Conveyancing

Conveyancing image

Our Fees

Maples Solicitors LLP have been an integral part of Spalding since the mid-1800’s providing legal advice and assistance to thousands of people. Some of our clients are 3rd or 4th generation which shows that not only is the level of service provided by Maples consistent but also worth returning for.

Maples are accredited by Lexcel, the Law Society’s quality standard and their Conveyancing Quality Scheme. We always work in accordance with the Law Society Protocol.

Whether you are a seasoned buyer and/or seller, a first time buyer or someone who just wants to up or down size their home, at Maples we understand that it can be a very stressful time not only from a logistical point of view but also, and to the majority most importantly, a financial point of view.

We try to offer a reasonable time estimate for completion of your matter and on average the process will take from 4 to 12 weeks depending on the length of the chain and the complexity of the transaction.

Wherever possible, and in almost all residential conveyancing matters, we will endeavour to provide our clients with a quote based on the information available and provided to us at the time of first contact. That quote will include:

  1. our standard legal fee, which is usually fixed and (if known) any additional legal fees; and
  2. disbursements, which can, for the most part, be determined at the outset.

Our standard legal fee covers all aspects of the matter including:

  • receiving instructions from you and if appropriate, providing you with some initial advice;
  • undertaking the usual compliance and finance checks;
  • liaising with the estate agents and the other party’s lawyers;
  • either drafting or receiving contract papers;
  • carrying out searches if you are purchasing;
  • obtaining further planning documentation from the local authority if necessary;
  • raising enquiries with the sellers lawyers if necessary and if you are selling we will usually receive enquiries which we will forward to you for your replies;
  • reporting to you on all documentation received;
  • reviewing and reporting to you on any mortgage offer;
  • attending you in the office where possible to go through the contract, transfer and supporting documentation;
  • agreeing a date for exchange of contracts and completion with all parties. The completion date is the date you will either receive the keys to your property or hand them over to the buyer;
  • formally exchanging contracts and reporting accordingly;
  • reporting to your lender if you have mortgage finance to obtain the advance/obtain a redemption figure from your lender if you are selling;
  • completing the transaction on the completion date and advising you afterwards;
  • if you are buying, remortgaging or undertaking a transfer of equity we will also:
    • deal with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax;
    • deal with the registration of your purchase at H M Land Registry; and
    • confirm to you and any lender when registration is complete.

Additional legal fees may be incurred if the property/transaction is subject to one (or more) of the following:

  1. leasehold rather than (or in addition to) freehold;
  2. a new build rather than an established property;
  3. discharge of more than one mortgage/legal charge;
  4. a gifted deposit;
  5. the (non ISA) Help to Buy/Shared Equity scheme; and/or
  6. a management company.

It may not be known at the time of the quote that the property/transaction is subject to the above and as soon as it becomes clear to us during the conveyancing process we will write to advise you of the additional legal fees.

We will also provide you with advice in relation to ownership of the property, whether it is to be joint tenants or tenants in common. If you have particular requirements in this respect, a Declaration of Trust may be needed.

Disbursements will be payable in all property transactions. These are fees that are payable to third parties. For example fees payable to the Land Registry for title documents and registration, to HMRC for stamp duty and management company/landlord fees. Ordinarily this will include search fees.

There may be additional disbursements necessary which are not determinable at the beginning of the transaction such as:

  • defective title insurance; and/or
  • planning permission or building regulation indemnity insurance.

We will handle all disbursements on your behalf to provide a complete transaction.

Fees and Disbursements

Our fees

Standard Legal fees   

from £850 plus VAT to £1195 plus VAT

Additional Legal fees (where necessary)

from £2500 plus VAT to £400 plus VAT

Help to Buy ISA fee (where relevant)

£60 plus VAT

Declaration of Trust (where necessary)

£250 plus VAT

Transfer of Equity fees

Up to £750 plus VAT

Equity Release fees

£795 plus VAT

 

Disbursements paid to others on your behalf

H M Land Registry registration fee

currently from £20 to £910

H M Land Registry Completion Search fees

£2 - £20

H M Land Registry title documents

£6 - £20

Stamp Duty Land Tax

Variable and depends on transaction

Search fee (includes pipelines, drainage & water,  local and environmental searches)

£177

Landlord/Management Company fees (will be advised to you at the earliest opportunity but this should be budgeted for)

£100 to £500 plus VAT

Unlike many other firms we do not charge our clients:

  • for searches required for compliance purposes, for example Identity Check fees or Lawyer Check fees;
  • for making electronic funds transfers; or
  • where we act for you in respect of a mortgage offer or the discharge of one existing mortgage as part of the main transaction.

Furthermore we do not pay introducer/referral fees to any third parties.

* Fees correct as of September 2022


Coffee Morning and Pop-Up Clinic image

Coffee Morning and Pop-Up Clinic

Join us at The Ruby Hunt Centre, Church Street, Donington, PE11 4UA on Monday 11th March 2024 between 10am and 12pm for a free coffee morning and pop-up clinic to talk about Wills, Powers of Attorney and financial planning for Care Homes.

If you cannot join us for the coffee morning, please contact one of our lawyers in the Wills and Probate Department to discuss a home visit.

Or telephone the office 01775 722261 and ask to speak with one of the team.

We look forward to seeing you there.

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Testimonials

Jamie Dobbs FCILEx

"I should like to take this opportunity to express my very sincere and grateful thanks for Jamie's unfailing helpfulness and efficiency in all aspects of the handling of my late stepmother's estate. Jamie have always replied to my (many!) queries promptly and comprehensively which has been a enormous help throughout what I know can be a fraught and stressful process. Sadly, it is increasingly rare these days to experience the highs standards of service that Jamie has provided."

Gemma Mayer LLB

"I would highly recommend Maples Solicitors, especially Gemma Mayer, for any conveyancing work. The level of support and professionalism was excellent at all times. I also felt if I needed to ask or clarify anything that it was not an issue. Buying and selling a house is stressful enough, but Gemma helped me through it step by step."

Anita Toal LLB BA

"I think you are brilliant. You can use my comments above. You are efficient, friendly and quite clearly very good at what you do. Mainly you don’t leave people hanging around too long for." "So easy to talk to her and she understood what I wanted. She put me at ease and I cant thank her enough"

James Turner BA

James Turner was extremely helpful with our buying process. Everything went smoothly. We are very happy with the level of professionalism demonstrated by the office. Highly recommended solicitors. Will definitely do business with them again.

Daven Naghen LLB

"Daven provided an excellent service, from attending the first interview with me to the final court appearance. He filled me full of confidence that he would defend me to which he did and come out with an excellent outcome in view of my position that I had put myself in."

Faye Blair LLB

Faye was excellent, sensitive and acted very well to the time constraints we faced. Great service and dealt with compassion at such sad times made the process less painful very professional.

Jamie Dobbs GCILEx

Over the last forty years I have cause to deal with many law firms both in a personal and professional capacity, including some ‘top’ London Companies. In all of those dealings I have never found anyone as proactive and so willing to offer help and advice as Jamie Dobbs. During the last two years Jamie guided my parents through the completion of Lasting Powers of Attorney. Helped myself with the use of the LPA and recently dealing with Probate and Estate Administration following their death.

Mike Pepper MA

Mike Pepper gave us excellent advice. He was always most helpful and accommodating giving lucid explanations every step of the way. Thank you Mike.

Donna Sandison FCILEx

Donna has been helpful and professional every step of the way during the process. Always on hand to answer any queries and totally professional and friendly at all times.