Residential property
Buying, selling and re-mortgaging
Our fees cover all the work required to complete your matter, including dealing with registration at the Land Registry and with Stamp Duty Land Tax (or Land Transaction Tax in Wales) on purchases. Legal fees vary with the price of the property or the size of the loan; averages and minimums are shown.
- Purchase of a freeholdAverage legal fee£2,300 + £460 VATMinimum legal fee£1,900 + £380 VATTypical timescale8–12 weeks
- Sale of a freeholdAverage legal fee£2,300 + £460 VATMinimum legal fee£1,900 + £380 VATTypical timescale8–12 weeks
- Purchase of a leaseholdAverage legal fee£2,300 + £460 VATMinimum legal fee£1,975 + £395 VATTypical timescale8–12 weeks
- Sale of a leaseholdAverage legal fee£2,300 + £460 VATMinimum legal fee£1,975 + £395 VATTypical timescale8–12 weeks
- Re-mortgageAverage legal fee£2,300 + £460 VATMinimum legal fee£750 + £150 VATTypical timescale3–6 weeks
A first-time buyer purchasing a new build with a mortgage agreed in principle could complete in 4–6 weeks. A leasehold purchase needing a lease extension can take significantly longer, and additional charges would apply.
Costs on top of our legal fee
Disbursements are costs payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle payment on your behalf. VAT is currently 20%.
- Search fees (purchase; re-mortgage if the lender requires)approx. £300–£500 + £60–£100 VAT
- Land Registry fee – purchaseon average £295
- Land Registry fee – re-mortgageon average £65
- Bank transfer fee£30 + £6 VAT per transfer
- Admin / copying fee£30 + £6 VAT (re-mortgage £20 + £4 VAT)
- Land Registry search£7 + £1.40 VAT
- Office copy (sales)£7 + £1.40 VAT per download
- Bankruptcy search£6 + £1.20 VAT per individual
- Land Transaction Return fee (purchase)£50 + £10 VAT
- Client due diligence AML search incl. biometric ID check, where you cannot attend our office£30 + £6 VAT per individual
Immigration
No hidden costs for immigration work
A fee estimate is provided after an initial consultation to understand the scope of work. Fees are based on time spent, or we usually agree a fixed fee for an application.
Initial consultation
£330+ VAT
A confidential fixed-fee consultation in person, by videoconference or by phone with one of our qualified immigration lawyers, including tailored advice, your options and an honest assessment of prospects.
Hourly rates
- Trainee solicitors, paralegals & equivalent£120–£150
- Qualified solicitors£180–£295
- Solicitors / legal executives (4+ years PQE)£210–£440
Per hour, plus VAT. We tell you the applicable rate in advance and update you on costs incurred.
Typical fixed fees
TimescaleTypical fixed fee ranges for one person. All fees exclude VAT (where chargeable), government fees and other costs.
- Skilled Worker visa£1,600–£2,8001–3 months
- Global Talent visa (incl. endorsement)£6,000–£9,0002–6 months
- Innovator Founder visa£2,000–£5,0002–4 months
- Scale-Up visa£1,500–£2,5002–4 months
- High Potential Individual visa£1,500–£2,5001–3 months
- Global Business Mobility (Senior or Specialist worker)£1,800–£3,0001–3 months
- Global Business Mobility (UK Expansion)£5,000–£8,0001–3 months
- Sponsor Licence application£4,000–£8,0001–2 months
- Business Visitor visa£1,000–£2,5001–3 months
- Ancestry£2,000–£3,0001–3 months
- Student£1,800–£2,5001–3 months
- Graduate visa£1,400–£2,5001–3 months
- Youth Mobility Scheme visa£1,500–£2,5001–3 months
- Visitor visa£1,200–£2,5001–3 months
- EU Settlement Scheme (settled and pre-settled)£1,500–£2,5001–3 months
- Further leave to remain£2,000–£5,0003–12 months
- Partner of a British citizen / settled person£1,800–£4,0003–6 months
- Parent route£2,000–£4,0003–6 months
- Child dependant£2,000–£4,0003–6 months
- Indefinite Leave to Remain£2,000–£5,0003–6 months
- Naturalisation£2,000–£4,5003–6 months
- Registration as a British citizen£2,000–£4,0003–6 months
- Spouse or child dependant of a worker visa£1,000–£1,5001–3 months
- BNO visa£2,000–£5,0001–3 months
- Appeals£4,000–£8,0003–6 months
Regular disbursements
Paid to third parties such as the Home Office; we handle payment for you. Figures are approximate (as of 2025) and subject to change.
- Home Office application fee£100–£3,000+, varies by route
- Immigration Health Surcharge£1,035 per adult per year; £776 student and child
- Home Office appeal fee£80 (paper) or £140 (oral hearing)
- Service Point appointment (UKVCAS)Free, or up to £200+
- Super priority processing (where available)£1,000
- Entry clearance application fee£115–£3,250+
- Client due diligence AML check incl. biometric ID£30 + £6 VAT per individual
Fees may be subject to VAT at 20%. VAT may not apply if you are applying from outside the UK; we confirm whether VAT is chargeable when you instruct us.
Probate
Uncontested probate, all assets in the UK
Our fees for estate administration are based on the time spent by the fee earners involved at their normal hourly rates. We do not charge a percentage of the estate and do not apply any uplift for value. Fees are paid from the estate, so we would not ask beneficiaries to contribute.
This quote applies where
- There is a valid will
- The deceased was UK resident and domiciled with no assets overseas
- There is no more than one residential property and no commercial property
- Accounts are held with no more than 5 banks or building societies
- There are no other intangible assets apart from personal possessions
- There are fewer than 10 beneficiaries and no disputes between them
- There are no ongoing trusts in the will and no claims against the estate
- No inheritance tax is payable and no full account to HMRC is needed
Possible disbursements
- Probate application fee£300, plus £16 per copy
- Estate search or similar asset search£150–£200
- Bankruptcy-only Land Charges search£7 + £1.40 VAT per beneficiary
- London Gazette advertisementapprox. £85 + £17 VAT
- Local newspaper advertisementapprox. £50–£100 + £10–£20 VAT
- Client due diligence AML check incl. biometric ID£30 + £6 VAT per individual
Not included in the estimate
- Share holdings (stocks and bonds), which can add cost depending on the estate
- Tax returns for the administration period or up to the date of death
- Sale or transfer of property, handled by our Residential Conveyancing Team
- Preparing a Deed of Variation
The small print
- Our conveyancing fees assume a standard transaction in which no unforeseen matters arise, such as a defect in title that needs remedying before completion, or additional documents beyond the main transaction. Leasehold fees assume the assignment of an existing lease, not the grant of a new lease.
- All stated fees may be subject to VAT at the prevailing rate of 20%, where applicable.
- Every matter is different. We give an estimate of likely charges and timescales at the earliest opportunity and discuss individual matters with you.
- Disbursement figures are estimates and may change; we confirm exact amounts when preparing your matter.
- Colman Coyle is the trading name of Colman Coyle Limited, authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA number 596940).
Not sure which fee applies to you?
Tell us about your matter and we will give you a clear estimate of likely charges and timescales.
Or call +44 (0)20 7354 3000