KJL Solicitors Pricing Structure
VAT is charged at the rate of 20% on all of our services where plus VAT is stated.
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale or purchase of your property, including preparing the contract papers, assisting with enquiries, exchanging contracts and completion. The only time the fee will change is due to unforeseen circumstances, your instructions change or where a lot more work is required than previously envisaged.
Sale
Conveyancer's fees and disbursements
- Legal fee – depends on value:-
£850 plus VAT for a sale up to £300,000;
£900 plus VAT between £300,001-£450,000;
£950 plus VAT between £450,001-£600,000;
£1,150 plus VAT between £600,001-£750,000;
£1,250 plus VAT between £750,001-950,000;
For quotes over £950,000 please contact us directly. Our average pricing is between 0.15% and 0.19% depending on the specific circumstances of the sale.
- Obtaining title approx. £6.00
- Electronic money transfer fee (per transfer) £17.00
Purchase
Conveyancer's fees and disbursements
Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the purchase of your new property, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England.
- Legal fee* – depends on value:
- £850 plus VAT for a purchase up to £300,000;
- £950 plus VAT for a purchase up to £450,000;
- £1,050 plus VAT for a purchase up to £550,000;
- £1,150 plus VAT for a purchase up to £800,000;
For quotes over £800,000 please contact us direct. Our average pricing is between 0.15% and 0.19% depending on the specific circumstances of the purchase.
Plus disbursements: Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
- Search fees £231.56 these include the following:
Local Search, Drainage and Water Search , Environmental Search & Chancel Search.
- HM Land Registry fee – from £20.00 - £1,105.00 - this will depend on the value of the property and whether the property is already registered, please refer to: http://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html
- Electronic money transfer fee £17.00
- Stamp Duty depends on a large number of factors surrounding the buyer and the property, there may be reliefs available, for an indication please visit: https://www.tax.service.gov.uk/calculate-stamp-duty-land-tax/#/intro
- Taking your instructions and giving you initial advice
- Check finances are in place to fund purchase including evidence of source of funds and contacting the lender's solicitors if we are not acting for the lender
- Receive and advise on contract documents
- Carry out searches
- Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
- Give you advice on all documents and information received
- Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
- Send final contract to you for signature
- Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
- Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
- Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
- Complete purchase
- Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
- Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
- The legal title is defective
- The property is listed and requires further investigation
- You require a Help to Buy ISA
- The property is shared-ownership
- This is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction.
- This is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease.
- The transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
- All parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
- No indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.
- Reviewing documents in relation to the dispute.
- Advising on the Claimant’s Schedule of Loss.
- Responding to the Claimant’s letter before action, if relevant.
- Reviewing and advising you on the Claimant’s Schedule of Loss.
- Entering into settlement negotiations on your behalf with the Claimant and/or via the ACAS Early Conciliation Scheme.
- Preparing the ET3 Response and Grounds of Resistance in response to the Claimant’s claim and submission to the Employment Tribunal on your behalf.
- Conducting settlement negotiations with ACAS and/or with a third party.
- Preparing your list of documents and issuing or responding to appropriate applications to the Employment Tribunal
However this will be on a case by case basis as not all facts are known prior to receiving all information about the property. If there is an annexe for example Multiple Dwellings Relief may be claimed provided it fulfils the criteria.
How long will my house purchase take?
How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on a number of factors, such as when we get the contract papers, how long searches are taking, if there is a chain of parties involved, when we receive your mortgage offer and how quickly the other side deals with the enquiries are raised. The average process takes between 8-12 weeks but this is the average and can vary depending on the circumstances and properties of the parties.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages:
Referral fees
These are arrangements between lawyers and estate agents. If we have a referral arrangement the agent will receive £100 plus VAT for an introduction of a client to this firm. This fee is not passed onto our clients.
Re-mortgage
Our fee £400 plus VAT*
Searches £231.56 (if needed)
Land Registry fee from £20.00 this will depend on the value of the property and whether the property is already registered, please refer to: http://landregistry.data.gov.uk/fees-calculator.html
Please be aware that there are factors that may change your quote and you should contact us with the specifics of your requirements for an exact quotation. Typical reasons for a cost increase may be:
(this list is not exhaustive)
Leasehold
If the sale, purchase or re-mortgage is leasehold there will an additional fee added to the price quoted above of £150 plus VAT. You should be aware that there are always additional fees when handling a leasehold from the freeholder, when selling the fees of a leasehold information pack (LPE1) should be sought from the freeholder or their managing agent. On a purchase, there are likely to be notice fees which would not be known until the leasehold information pack is provided from the seller’s lawyer.
You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.
Mortgages
If there is a mortgage required on the purchase an additional fee of £150 plus VAT will be added to the price.
Newbuild
If the property is newbuild an additional fee of £250 plus VAT will be added to our fee.
There are instances where there are management companies on a freehold and this may also attract further fees.
Our fee assumes that:
The above is for information only, if you require a full and accurate quotation please contact us direct.
Employment Fixed Fee Defending a Claim
Stage 1 – Gathering Evidence
£2,750 plus VAT
Stage 2 – Defending The Claim
£2,750 to £5,750 plus VAT
Stage 3 – Preparing For Hearing
Preliminary Hearing
£2500 plus VAT
Actual Hearing
£3,000 to £6,000
- Instructing an expert where relevant
- Exchanging documents with the third party
- Finalising the bundle of documents, preparing witness statements and continuing settlement negotiations
- Instructing Counsel and all steps leading up to the listed hearing
Please be aware that this quote does not cover any Employment Tribunal fees or Counsel Fees.
