Conveyancing Fees: What You Need to Know About This Additional Buying Cost

Posted on: Friday, 06 May 2022

When you buy a property, you will need to hire one of the best conveyancing solicitors in your area who can transfer the ownership of a property from one party to another.

When one person sells a property to another person, there are a lot of legal issues that need to be taken care of, and the sale of a property is a complicated process in itself. This is why when you are buying or selling a home, it is crucial that you seek the help of a conveyancer.

In this post, we'll answer some of the most common questions homebuyers have about conveyancing:

What Exactly Are Conveyancing Fees?

A conveyancer is a legal professional authorised to deal with real estate and property transactions for both buyers and sellers. Conveyancers deal with all the legalities of buying and selling a property. They are also known as property lawyers.

When buying a property, you need to pay your conveyancer a fee to do the work on your property purchase. Conveyancing fees are paid by the buyer and seller. The seller is responsible for paying 1/3 of the costs, while the buyer pays the remaining amount. In some cases, if the sale value of the property is less than $500,000, conveyancing fees are paid by the buyer.

How Much Do Conveyancing Fees Cost?

Conveyancing fees can vary depending on several factors, including:

• The value of the property

• The size and location of the property

• The type of property

• Whether it is a new-build property

• The work involved in the conveyancing process

• The type of mortgage you are going to apply for

• The number of mortgages involved in the transaction

• The period for which the conveyancer is hired for

If you are buying a property for £100,000, you should expect to pay around £500 - £700 to legally transfer ownership from the seller to you. If the property value is £250,000, the cost of conveyancing would be about £1000.

Some conveyancers in the UK will charge a fixed fee for their work, which must be paid upfront. If a conveyancer charges a fixed fee, you can expect to pay between £500 and £700 in conveyancing fees.

How Do I Pay Conveyancing Fees?

When you settle on a property, you need to pay the seller the money minus the conveyancing fees. Your lawyer will invoice you directly, and you can pay online or through other agreed-upon means.

Alternatively, you can ask your lawyer to hold onto the money until the property transaction is completed. Your lawyer will keep your money in a trust account - usually a separate bank account, which only your conveyancer can access.

What Do Conveyancers Do?

Conveyancers are responsible for transferring property ownership and dealing with the legalities of property transactions.

They also help with:

• Deciding on a selling price

• Negotiating and approving the contract

• Dealing with legal contracts

• Checking that the property is in good condition and meets the buyer's needs

• Arranging for a solicitor to check the title of the property and make sure no one else has a claim on the property

• Creating a contract or agreement with the seller

• Drawing up a contract of sale

• Helping you with finance and mortgage searches

• Dealing with the transfer of legal documents

• Arranging for the transfer of the property deeds

• Clearing the property of valuables and cleaning it before removal

• Paying bills and accounts

What Are the Common Conveyancing Costs?

If you buy a property, you will have to pay a number of costs to complete the transaction. These costs include:

• The transfer fee

• The land registry fee

• The mortgage arrangement fee

• The cost of the solicitor

• The conveyancing fees

• Some of these costs depend on where you live.

The transfer fee is a tax that is paid to the government. It is charged on the property's value and varies from region to region.

The land registry fee is also paid to the government - and it is also charged on the value of the property.

Mortgage arrangement fees, solicitor fees, and conveyancing fees are based on the amount you are paying for the property. The amount of each of these fees will depend on what kind of mortgage you are applying for, as well as its value and the size of the property.

Do I Need to Use a Conveyancer?

If you are buying or selling a property in the UK, you will need to work with a conveyancer. If you do not use a conveyancer, you will need to follow the legal process by yourself. Doing this will be very complicated and time-consuming. You will have to do a lot of the work yourself instead of simply delegating it to a conveyancer.

Hiring a conveyancer means using their experience and knowledge to help you through the property-purchase process.

What If the Deal Falls Through?

If you sign a contract and change your mind, you will be liable to pay the seller a small amount of money. This money is known as a compensation fee. The amount you pay will depend on where you live.

You are allowed to cancel the contract at any time during the property purchase process as long as you give the seller advance notice of your decision. If you change the contract based on some information you have received and later find out that this information is not true, you are legally allowed to cancel the contract and get your money back.

How Can I Find the Right Conveyancer?

When looking for a conveyancer, do some research and find out which ones are recommended by your friend or family. You can also talk to your lawyer about a good conveyancer who may be able to help you out.

Get a list of conveyancers in your area from the organisation you are working with and interview a few of them to find the best one for your needs.

Once you have found a conveyancer who you think will be helpful, arrange for a meeting with them. This is the best way to determine if they are the right conveyancer for you.

Conclusion

At the end of the day, choosing the right conveyancing lawyer is crucial if you want to buy a property. Look for a solicitor who will be able to help you with your property purchase.

You should never try to do the conveyancing process by yourself. Instead, look for a conveyancer who can help you with legal issues and guide you through the property-purchase process. You can compare conveyancing solicitors and their fees through a trusted conveyancing calculating tool online to make the process of finding a conveyancer easier.

Conveyancing Calculator allows you to compare conveyancing quotes from reputable conveyancers in the United Kingdom. This makes it easier for you to find the right conveyancing solicitor that suits your needs.