Conveyancing Guide & Key Stages | The International Solicitors

We are a high street law practice serving our community in buying and selling the houses and commercial premises and businesses. We act for sellers and buyers but we can’t represent both together. We mainly act for sellers and cash buyers as we are not on lender’s panels.   

Key Stages of Residential Conveyancing (Purchase)

1. Meeting with client to take instructions, establish Identity and give initial advice
2. Sending out client care pack detailing what we will require and outlining the next steps
3. Liaising with seller and other parties solicitors
4. Ordering searches, making pre-contract enquiries from seller’s solicitors, including leasehold enquiries if applicable
5. Preparing property report, advising client on the paperwork and information received through searches, other solicitors and advising on the conditions of the mortgage offer
6. Advising clients on joint ownership, if applicable and sending out final contract, stamp duty land tax form and mortgage deed to clients for signature
7. Receiving deposit from client, agreeing completion date
8. Exchanging contract, it means point of no return, both seller and buyer are legally bound to complete the transaction
9. Obtaining pre-completion searches. Receiving all monies from client and lenders if applicable. Matter completed, client will get the keys to move in
10. Submitting Stamp Duty/Land Tax return, paying stamp duty. Serving notice of purchase on landlord (for leasehold properties) and submitting application for registration at Land Registry to register the client’s rights
11. After registration sending the land registry Title Deed to client and lender if applicable.

Key Stages of Residential Conveyancing (Sale)

1. Meeting with client to take instructions, establish Identity and give initial advice
2. Sending out client care pack detailing what we will require and outlining the next steps
3. Liaising with seller and other parties solicitors
4. Obtaining record and information to prepare contract pack and sending to buyer’s solicitors
5. Replying to enquiries raised by buyer’s solicitors
6. Sending out final contract and transfer deed to clients for signature
7. Agreeing completion date
8. Exchanging contract, it means point of no return, both seller and buyer are legally bound to complete the transaction
9. Obtaining final redemption statement if there is mortgage, getting estate agents invoices and preparing completion statement for client
10. Completion money received and matter completed, advising client/estate agent to release the keys and possession
11. Redeeming mortgage, paying estate agents and transfer the completion money/sale proceeds to client
12. Sending out executed transfer deed and contract to buyer’s solicitors

Time scale and case working

Time scale depends on many factors like how many parties are involved in the chain and how quickly the representatives will respond to each other. Most transactions conclude between 8 to 16 weeks. However, if parties agree for an expedited completion, matter can conclude quicker.               

All conveyancing matters are conducted by qualified solicitors with over 10 years PQE or partner solicitor.

Costs & Disbursements

We work on fixed fee basis but in prolonged and complex matters we charge hourly rate £300 plus 20% VAT.

Our costs and disbursements may vary in sales and purchase and in leasehold and freehold. There is a 20% VAT on our fee and disbursements. Our fee includes from instructions to completion.

In most cases our fee ranges between £2K to £4K. The disbursements include searches fee between £300 to £500, Land registry fees including copies and registration fee £60 to £70, bank transfer and admin fee £45, Anti Money Laundering checks between £200 to £400 depending upon how many people are involved. We itemise the full details of disbursements in our quote and instructions letter.