Generally, the legal costs associated with buying a house will vary depending on the size of the property, it’s location, and other factors such as whether it benefits from mains services or has been subject to an extensive range of works.
That is why at Tozers, we avoid a one-size-fits-all approach to pricing within our Residential Property Services. We realise that each client and transaction are different, and our specialist lawyers will take the time to understand your specific needs and requirements before providing a cost estimate for our services.
For illustrative estimates of our fees and payments please see here.
Upfront costs to consider when moving home
The major upfront costs you’ll need to factor in are;
- Stamp duty - A government tax paid on homes costing £250,000 or more. First-time-buyers will pay no Stamp Duty on the first £425,000. If you're buying an additional residential property there is a 3% additional duty to pay on top of current rates.
- Valuation fee - Your mortgage lender will assess the value of the property, whether by carrying out a survey or a desktop valuation, to establish how much they are prepared to lend you and whether the Property is adequate security for such borrowing. The valuation fee will be set by the mortgage lender and indeed some lenders might not charge such a fee, depending on the type of mortgage product you select.
- Surveyor’s fee - Before you buy any property, it is worthwhile getting it checked by a surveyor. This is vital in flagging whether there are any problems or potential defects before you buy. Surveys range from a basic home condition survey, or a HomeBuyers Report, costing around £250, to a full structural survey from £600 or more. Paying for a good survey could save you money on repairs in the long run and indeed we would be happy to put you in contact with local surveyors, who we work with on a regular basis.
We can then talk to you about legal fees, as well as fees for searches and funds transfers. These fees will differ depending on whether you are buying, selling, or remortgaging, and also whether the property is freehold or leasehold. We supply some illustrative estimates below including payments made to third parties here.
Contact our residential property experts to get a bespoke quote today.
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