Buying the Freehold

LASTOLITE

LASTOLITE

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Bill
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After buying a house about 9 months ago Ive been offered the freehold, at around 600 quid I thought it was a good deal I made my interest known to the estates management company and they have sent me the paperwork to fill in - along with a payment plan 4 instalment via BT Post dated cheques or debit card and credit card.

The paperwork has a checkbox to say IF we want to use a solicitor. I called the solicitor who we have used before and for the purchase of our last 2 homes and they have quoted 450 plus vat plus dispersements. As I understand the only cost is Land Registry fee and that has been included in the Freehold price as quoted.

I am tempted to proceed without the solicitor - But I am not 100% sure, t all seems straight forward from my pov - but what will the solicitor do that he has not just done after buying the property just several months ago?


Any advise welcome.....
 
We bought the freehold of this place some 20 or more years ago. Cost us £200 plus £200 for solicitors.
We too were told that there was no need for a solicitor, but the paperwork they sent us was unfathomable to a lay man. We struggled and in the end gave up. It may be that everything has been much simplified and that you can do it yourself these days.
We thought that as it was our house then £200 was a small price to pay for having it done right. Cosidering the time since we did it your quoted legal fees seem quite reasonable.

Only you can make the call, but it's your home......
 
You don't have to accept your solicitor's quote - just tell him it is too much and why. Or get a quote from another.
 
Many years ago my solicitor quoted £400 for similar work.....I told her that she was basically taking the urine ......she dropped it immediately to £175
 
Cheers for the advise, I have proceeded without one and will have a gander at the paperwork - I can change my mind at the next stage and pass it all to a solicitor......If Need be.

Good to hear what others have done though......
 
There's a lot of Leasehold houses (I know flats are a bit different) in Cardiff.

We bought ours at the first possible opportunity (about 20 years ago now). Apart from the peace of mind, it should make selling the property in future much easier and more straightforward for any buyer to obtain a mortgage.
 
Remember that when you take on the freehold you're taking on additional legal duties and responsibilities for the property. These will vary from one property to the next. Don't look at the cost of buying the freehold, consider the total value of the property when deciding whether professional legal help might be useful.

But why not ask the solicitor you've got the quote from:
(i) Is this your best price?
(ii) What am I getting for my money?
(iii) Persuade me it's in my interests to have you do this for me?​
 
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