Solicitors fees for self-build?
Solicitors fees for self-build?
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ROB_GTR

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

249 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
Just wondering what a rough guide price is for Solicitors fees for a self-build?

I have been quoted:

£450 + VAT = £540 Their fees

£259 Disbursements:

£8 Land registry official entries
£8 Land registry searches
£127 Local search fee
£10 Coal search
£70 Land registry registration fee

Grand total £799

Does this sound about right? Too much?

Cheers

Jobbo

13,636 posts

288 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
£70 Land Reg fee? Odd, that's not in the scale of fees (it jumps from £50 to £80).

ROB_GTR

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

249 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
Jobbo said:
£70 Land Reg fee? Odd, that's not in the scale of fees (it jumps from £50 to £80).
Not getting what you mean here, could you explain please

JR

14,316 posts

282 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
Scale 2 would suggest a £70 fee:

http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/

ROB_GTR

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

249 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
Thanks for that.

So, does the whole cost seem about right?

Jobbo

13,636 posts

288 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
JR said:
Scale 2 would suggest a £70 fee:

http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/
Scale 2 isn't used for most transactions - it would be used for a transfer where no money changes hands (based on the value of the property) though so I assume the OP is getting the plot for nothing from a friend/family?

If that's not the case, the quote's not correct so be wary of that solicitor. The figures look OK to me; there's really no difference in legal fees for acquiring a plot to self-build and buying one with a house on already. However, I would urge some caution: is it a speculative idea to build or does the plot having planning consent already? What about utility connections - are there any, or can they be put in without going across someone else's land or digging excessively lengthy trenches? If you don't know this sort of thing already, utility searches aren't cheap and will add to the cost quite significantly. And of course a solicitor who is charging a bottom-end fee isn't going to be looking at it in the same sort of detail as an experienced development lawyer.

ROB_GTR

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

249 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
Jobbo said:
JR said:
Scale 2 would suggest a £70 fee:

http://www.landregistry.gov.uk/
Scale 2 isn't used for most transactions - it would be used for a transfer where no money changes hands (based on the value of the property) though so I assume the OP is getting the plot for nothing from a friend/family?

If that's not the case, the quote's not correct so be wary of that solicitor. The figures look OK to me; there's really no difference in legal fees for acquiring a plot to self-build and buying one with a house on already. However, I would urge some caution: is it a speculative idea to build or does the plot having planning consent already? What about utility connections - are there any, or can they be put in without going across someone else's land or digging excessively lengthy trenches? If you don't know this sort of thing already, utility searches aren't cheap and will add to the cost quite significantly. And of course a solicitor who is charging a bottom-end fee isn't going to be looking at it in the same sort of detail as an experienced development lawyer.
I already own the land, demolished the old house, have planning and ready to start building.

We are just sorting out the last bits with the mortgage through the solicitors but wanted to know if the full cost was about right and i wasn't having my pants pulled down.

All that is needed to be completed is the solicitors bits, insurances and game on

Jobbo

13,636 posts

288 months

Tuesday 9th August 2011
quotequote all
Ah, so the fees are basically to put a mortgage on the property. Perhaps they look a little pricey then.

ROB_GTR

Original Poster:

1,819 posts

249 months

Sunday 14th August 2011
quotequote all
Using them now so pants down or not im getting a good shafting