Property Solvers’ latest research of 100 residential conveyancing firms reveals that average fees for house purchases have increased from £1,092.89 to £1,184.21 (8.02%) since early 2022. Fees for leasehold sales and purchases grew by 22.6% and 38.24% respectively.
According to Property Solvers’ annual research of legal practices (in England and Wales), the average residential conveyancing fees for a freehold tenured property sale and purchase in early 2023 stood at £1,119.10 and £1,184.21 respectively (inclusive of VAT).
This represents increases of 2.61% (for home sales) and 8.02% (for purchases) relative to similar data collected in early 2022.
Average conveyancing costs for a leasehold property sales saw more notable increases – by 22.60% for sales (from £1,077.20 in 2022 to £1,351.71 in 2023) and by 38.24% for leasehold property purchases (from £975.66 in 2022 to £1,436.92 in 2023).
The property sales company approached 100 conveyancing firms for direct quotes. It was assumed that a mortgage was being redeemed upon sale completion or the property was being purchased with a mortgage. Property values in the quote request never exceeded £300,000 for purchase or sale. Also, the fees do not include disbursements (telegraphic transfer charges, searches, ID checks etc.).
Remortgaging costs (based on the secured loan of £225,000 saw an average cost rise of 5.92% (from £606.51 in 2022 to £643.51 in 2023). According to Property Solvers, leasehold supplementary costs tend to lie at between £100 and £250.
Ruban Selvanayagam of Property Solvers commented: “despite inflationary pressures, it would seem that many conveyancing firms have decided not to increase their fees too drastically.
“However, the increase in leasehold conveyancing fees reflects the extra workload required and the idiosyncratic nature of the work,” he continues.
“Much also depends on the firm’s location and reputation. For instance, there were freehold sale quotes ranging from as low as £648 right up to £1,700 (inclusive of VAT). We also came across remortgage conveyancing fees from £298.80 through to £1,200 (inclusive of VAT).”
“However, for the foreseeable future, it’s often best to avoid quotes that are notably under average – particularly from firms that only have an online presence. Remember to also check the firm’s TrustPilot, Reviews(.co.uk) and Review Solicitors pages.”
Is that all conveyancers receive for handling such critical and complex work – over 12 weeks+ in many cases?
The public thank you conveyancers – for not having an excesive charge while the cost of living crisis worses.
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Lawyers have longed since undervalued their service and therefore often given poor service
Another 50% rise in fees and take on more staff would be my advice
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“The increase in leasehold conveyancing fees reflects the extra workload required and the idiosyncratic nature of the work.”
With the new requirements being put on conveyancers by some lenders, re the Building Safety Act 2022, a growing number of firms are now refusing to act (PII issues etc) on some leasehold purchases.
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Sorry to hijack this article.
@Rob, does the Court of Appeal’s recent decision in Hudson v. Hathway [2022] EWCA Civ 1648, [2022] EWHC 631 (QB) have any bearing on the respective comments and contents of the articles below? Specifically that the email correspondence between the parties in 2013 was found to have complied with the statutory formality required by s. 53(1)(c) LPA 1925 for the disposition of an equitable interest (in land), namely that it be “in writing signed by the person disposing of the same…”.
https://propertyindustryeye.com/eye-readers-say-estate-agents-should-make-clear-that-a-property-is-under-offer/
https://propertyindustryeye.com/is-subject-to-contract-in-correspondence-vital-to-avoid-creating-a-legally-binding-contract/
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I’ll look into this aSalesAgent
Can you email me rh@boldgroup.co.uk
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“An interesting read but I don’t think it pertains to the original question of formation of a contract. Here they were dealing with the equitable interest in the property between the existing owners.“ BLG Member
Property Industry Eye readers say estate agents should make clear that a property is ‘under offer’ “I don’t believe it’s correct to say a property is never sold until exchange. If a prospective buyer makes an offer without stating it is subject to contract, and the seller accepts that offer in a signed letter or email, without them stating the sale is subject to contract, then UK contract law dictates that a legally binding sale has been formed. Regardless of whether conveyancers are involved
“As the other BLG member says, I don’t see what the first issue has to do with the second. Seems there is some fixation with trying to push this conspiracy theory that estate agents risk creating legally binding contracts by omitting certain phrases in correspondence.“ BLG Member
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My experience in SW London with all our regular conveyancers is that conveyancing fees over the last 2-3 years have incresed from about £1200 to £2000 – £4000 per transaction! The figures quoted in this article are way below anything we can find in this area.
The other comment are right as well. More conveyancers are required.
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Probably had to raise fees to take into account the estate agents wanting more kick back.
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