Who will deal with your matter?

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Your matter will be handled personally by one of our qualified and experienced property lawyers:

 

•Rhapsody Skillcorn (Partner - FCIEX) + 19 years PQE

•Laura Matthews (nee Joyce) (Partner - Solicitor) + 18 years PQE

•Mia Matthews (Solicitor) 1st year PQE

•Molly Goldrick (FCILEX) + 2 years PQE

•Pauline Lawson (Solicitor) + 40 years PQE

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You will have direct access to the relevant lawyer via their telephone line and email, ensuring that you are always clear on who is dealing with your matter. Our team of assistants will also be available to assist with the administration of your file.

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The hourly rate for our services is £350 + VAT (currently 20%).

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The team is approachable, proactive, and experienced, with over 40 years of post-qualification experience in Property Law, ensuring you benefit from expert advice and guidance throughout your matter.

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Perfectly Legal is regulated by the Solicitors’ Regulation Authority (SRA) and has appropriate professional indemnity insurance in place for the work we undertake.

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Charges…

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While property matters are often transactional, there are many factors that may arise during the process which cannot always be foreseen at the outset. We aim to handle your matter as efficiently as possible, while ensuring that you are protected from potential issues such as fraud or complications with the sale, resale, or refinancing of your property.

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We will discuss your requirements in detail at the outset, allowing us to provide you with a tailored estimate of timescales and costs, helping you budget for the transaction.

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Unless stated otherwise, charges are quoted on a fixed estimate basis.  Where “+ VAT” is specified, please be aware that VAT will be charged at the rate applicable at the time, which is currently 20%.

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• Conveyancing sale/purchase charges range from £1,250 - £6,950 + VAT

• Remortgage charges range from £950 - £1,500 + VAT

 

Factors that may increase the initial fixed quote include:

• Leasehold Purchases: If the lease requires formal rectification due to errors or it involves the assignment of an existing lease and not the grant of a new lease.

• Complex Legal Titles: If there are restrictive covenants that have been, or may be, breached.

• Statutory Authority issues: if there has been a breach of planning and or building regulation approvals in relation to any works carried out to the property.

• Separate Representation for a Lender: Some lenders require separate legal representation.

• Help to Buy: Additional charges will apply and will be included in your quotation.

• First Registration/Transfer of Part: For unregistered land or partial land transfers.

• New Build: May involve strict deadlines and substantial paperwork.

• Joint Ownership: Requires drafting additional documentation.

• Timescales: Complex transactions may require expedited timelines i.e. If you require an exchange or completion within a timescale shorter than the average timescales set out below or if you require a simultaneous exchange and completion. 

• Complicated Ownership Arrangements: Corporate ownership may require more complex arrangements.

• Bespoke Instructions: Customised requirements.

• Share of Freehold Sale: May involve liaising with several co-freeholders.

• Defective title/Indemnity Insurance: If a legal title is defective or part of the property is unregistered or If indemnity policies are required, which may require additional work and disbursements in respect of the policy premium.

• Missing documents or enquiries: If crucial documents, we have previously requested from you have not been provided to us or if parties in the transaction are not co-operative and there is an unreasonable delay or excessive chasing resulting therefrom. 

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Additional work arising as a result of any of these factors is charged at the hourly rate (see above).

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Any extra costs…

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Disbursements are additional expenses payable to third parties (e.g., search fees, Land Registry fees, or Stamp Duty). We will manage these on your behalf and notify you of any known disbursements upfront or, if unknown, as soon as possible.

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Examples of common disbursements:

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• Land Registry Title copy document: £8.80 + VAT

• Land Registry fee: Price dependent (see Land Registry Fee Calculator) (no VAT)

• Stamp Duty Land Tax: Price dependent (see Stamp Duty Calculator) (no VAT)

• Property Searches: Area dependent (will be calculated using the property post code) - The approximate cost is usually £400.00 -£600.00 (including VAT)

• Land Registry Bankruptcy search: £7.80 + VAT per person

 

Examples of common disbursements for Leasehold Properties (usually*):

• Notice of Transfer and Charge: £50.00 + VAT - £250.00 + VAT per notice on average – depending on nature of property and the identity of the party on whom these must be served post completion.

• Deed of Covenant Fee (if required by the Lease /Transfer Deed): £50.00 + VAT - £300.00 + VAT – this varies depending on the nature of the property and the identity of the party on whom these need to be served post completion.

• Certificate of Compliance Fee ( if required due to restriction on title): Usually £50.00 + VAT- £100.00 + VAT

• Fee for new share certificate (if applicable): Usually this fee is between £50.00 + VAT -£100 + VAT

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*We will update you on specific fees upon receipt and review of the paperwork relative to the property.  These third party fees vary 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 may also apply to leasehold and some freehold properties. We will confirm those costs once we hold that information.

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Potential additional fees…

• Redemption/Porting existing mortgage (if applicable): £125.00 + VAT

• Bank transfer fee per transfer (out): £45.00 + VAT

• Bank transfer fee per transfer (in): £20.00 + VAT

• File storage fee: £45.00 + VAT

• Electronic ID verification: £30.00 + VAT

• Acting on behalf of the lender (if applicable): £250.00 + VAT

• Land Tax Return completion and submission: £95.00 + VAT

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Exclusions…

We do not undertake tax advice.

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How long…

On average property transactions will take between 4-6 weeks to reach exchange of contracts and on average there is usually 2 weeks between exchange and completion.

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For any transaction, the timescales are subject to change depending on receipt of paperwork and co-operation from third parties in  the transaction.  Situations and circumstances also evolve during the process of a transaction so we will closely liaise with you in relation to timescales throughout the matter.  Other factors affecting timescales involve:

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• Number of parties in the chain

• Mortgage funding arrangements

• Leasehold complications such as a lease extension for a leasehold property

• Issues arising from searches or survey

• Nature and extent of enquiries raised

• New build properties or first registrations such as first lease or transfer

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Complaints Procedure…

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We are committed to providing the highest standard of service. If you believe we have not met these standards or if you feel that we could improve in any way, we encourage you to contact us. You can raise any concerns with your solicitor or their supervising partner.

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What to do if we cannot resolve your complaint…

 

The Legal Ombudsman can help you if we are unable to resolve your complaint ourselves. They will look at your complaint independently and it will not affect how we handle your case.

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Before accepting a complaint for investigation, the Legal Ombudsman will check that you have tried to resolve your complaint with us first. If you have, then you must take your complaint to the Legal Ombudsman:

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• Within six months of receiving our final response to your complaint; and

• No more than one year from the date of the act or omission being complained about; or

• No more than one year from the date when you should reasonably have known that there was cause for complaint.

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For more information contact the Legal Ombudsman.

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What to do if you are unhappy with our behaviour…

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The Solicitors Regulation Authority can help if you are concerned about our behaviour. This could be for things like dishonesty, taking or losing your money or treating you unfairly because of your age, a disability or other characteristic.

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Visit their website to see how you can raise your concerns with the Solicitors Regulation Authority.