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Hidden fees in the conveyancing process can be very costly. Our aim as a firm is to ensure that our clients receive clear and honest pricing information at the outset of any matter. We want to be able to provide a fixed fee in most of our matters and endeavour to do so. In some matters, such as probate, this is not always possible as there are many unforeseen things that can occur, but even then, we provide estimates and are very rarely outside of these.
This pricing policy is very important for clients. Hidden fees in conveyancing can case unnecessary stress and does not build the important relationship we want with our clients. We always want our clients to know where they stand and how much it will cost them.
Conveyancing is an area where we always use fixed agreed fees with clear pricing that is set out on our website. Our quotes are emailed to clients as quickly as possible, so they can make an informed choice when choosing who to use for their conveyancing. People can also request quotes through our website enquiry form.
We are aware that some firms have several additional services that they charge separately for. Examples of these are if the property is leasehold, filing the Stamp Duty Land Tax Form, applying for registration of the property at the Land Registry, dealing with the Help-to-Buy Forms, applying for the Help-to-Buy ISA funds. People often get a quote from us and then check whether these things are going to be added later, after receiving a quote from another firm. Our quotation includes all the work we carry out for you and we do not add other things later. Firms use these additional services to make their fee appear less than other firms, when in fact they are not. Do not be fooled into thinking that such firms are doing more for you because they have itemised all these things separately, in fact they should be including all these things in their standard fee.
So, when you are instructing a conveyancing solicitor or firm there should be on the quotation their fee for undertaking the work and this will be subject to VAT and then there are ‘disbursements’. These are payments that are made to third parties. On a sale, these would be an Anti-money laundering search fee, Land Registry official copies and a Bank Transfer fee if there is a mortgage to repay. On a purchase, these would be search fees (Local Authority, Water and Drainage and Environmental are standard), Land Registry Registration fee, Land Registry search fees, Anti-money laundering search fee and Stamp Duty Land Tax. There should not be anything else added.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) Transparency Rules came into force in November 2019. They make it mandatory for firms regulated by the SRA that undertake conveyancing work to publish costs on their website. Therefore, check that any firm you are considering instructing is publishing these costs and making them easy to find on their website. If they are not, then they are breaching the rules. Also, look out for the SRA badge which must also be on the website of any regulated firm.
If you would like to receive a quote from us please either call the office on 01748 850400, email us at law@huntonandgarget.co.uk or complete the contact form on our website.
