Costs

We know that price is an important factor in deciding which firm to choose to carry out your conveyancing, but we believe that most of our clients are discerning enough to know that although it is important it is not the only factor, and a prospective client must feel comfortable with the sort of service we offer, the expertise we have between us, and that the time scale he or she is seeking can be met. This can best be achieved by talking to any of us or dropping us a quick email with an outline of what you are hoping to do. We all know that the process of buying or selling a house can be daunting, and it is our aim to make it as painless as possible. We want our clients to feel that we are on their side, and ready to help throughout the process.
We have set out below our charges for a specimen transaction. The idea is to show how the SDLT (stamp duty) Land Registry fees and search fees work, and the sort of fees we charge. We would like to be able to give an accurate estimate of the time it will take, but timing is not entirely within our control, as inevitably other parties, and any Lenders are involved, but we will do our best to work with you to the time frame you want.
We all have a charge out rate of between £200 and £250 + VAT but in the vast majority of conveyancing matters we will be able to give you a quote for the total charge at the beginning, and this very rarely changes. For some matters the hourly fee is more appropriate, but we will always aim to give you a clear idea of what we anticipate the total will be and how long it will take.
All the solicitors at McPhersons are of the same length experience- some 30-35 years give or take a year or two and have worked for a variety of firms and you can find more detail of everyone’s past experience in other sections of our website.
So- please do have a look at the figures we have set out, but more importantly ring us up and have a chat about what you are looking for, and we will do our best to help you find it.
Our fees are subject to VAT at 20% and Bank Transfer Fees are also subject to VAT at 20%.
Other disbursements such as Stamp Duty, Land Registry Fees and Local Authority Searches are not subject to VAT.

Purchase of a freehold residential property
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and 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. This example is for the purchase of a freehold property at £300,000
Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
Legal fee £985-£1150 + VAT
Search fees £300-350 depending on Local Authority (up to £500 in some London Boroughs)
HM Land Registry fee £135 or £270 if not previously registered
Electronic money transfer fee £30 + VAT
Estimated total without SDLT £1678.00
Referral fees – We never pay referral fees
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.
Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)
This depends on the purchase price of your property, whether you are a first-time buyer, or whether the property is a second home or buy to let. 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.
Estimated total including SDLT £6,678
How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process nationally takes 12 weeks, but we will do it as quickly as possible.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain, how long their mortgages take to arrange, any problems which need sorting out, such as absence of planning permission or building regulations.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:
Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s 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
Agree completion date (date on which you pay for and from which you own the property)
Draft the Transfer deed
Advise you on joint ownership
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
Complete purchase
Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
Deal with application for registration at Land Registry

Purchase of a leasehold residential property
This example is based on a purchase of an existing lease at £300,000
Our fees cover all the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and 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.
Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
Legal fee £1000-£1250 + VAT
Search fees £300-350 depending on the Local Authority (up to £500 in some London Boroughs)
HM Land Registry fee £135 or £270 if not previously registered
Electronic money transfer fee £15 + VAT
Estimated Subtotal without SDLT £1798
Referral fee – We never pay referral fees
Disbursements
Disbursements are 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 will always be charged are set out above, and for a leasehold purchase the following are likely also to apply:
Anticipated Disbursements*
Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £40 – £180 and is payable to the Landlord or Managing Agent.
Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is the same as the Notice of Transfer fee, but there may be a discount for both being served at the same time.
Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is charged by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £150 – £250.
Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease, as can range between £125 – £180
*These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion 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 charge 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 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.
Grand total £7,148
How long will it take and what are the stages?
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages .
Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender’s solicitors if needed
Receive and advise on contract including the Lease and Management Information documents
Carry out searches
Obtain further planning/service charge 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 the Transfer deed
Agree wording for Deed of Covenant (if required)
Advise you on joint ownership
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 lender and you
Complete purchase
Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
Give Notice of Transfer/Mortgage to the Landlord/Managing Agents

How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process nationally takes approximately 12 weeks, but we will do it as quickly as possible. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain, how long their mortgages take to arrange, or whether any problems need sorting out, such as absence of planning permission or building regulations, issues with repairs or service charges, or defects in the Lease.
* 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
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.

Sale of a freehold residential property
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home, This example is for the sale of a freehold property at £300,000
Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
Legal fee £985-£1100 + VAT
HM Land Registry Official Copies £6.00- £12.00
Electronic money transfer fee £15 + VAT
Estimated total without Agent’s fees £1,226
Referral fees – We never pay referral fees

How long will my house sale take?
How long it will take from your buyer’s offer being accepted until you move out of your house will depend on a number of factors. The average process nationally takes 12 weeks, but we will do it as quickly as possible.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain, how long their mortgages take to arrange, whether any or problems need sorting out, such as absence of planning permission or building regulations.

Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:
Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Obtain Deeds and/or Official Copies from the Land Registry
Send you the standard Seller’s Property Information and Fixtures and Fittings Forms to complete
Check the replies you have given
Obtain further planning or other documentation if required
Respond to enquiries from the buyer’s solicitor
Send final contract to you for signature
Agree completion date (date from which you move out of the property)
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Send the final documents to you for signature
Obtain a redemption statement showing how much is needed to redeem your mortgage
Complete sale
Deal with payment of the Agents, and any surplus to you
Send the documents to the buyer’s solicitors

How long will my flat sale take?
How long it will take from your buyer’s offer being accepted until you move out of your flat will depend on a number of factors. The average process nationally takes 12 weeks, but we will do it as quickly as possible.
It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain, how long their mortgages take to arrange, whether there are any problems which need sorting out, such as absence of planning permission or building regulations.

Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the sale of a residential flat vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:
Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Obtain Deeds and/or Official Copies including copies of the Lease from the Land Registry
Send you the standard Seller’s Property Information, Leasehold Information Form, and Fixtures and Fittings Forms to complete, and request Management Pack from the Landlords/Agents
Check the replies you have given
Obtain further planning service charge or other documentation if required
Ascertain any Landlord’s requirements for the assignment of the Lease
Respond to enquiries from the buyer’s solicitor
Send final contract to you for signature
Agree completion date (date from which you move out of the property)
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Send the final documents to you for signature
Obtain a redemption statement showing how much is needed to redeem your mortgage
Complete sale
Deal with payment of the Agents, and any surplus to you
Send the documents to the buyer’s solicitors

Sale of a leasehold residential property
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale of your home, This example is for the sale of a leasehold property at £300,000
Conveyancer’s fees and disbursements
Legal fee £1050-£1250 + VAT
HM Land Registry Official Copies £6.00- £12.00
Electronic money transfer fee £15 + VAT
Estimated total without Agent’s fees £1,346
Referral fees – We never pay referral fees 

Our fees for Probate Services

We can work flexibly for the personal representatives of the deceased’s estate by: –

1. advising at an hourly rate on any procedural, legal or taxation aspects.
2. In a straightforward case, where there is no inheritance tax (IHT) to pay, we may, for a fixed fee (in the region of £1,750 plus VAT to £2,750 plus VAT)  just deal with the preparation and submission of the IHT Return and the application for the Grant of Probate, based on estate information provided by you. This requires you to do all the leg work in obtaining the information and ensure it is correct.

3. Or, most commonly, we deal with the whole Probate process from start to finish. This would often be in a case where there is IHT to pay, exemptions or reliefs to apply or there are trusts arising under the Will.

 

Hourly rate
The hourly charging rate for acknowledged expert solicitor, Isabel Deverill, is £275 (plus VAT). Tasks are delegated to an assistant where possible.

In the case described below, we anticipate this may require between 30 to 50 hours of work; the total cost estimated may therefore range from £8,250 – £13,750 (plus VAT). The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property, fees will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, more than one property, multiple bank accounts and investments our fees will move towards the higher end. We will handle the full process, that is, we will write to the asset holders to obtain the required information, obtain the Grant of Representation, register this to transfer or sell the assets and distribute the estate in accordance with the Will or the rules on intestacy.

Example Case

There is a valid Will, one residential property, no more than 3 bank or building society accounts, no intangible assets, 1 to 4 beneficiaries, no disagreements between beneficiaries, no IHT payable, the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC, and there are no claims made against the estate.

 

Disbursements and expenses in addition to our legal fees
Probate application fee of £273,  £7 swearing of the Oath (if required); Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2 plus VAT, per beneficiary),  Money Laundering verification fees (£4 plus VAT, per name of client), Bank Telegraphic Transfer fees (£30 plus VAT,); £75.90 (plus VAT) to post in the London Gazette – protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors,  £200 (plus VAT) subject to the rate charged by the newspaper in the relevant locality) to post in the local newspaper which helps protect against unexpected claims.
Disbursements and fees related to your matter which are payable to third parties, such as probate court fees. We handle payment of the disbursements on your behalf and request monies on account to cover these costs.
If there is no Will and/or the estate consists of any shareholdings (stocks and bonds), there is likely to be additional fees that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you a more accurate quote once we have more information.
 If any additional copies of the Grant are required, they will cost £1.50 (one per asset holder usually). The costs of sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.
If a professional valuation of the personal chattels is required, we can obtain a quote of the professional fees.  If a “Red Book” valuation of a property is required of a Chartered Surveyor, then we can obtain a quote of the professional fees.
We do not normally deal with Income tax returns for the period to death but can put you in touch with an accountant who can help.
Deeds of Variation of a Will or Appointment under a Trust can be prepared if required and the cost of these may range from £750 plus VAT to £1,500 plus VAT)

Additional correspondence relating to identifying beneficiaries, disputes arising and unforeseen events that comes to light during administration may increase legal fees and we will provide you with a revised estimate.

 

Timescale

We expect it will take:-
• 3 to 6 months to obtain the Grant of Probate or Letters of Administration. However, this will  depend upon how quickly the  various institutions and agencies for example banks, brokers and other financial institutions, provide information to us and (if appropriate) to make IHT payments,  the length of time needed by professional valuers to prepare valuation of any properties or business assets in the estate,  the speed which HM Revenue & Customs deal with any necessary Inheritance Tax account and raise any enquiries,  the speed with which the Department for Work and Pensions and its subordinate department and agencies respond to our enquiries,  the speed with which the Probate Registry deal with the application, whether any Caveat or challenge to the Will is receive.


• Between 6 to 12 months thereafter to complete the administration. This frequently depends upon whether notices for claims on the estate need to be placed, and any claim is made upon the estate by creditors or disappointed prospective beneficiaries. We advise waiting ten months from the date of the Grant of Probate before the estate is distributed.

• Occasionally, it may take longer than 12, for example in particularly complex estates and those where IHT business property relief and/or agricultural property relief are involved. 

Our fees for Will and Lasting Powers of Attorney
We can prepare simple Wills for £275 + VAT each, or £500 + VAT for a married couple.
If something more complex is advised, such as for IHT planning or to balance the interests of a second spouse with children from a former relationship, a Will trust should be used. A Will in this case may cost in the region of £1,500 + VAT, or £2,500 + VAT for a married couple. We will provide a specific quote depending on what is recommended in each case.
Preparation of a Lasting Power of Attorney (LPA) and registering it with the Office of Public Guardian   costs £350 + VAT or £500 plus VAT for a couple.