Conveyancing

Conveyancing Matters

Our team has over 15 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to conveyancing matters whether it is residential or commercial.

We can help you in almost all commercial matters including the following:

  1. Freehold Purchases
  1. Leasehold Purchases
  1. Transfer’s of Equity

We have three members of the team who may work on your matter. Regardless of who works on your matter, they will be supervised by Mr HCS Perera, Principal Partner.

Mr HCS Perera – Solicitor/ Principal Partner

Mr Perera is the head of our team and has over 15 years' experience in conveyancing. Mr Perera has been working in this area since he qualified and specialised in commercial transactions.

Katarzyna (Katrina) Khezour – Paralegal - (Polish Speaking)

Katarzyna completed her Legal Practice Course at the BPP Law School in London and holds a Graduate Diploma in Law (CPE) from the University of Westminster. She has also read law and administration at the University of Warsaw in Poland and holds a Masters degree in Roman Jurisprudence from Polish University Abroad in London.

Katrina joined Rest Harrow in February 2011 as a paralegal/caseworker and has been assisting Mr. HCS Perera, the principal partner with probate matters, residential/commercial property, civil litigation, immigration, employment and family matters.

Thilagini (Thili) Anandajeyarajah – Solicitor

Thili qualified as a Solicitor in October 2020. Thili completed her Legal Practise Course and Graduate Diploma in Law at the University of Law, Guildford, she also has an undergraduate degree in Health and Social Care with Criminal Justice from Nottingham Trent University and has completed the Graduate Diploma in Law and the Legal Practice Course at the University of law in Guildford. Thili joined the firm as a paralegal in November 2018. Thili works predominately in Conveyancing matters (commercial/residential), Wills and Probate, Immigration, Family and Civil Litigation. 

Purchase of a Freehold Residential Property

Our fee’s cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new home, including dealing with the 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.

Conveyancer's fees and disbursements

  • Legal fee (from)           £950 plus VAT (£190) = £1,140
  • Fee for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300
  • Freehold Supplement (if applicable) £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300

  • Leasehold Supplement (if applicable) £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300

  • New Build Supplement £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300
  • Search fees approximately £300 - £500 (will vary per transaction and per search)
  • Electronic money transfer fee (per transfer)  £35 plus VAT (£7) = £42
  • HM Land Registry fee on average our clients pay between £140 - £570 (this depends on the value of the property and the property type, please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees for further information

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.

Estimated total: Estimated total £1,200 - £2,000  the price is dependent on the value of the property, (this estimate is calculated to include an average cost of the Land Registry fee, our fee, an average search fee and VAT, but does not include a sum for SDLT). Please do call us to provide you with a more accurate quotation based on the value of the transaction.

Stamp Duty or Land Tax (on purchase)

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.

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 takes between 2 - 8 weeks.

It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 2 and 4 months. In such a situation additional charges would apply.

Stages of the process

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However here are the common stages of most property transactions:

  • We will 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;
  • Execute final contract with your signature;
  • 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.

Purchase of a leasehold residential property

Our fees cover all 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 is in Wales.

Conveyancer's fees and disbursements

  • Legal fee (from)                                                                       £950 plus VAT (£190) = £1,140
  • Fee for acting on behalf of the mortgage lender £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300
  • Freehold/Leasehold Supplement (if applicable) £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300
  • New Build Supplement £250 plus VAT (£50) = £300
  • Search fees approximately £300 - £500 (will vary per transaction and per search)
  • Electronic money transfer fee (per transfer)  £35 plus VAT (£7) = £42
  • HM Land Registry fee on average our clients pay between £140 - £570 (this depends on the value of the property and the property type, please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees for further information

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 we anticipate will apply are set out separately below. This list is not exhaustive and other disbursements may apply depending on the term of the lease. We will update you on the specific fees upon receipt and review of the lease from the seller's solicitors.

Estimated total: Estimated total £1,500 - £2,200  the price is dependent on the value of the property, (this estimate is calculated to include an average cost of the Land Registry fee, our fee, an average search fee and VAT, but does not include a sum for SDLT). Please do call us to provide you with a more accurate quotation based on the value of the transaction.

Anticipated Disbursements*

  • Notice of Transfer fee – This fee is chargeable if set out in the lease. Often the average fee is between £50 - £100 and will often be stipulated by the Lease.
  • Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the lease. Often the fee is between £50 -£100.
  • Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is often provided by the management company and can be difficult to estimate, it is sometimes stipulated by the Lease. Often it is between £200 and £250.
  • Certificate of Compliance fee - To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease and often ranges between £50 - £100.

*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.

The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However here are the common stages of most property transactions:

  • We will 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;
  • Send final contract to you for signature;
  • Draft Transfer;
  • 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;

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 takes between 4-8 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 4 weeks. However, if you are buying a leasehold property that requires an extension of the lease, this can take significantly longer, between 2 and 4 months. In such, a situation additional charges would apply.

* Our fee assumes that:

  1. 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
  2. this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease;
  3. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise;
  4. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation;
  5. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.