Employment Fixed Fee Issuing a Claim
Stage 1 – Understanding your Claim
£2,000-£5,000 plus VAT ( simple case)
£5,000-£15,000 plus VAT (medium complexity case)
£15,000-£30,000 plus VAT (high complexity case)
- Investigation report – we review your documents and advise you on the prospects of your case succeeding - £825 plus VAT
- Settlement negotiations – We commence Early Conciliation via ACAS and/or negotiate directly with your employer or third party prior to the commencement of legal proceedings - £350 plus VAT upwards.
Stage 2 – Issuing your Employment Tribunal Claim
£2,500 to £5,500 plus VAT
- Preparing the ET1 Claim form and Grounds of Complaint, prepare your schedule of loss and conduct settlement negotiations after your claim has been issued.
Stage 3 – Preparing For Hearing
£3,000 to £8,000 plus VAT
- Instructing an expert where relevant
- Exchanging documents with the third party
- Finalising the bundle of documents, preparing witness statements and continuing settlement negotiations
- Instructing Counsel and all steps leading up to the listed hearing
Please be aware that this quote does not cover any Employment Tribunal fees or Counsel Fees.
ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES
KJL Solicitors Ltd charge on an hourly rate basis e.g. our Associate Solicitor’s charge is £272 plus VAT per hour. VAT is at the current rate of 20%.
Unless the estate is complex and we have agreed differently with you, our charges are likely to be as follows:
- Excepted Estate* – between £1,500-£4,500 plus VAT plus disbursements (see below)
*If there is a valid Will, no Inheritance Tax is payable, and there are no foreign assets or missing beneficiaries. If there is no valid Will, additional costs may be incurred to establish beneficiaries.
- Non-Excepted Estate* – £5,000 to £25,000 plus VAT plus disbursements
*If there is an Inheritance Tax charge.In certain circumstances we will discuss with you, additional costs relating to the value and size of the estate involved where we are requested to administer the estate post probate being obtained.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs relating to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. These may include:
- Inheritance Tax payable to HMRC
- Valuation fees (e.g. property and personal possessions)
- Probate Registry fee (approximately £300)
- Statutory Notices to creditors (approximately £300 plus VAT)
- Conveyancing, Estate Agents, Utility providers fees
- Office Copy Entries (£3)
- Bankruptcy searches (£2 per beneficiary)
We handle the payment of disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
KJL Solicitors Ltd do not account for interest for monies held on accounts unless in exceptional circumstances we have agreed in writing.
WILLS
- Single Will £150 plus VAT £180
- Mirror Wills £275 plus VAT £330
- Additional charges:
- Life Interest Trust £275 plus VAT £330
- Discretionary Trust plus Letter of Wishes £400 plus VAT £480
- Disabled Persons Trust plus Letter of Wishes £400 plus VAT £480
- Typed Letter of Wishes £50 plus VAT £60
(Tax and/or succession planning in relation to large complex estates, or Wills of significant complexity will be charged on an hourly basis and a quote can be provided at the outset).
LASTING POWERS OF ATTORNEY
(Two different types – Property and Financial and/or Health and Welfare)
- One document £350 plus VAT £420
- Two documents £650 plus VAT £780
- Three documents £900 plus VAT £1,080
- Four documents £1,200 plus VAT £1,440
Plus £82 Office of the Public Guardian registration fee per document (unless exempt or entitled to a discount which we will discuss.)
Debt Recovery
These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary, which could be on a fixed fee (e.g. if a one off letter is required), or an hourly rate if more extensive work is needed.
Debts up to £5,000
Debts up to £20,000
Debts up to £50,000
Anything above £50,000 limit should seek a tailored quotation
Our fees for small claim limits disputes are already on our website under “Civil Litigation Fixed Fees in Small Claims”
Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:
Our fee includes:
Matters usually take 30 days – 6 weeks from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgement in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.
Small Claim Work
Small Claims up to £5,000
Up to 1 hour interview and general advice limited to a reduced rate fixed fee £175 plus VAT
Drafting Particulars of Claim in suitable cases £255 plus VAT
Drafting Defence in suitable cases £255 plus VAT
Drafting list of documents (limited volume) £127.50 plus VAT
up to 1 hour attendance and drafting witness statement £255 plus VAT
Up to an hour advising on evidence and procedure at hearing £175 plus VAT
Small Claims from £5,000 to £10,000
Up to 1 hour interview and general advice limited to a reduced rate fixed fee £175 plus VAT
Drafting Particulars of Claim in suitable cases £255 plus VAT
Drafting Defence in suitable cases £255 plus VAT
Drafting list of documents (limited volume) £255 plus VAT
up to 1 hour attendance and drafting witness statement £255 plus VAT
Up to an hour advising on evidence and procedure at hearing £175 plus VAT
Claims up to £100,000.00 please ask us to explain the fix recoverable costs for these as legal costs can only be recovered up to a certain value depending on the complexity and track allocated at court.
1 hours consultation plus initial letter before action - £255 plus VAT
1 hour consultation plus initial letter before action - £255 plus VAT
1 hour consultation plus initial letter before action - £255 plus VAT
The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor.
Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost.
The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.
Taking your instructions and reviewing documentation
Undertaking appropriate searches
Sending a letter before action
Receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim
Where no Acknowledgment of Service or Defence is received, applying to the court to enter Judgement in default
When Judgement in default in received, write to the other side to request payment
If payment is not received within X days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs
