The short answer
Your quote is worked out for your move and shows two things: our legal fee, and the disbursements we expect to pay on your behalf. You make a small payment to get started, and the rest isn't due until your move completes.
What our legal fee covers
Our fee covers all the legal work from the day you instruct us to the day you get the keys, and the bits that need tidying up afterwards. That includes:
- A named conveyancer who looks after your move from start to finish.
- Checking your identity and where your money is coming from, as the law requires.
- Preparing or checking the contract, and the forms the seller fills in about the property.
- Ordering and reading the searches if you're buying.
- Raising and answering enquiries with the other side.
- Working with your mortgage lender, and reporting to you on anything you need to know before you sign.
- Exchanging contracts and handling completion day, including moving the money safely.
- Sending your Stamp Duty return and registering you as the new owner with HM Land Registry.
- Updates on WhatsApp as your move goes along.
What disbursements are
Disbursements are costs we pay to other people on your behalf. We don't set them. They're on your quote so you know about them before you start.
Which ones apply depends on your move. If you're buying, the main ones are usually the searches and the HM Land Registry fee for registering you as the owner. Selling usually has fewer, because the buyer pays for most of the checks.
Stamp Duty
If you're buying in England, you may have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax. In Wales it's Land Transaction Tax. It goes to the government, not to us, and how much you pay depends on the price and your circumstances, such as whether you're a first-time buyer. HMRC has a Stamp Duty calculator and guidance. We send the return and pay it for you from the money you give us before completion.
Why no two quotes are quite the same
Some moves simply involve more legal work than others. Things that change what's involved include:
- Whether you're buying, selling, or doing both at once.
- Whether the property is leasehold or freehold.
- Whether you're buying with a mortgage or in cash.
- Whether it's a new build.
- Schemes such as shared ownership, Right to Buy or a Lifetime ISA, which each come with extra steps.
That's why we ask a few questions before giving you a price. It takes about a minute, and it means the quote you get reflects your move. If something changes along the way, we tell you before it affects the price.
When you pay
You make a small initial payment to get the ball rolling. The rest of our fee isn't due until your sale or purchase completes. Before then, we send you a clear breakdown of everything, so you know exactly what's due and when.
If your move falls through
If your sale or purchase falls through and it's not your fault, we give you a second chance, even if you're buying a different property second time round. Our guide to what happens when a chain breaks explains why it happens and what you can do.
