Moving house or buying property can be an incredibly stressful event, ranking among the most anxiety-inducing experiences in life, alongside divorce and bereavement. The process of organizing everything before your move and dealing with the legal complexities can be quite daunting.

At Iris Law Firm, we specialize in residential property matters, providing expert guidance to make the process smoother for you. We offer highly competitive fixed fees and have been accredited with the Conveyancing Quality Scheme Award by the Law Society of England and Wales, recognizing our adherence to proper protocols, efficient case management, excellent customer care, and the ability to provide peace of mind to our clients.

Unlike some firms where different individuals handle different stages of a conveyancing transaction, we believe in continuity and work hard to ensure that your transaction is handled by the same person from start to finish. This approach allows us to provide high standards of customer care and quality advice, as the assigned professional becomes fully familiar with your case, avoiding the frustrating experience often encountered with high-volume conveyancing firms.

We have established strong partnerships with estate agents throughout the region, as well as national conveyancing specialists Move with Us and local experts Convey With Me. These organizations are committed to delivering top-notch conveyancing legal services to property buyers, sellers, and investors.

Stages of the Residential Conveyancing Process – PURCHASE

Stage 1 – Purchase:

• Offer made to the seller, with our formal instruction to act on your behalf.
• Contact the seller’s solicitor to obtain the draft contract and related documentation.
• Conduct necessary pre-contract enquiries with the seller’s solicitors.
• Receive and review the draft contract, fixtures, fittings and contents form, property information form, and previous title deeds.
• Initiate searches, including local authority searches, and other relevant inquiries.
• If applicable, conduct additional checks for new builds.
• Negotiate and agree on the contract and preferred completion dates.
• Obtain a formal mortgage offer.

Stage 2 – Purchase:

• Payment of deposit and signing of contracts.
• Exchange of contracts, legally binding both parties to complete the transaction.
• Production and signing of a transfer document.
• Arrange signing of mortgage documentation and request mortgage funds (if applicable).
• Finalize searches and enquiries.
• Payment of land registry fees and stamp duty before completion.

Stage 3 – Completion and beyond:

• Transfer of balance purchase monies to the seller’s solicitor.
• Confirmation of receipt, granting legal ownership and release of keys.
• Resolution of final administrative matters, including payment of stamp duty, estate agent’s fees, and registration of new ownership with HM Land Registry.

Stages of the Residential Conveyancing Process – SALE

Stage 1 – Sale:

• Receipt of an offer for your property and formal instruction to act on your behalf.
• Preparation of draft contracts and related documentation, sending them to the buyer’s solicitors.
• Addressing enquiries and providing requested information or documentation.
• Obtaining a redemption figure from your current mortgage lender (if applicable).

Stage 2 – Sale:

• Signing of contracts by all parties.
• Exchange of contracts, legally binding both parties to complete the transaction.
• Receipt of transfer document from the buyer’s solicitor.
• Signing of the transfer document by both parties.
• Buyer’s organization of purchase monies and transfer to their solicitors.

Stage 3 – Completion and beyond:

• Transfer of purchase monies to our client bank account by the buyer’s solicitor.
• Release of keys to the buyer.
• Transfer of balance due to you.
• Redemption of any outstanding mortgage on the property.
• Resolution of final administrative matters.

Timescales: While the national average for a conveyancing transaction is 18 weeks, at Iris Law Firm, we strive for efficiency and aim to complete your transaction within 12 -14 weeks on average. Although we cannot entirely control the multi-party conveyancing process, our dedication to efficiency and client satisfaction allows us to achieve quicker completions in most cases.

Costs: Our charges are based on our expertise and the provision of a boutique legal service. The fees listed below assume a standard transaction without any unforeseen matters or legal complexities and are fixed, being inclusive of all necessary work from the beginning of your matter to legal completion. The following table provides an overview of the minimum basic legal fees for different property values:

SALE

• £0-500,000: £550.00 + VAT + Office Copies + CHAPS Fee = £708.00
• £500,001 – £1,000,000: £650.00 + VAT + Office Copies + CHAPS Fee = £828.00

PURCHASE

• £0-500,000: £550.00 + VAT + Office Copies + CHAPS Fee = £708.00
• £500,001 – £1,000,000: £650.00 + VAT + Office Copies + CHAPS Fee = £828.00

TRANSFER OF EQUITY/REMORTGAGE

• Legal Fees + VAT + Office Copies + CHAPS Fee = £468.00

Please note that additional fees and third-party disbursements may apply depending on your circumstances. Examples include bank charges, mortgage redemption or new mortgage fees, Stamp Duty Land Tax return fees, leasehold supplements, and file storage fees. We will inform you of the costs associated with these as soon as possible during your transaction.

At Iris Law Firm, we collaborate with leading estate agents and introducers throughout England and Wales, who assist us with marketing, case tracking, collecting initial payments, and ordering searches and sales progression. We pay variable referral fees to these companies, averaging between £100 and £324.00, as a token of our appreciation for their support. Rest assured that these fees are borne by us and do not represent an additional cost to you.

To avoid the impersonal experience of online conveyancers, we encourage you to secure a solicitor in readiness for your move, giving yourself an advantage in the process.