Basis of charging in residential conveyancing matters

In dealing with residential conveyancing matters, we will charge what is fair and reasonable in all the circumstances, taking into account various factors, but principally the time spent on the matter. These charges will be subject to VAT where appropriate. The current rate of VAT is 20%.

Any disbursements relating to the work will also be payable. Disbursements are costs related to the matter which we pay on behalf of our clients. We will usually ask you to send us funds on account before we incur the cost of disbursements on your behalf.

At the outset of a matter we will give you a clear estimate of the time that we expect a matter to take, and the fees that we expect to charge. We will normally express our estimate as ‘not less than £x and not more than £y’. This is because, after our initial discussion of the transaction with you, we will have a well-informed idea of the time that we are going to have to spend and the fees we are therefore certain to charge; but you should also allow and budget for the possibility that we will spend more time and charge more fees because unforeseen issues may arise. We reserve the right to increase our estimate by the upper level of our original estimate if the matter turns out to be more complex and time-consuming than envisaged.

We will inform you as soon as we become aware that our estimate may have to be revised.

We stress again that we always prefer to spend a reasonable amount of time discussing a matter (a sale, a purchase, or a re-mortgage) with you before we give you a fee estimate. This means that the estimate that we give you at the outset will be well-informed, transparent, and realistic. This is in your interests and ours.