Conveyancing

We want to ensure that when you are buying or selling a property that it is as trouble free as possible. Whether you are a business or an individual our experienced staff can help provide a service you can rely on.

Our team has many years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to Residential Conveyancing.

We have four members of the team who may work on your matter. Regardless of who works on your matter, they will be supervised by Marc Gledhill, Solicitor, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing in our Halifax office and Mick Fawcett, Licenced Conveyancer in our Hebden Bridge Office.

Marc Gledhill – Partner

Marc is the head of our team and has over 30 years' experience in property related work, specialising in Residential Conveyancing. Marc has been working in this area since he qualified and has helped thousands of clients.

Marc qualified as a solicitor in 1986 after gaining an Honours Degree in Business Law from the University of Huddersfield. He completed his training contract at Finn Gledhill and he became a partner in 1990.

Marc has also completed and continues to attend many professional development courses in Residential Conveyancing.

 

Michael Fawcett – Licenced Conveyancer

Michael qualified as a Licensed Conveyancer in 2008 and is based in our Hebden Bridge office. Michael has notched up over 14 years in the profession, which he has spent specialising in property law including sales, purchases, new build properties and re-mortgages. He has a strong interest in developing his skillset by attending further professional development courses.

 

Jayne Attwell – Lead Conveyancing Assistant

Jayne has been working in our conveyancing team since 2014.  She is one of the first points of contact for client calls, dealing with the setting up of files, corresponding with estate agents and other solicitor firms. Jayne helps runs the files on a day to day basis liaising with Marc. She also deals with completions, accounting to clients for sale monies and registrations at the Land Registry. 

 

Jade Martin – Conveyancing Assistant

Jade has been working in our conveyancing team since July 2023, prior to that she worked for Holden Smith Law. She is one of the first points of contact for client calls, dealing with the setting up of files, corresponding with estate agents and other solicitor firms. Jade helps runs the files on a day-to-day basis liaising with Marc. She also deals with completions, accounting to clients for sale monies and registrations at the Land Registry.

 

Susan Greenwood  – Conveyancing Assistant

Susan started work with the firm of Eastwoods in Hebden Bridge in 1984 in the matrimonial and litigation departments. Susan moved to the Conveyancing Department in February 1993. Finn Gledhill merged with Eastwoods in 2003 and Susan continued her work in the Conveyancing department. Today she works alongside Michael Fawcett dealing with an array of different conveyancing scenarios. Being born and living locally she feels she has a good knowledge of the local area.

 

 

Conveyancing Estimate

There are two main elements to the costs of your conveyancing transaction.

Legal fees for dealing with this matter for you and completing the legal formalities, and expenses that must be paid out to others on your behalf – referred to as “disbursements”

You will be provided with an estimate of our charges based on the information known at the time you make an enquiry regarding our costs.   The costs quoted will be fixed and will cover all conventional work associated with a typical conveyancing transaction.

For example, if you are selling or buying a property for the value of £200,000. in the Calderdale area, an estimate of our costs and disbursements would be as follows: –

Sale of a freehold property

Legal fee £680 plus VAT*

Electronic transfer fee £35 plus VAT

Land Registry title documents £6

Online ID £7.20

Case Management £36

Estimated total £907.20

 

Sale of a leasehold property

Legal fee £830 plus VAT*

Electronic transfer fee £35 plus VAT

Land Registry title documents £15

Online ID £7.20

Case Management £36

Estimated total £1096.20

 

 

Purchase of a freehold property

Legal fee £740 plus VAT*

Electronic transfer fee £35 plus VAT

Searches including Local Authority, Drainage and Water, coal £180

Land Registry search fee £3

Bankruptcy search fee £2 (per person)

Online ID £7.20

Case Management £36

SDLT Form £66

Registration Fee £100

Estimated total £1324.20

 

 

Purchase of a leasehold property

Legal fee £890 plus VAT*

Electronic transfer fee £35 plus VAT

Searches including Local Authority, Drainage and Water, Coal  £180

Land Registry search fee £3

Bankruptcy search fee £2 (per person)

Online ID  £7.20

Case Management £36

SDLT Form £66

Registration Fee £100

Estimated total £1504.20

Land Registry registration fees are payable dependent on the purchase price of the property.  We endeavor to submit applications electronically using the portal/Business Gateway, so you benefit from the reduction of registration fees.  Please see https://www.gov.uk/guidance/hm-land-registry-registration-services-fees for further details.

Stamp Duty Land Tax will also be payable, but again this depends on the purchase price of the property and your individual circumstances.  There are different rates if you are buying your first home, have owned a property before, or currently own more than one property.  You can calculate the amount you will need to pay and find out further information at https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax

* Whilst our legal fees start at this cost, they will be subject to increase dependent on the value and location of the property. 

We have calculated our estimate of costs above based on the following assumptions: –

• The property you are selling and/or purchasing is held under one title at the Land Registry with no defect
• Indemnity insurance is not required to rectify a defect in title
• The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen circumstances arise
• All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing information
• That we do not become involved in significant discussions with your estate agents and others in your chain to agree a completion date
• Completion takes place on the date agreed

It may be necessary to carry out certain work which would not fall within a standard conveyancing transaction, and if this is the case, further legal fees and disbursements may be payable.

Additional Charges and Disbursements That May Be Applicable 

• Our assumption is that the property is registered at the Land Registry. If it is discovered that the property is unregistered, the following additional fees will be charged:  £50 plus VAT to prepare the Epitome of Title on a sale; and £50 plus VAT to prepare and submit the application for First Registration on a purchase.
• If the property has a Shared Ownership element, an additional fee of £200 plus VAT will be charged for the associated legal work undertaken. Please check as to whether this charge has already been accounted for in your fixed fee quotation.
• If the property is Newly Constructed, an additional fee of £200 plus VAT will be charged for the associated legal work undertaken. Please check as to whether this charge has already been accounted for in your fixed fee quotation.
• If you are buying or selling a freehold property which is subject to an Estate or Maintenance Charge, there will be an additional fee of £75 plus VAT charged for the associated legal work which will need to be undertaken.
• An administration fee of £30 plus VAT will be incurred for each time redemption monies or balance of funds is to be sent by Telegraphic Transfer, on a sale or purchase.
• There will be an additional fee of £50 plus VAT charged, if the property you are selling has more than one Registered Charge noted against the Title, or there is an Equitable Charge, Restriction, Caution, Bankruptcy Notice registered. This charge is made for the legal work associated with dealing with the third party and obtaining a redemption figure.
• There will be an additional fee of £200 plus VAT charged, if you are purchasing a property with more than one mortgage or obtaining a bridging loan to fund the purchase.
• There will be an additional fee of £75 plus VAT charged to complete the Stamp Duty Land Tax return on any purchase or re-mortgage.
• We are entitled to charge £30 plus VAT towards file storage for each of your original files and the associated documents. This fee represents the storage cost of the file being kept in a confidential archive.
• If your mortgage lender is separately represented as we are not on the lender’s panel but continue to act for you as the purchaser, an additional fee of £200 plus VAT will be charged for the further legal work involved and corresponding with the lender’s solicitor.
• There will be an additional fee of £250 plus VAT charged, if you are purchasing a property using the Help to Buy: Equity Loan scheme. This charge is made for the legal work associated with dealing with Help to Buy.
• There will be an additional fee of £100 plus VAT charged, if you are purchasing or selling a property with a tenant in situ under an Assured Shorthold Tenancy. This charge is made for the legal work associated with the additional enquiries that will be required to be raised or responded to.
• If you are being gifted a deposit by another person, we have an obligation to inform your mortgage lender and carry out the relevant due diligence, Money Laundering, bankruptcy searches and identity checks. There will be additional charge of £50 plus VAT for the associated legal work and for drafting the Gifted Deposit Declaration.
• If you are purchasing a property with the aid of a Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA, we will charge an additional fee of £50 plus VAT (per Help to Buy ISA or Lifetime ISA) for the legal work associated with obtaining the 25% bonus on your behalf from the government. This additional charge will be deducted from the bonus amount received by us on completion.
• If you require access to the property you are purchasing between exchange and completion to carry out works to the property, there will be an additional charge of £50 plus VAT incurred for obtaining agreement from the seller’s solicitors and preparing the Key Undertaking.
• If you are selling a leasehold property and own a Share of the Freehold, there will be an additional charge of £75 plus VAT payable. This additional fee represents the work associated with making contact with co-freeholders, obtaining their signatures to any documents and carrying out identity checks.
• If the property you are purchasing is subject to Solar Panels under a Lease of the Airspace, an additional charge of £50 plus VAT will be payable.
• If a Statutory Declaration or Declaration of Truth is required to be drafted to progress your sale or purchase transaction or rectify the title, an additional fee of £75 plus VAT will be payable.
• If we are required to deal or correspond with your matrimonial/divorce solicitor, or a third-party solicitor, the sum of £200 plus VAT will be payable.
• We reserve the right to make a reasonable charge for any additional enquiries or work you require us to undertake following completion of a transaction.
• Your quotation does not cover the cost of a Lease Extension. Our charges start at £500 plus VAT, dependent on the difficulty.
• Your quotation does not cover the cost of a Deed of Variation. Our charges start at £250 plus VAT, dependent on the difficulty.
• Your quotation does not cover the cost of a Declaration of Trust. Our charges start at £150 plus VAT, dependent on the difficulty.
• For leasehold property sales, there may be administration charges payable to the Landlord, Managing Agents or Management Company for providing replies to Leasehold Property Enquiries and associated documentation and information. These costs vary greatly and will be set by the Landlord, Managing Agents or Management Company.
• For leasehold property purchases, there may also be administration charges payable to the Landlord, Managing Agents or Management Company. Again, these costs vary greatly and will be governed by the terms of the Lease, or set by the Landlord, Managing Agents or Management Company.   Possible payments include: Notice fees, Deed of Covenant fee, License to Assign fee, apportionments of ground rent, insurance and service charges and consents required under the Lease.
• We will be able to advise you of the above leasehold charges as soon as the costs are known. It follows that at this stage we are unable to give you an accurate estimate.   Unfortunately, we have no control over the fees which may be charged.
• If you are purchasing a newly constructed property or from a mortgagee in possession, you may be liable to pay a Transfer/Lease Engrossment Fee to the seller’s solicitors. We will be able to advise you of this potential charge as soon as the draft papers are received.  Again, we do not govern this potential charge.

