual and some may complete before 8 weeks whilst some may be delayed beyond 12 weeks. Rest assured, we will complete as soon as we are able to do so and will keep you informed throughout your transaction.

Key stages involved and What is included

• Take instructions and give initial advice
• Obtain official copies of the Land registry title
• Supply the protocol documents for you to complete as Seller
• Draft the contract and collate the documents for the contract pack
• Send the contract and protocol documents to the buyer’s solicitor
• Deal with raised by the buyer
• Obtain redemption statements
• Approve the transfer document
• Obtain agents invoice
• Draft completion statement and send to client
• Send the transfer document and contract to client for signature
• Agree completion date
• Exchange contracts
• Obtain agents invoice
• Complete on sale
• Redeem mortgage
• Settle estate agents’ invoice
• Forward property documents to buyer’s solicitor
• Forward completion funds to clients nominated account

Remortgage of a Property

Our Fees

Our professional fees in respect of a remortgage start from £450 plus £90 VAT.   A full and accurate estimate of fees can be obtained by telephoning the office and speaking to a member of our Conveyancing Team. Estimates are calculated and based upon the value of the property and the complexity of the title and/or matter in question. Factors such as whether the property is leasehold or a new-build property will also be taken into account.   We also charge an administration fee of £30 plus £6 VAT per telegraphic transfer fee required on each matter. This will cover all of the legal work required to complete the re-mortgage including redeeming the existing mortgage. There are no “hidden extras”.

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. The disbursements which we anticipate will apply are set out separately below.

• HM Land Registry fee: variable and dependant on the value of the property purchase price
• Mortgage Panel fee dependant upon which lender is used usually £25 plus £5 VAT
• Search fees: variable and dependent on the requirements of your lender and area in which the property is located.
• VAT on search fees

How long will my remortgage take?

A typical remortgage takes between 4 and 6 weeks, however, it can be longer if there are any complications.

Key stages involved and what is included

With every transaction there are key milestones, which may vary according to individual circumstances. They may be as follows:

• Taking your instructions and giving initial advice based on the information you have provided
• Requesting the Title Deeds and Redemption Statement
• Obtaining Official Copies of the Title
• Checking the Title
• Checking Official Copies
• Leasehold properties will require the lease to be checked and enquiries made if relevant
• Searches
• Checking the mortgage offer
• Preparing for completion
• Requesting final redemption statement
• Requesting the mortgage advance
• Completion
• Registration

Updated: April 2023