Please note this list is not exhaustive.  We will advise you of any additional charges or disbursements required for work outside the normal conveyancing transaction as soon as is practicable and after we have been made aware of the same. 

Key Stages

The precise stages involved in the sale or purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances.  However, the keys stages and the work we will carry out on your behalf is as follows: –

 

Selling a property           

Preparing and submitting draft Contract papers and accompanying documentation to the buyer’s solicitor

Answering any enquiries raised by the buyer’s solicitor on the Contract papers

Drafting/negotiating the sale Contract

Negotiating/approving the Transfer document

Liaising with any Landlord/Managing Agent/Management Company, if your property is leasehold

Preparing to exchange contracts and then completion of the sale

On completion, transferring funds to redeem any mortgage and pay your estate agents

Handing completion papers over to the buyer’s solicitor

 

Purchasing a property

Investigating the title to the property

Raising enquiries on the Contract papers received from the seller’s solicitor

Carrying out all necessary searches relating to the property

Reviewing the replies to enquiries raised on your behalf and raising further enquiries, if appropriate

Negotiating/approving the terms of the purchase Contract

Advising you in respect of any mortgage offer, if appropriate

Preparing/approving the Transfer document

Preparing a comprehensive Report to you on the title of the property

Preparing to exchange contracts and then completion of the purchase

Transferring the funds to the seller’s solicitor

Completing the Stamp Duty Land Tax Return and submitting the same along with any tax liability due to HM Revenue & Customs

Registering the title and mortgage (if applicable) with HM Land Registry

At what is a potentially stressful time, we understand that you will want reassuring that matters are proceeding smoothly.  At the same time, the conveyancing process can be quite slow because of the complexities of organizing all the other parties in a chain.Timescales

We will aim to keep you updated on a regular basis and will contact you as soon as anything happens that impacts on the timing or any other aspect of your move.  If you have not heard from us, then nothing material has happened since we last spoke, but this does not mean general work is not being carried out on your conveyancing matter.

Clients understandably want as much notice of moving dates as possible but unfortunately, until contracts are exchanged, no one is legally bound.  Clients, especially with the booking of removals, can be caught out if there is a last-minute hitch.  We will always work to your preferred dates, but please be conscious that there may be unavoidable problems, that often do not appear until just before we exchange contracts.

Whilst we will aim to complete your transaction on your preferred completion date and will always strive to meet any reasonable deadline, we would advise that the national average for a conveyancing matter from receipt/issuing of draft Contract papers to completion is 6 to 8 weeks for a freehold property and 10 to 12 weeks for a leasehold property.

However, this approximate timescale may be reduced or even increase slightly as each transaction is individual and the circumstances and requirements of all parties in the chain will not be the same.