Assent of property describes the process of transferring ownership of a property from a deceased person to their beneficiaries.
What can I expect to pay?
Every matter is, of course, different, but our average costs for an Assent are £300 – £600 plus VAT. This reflects 1 – 2 hours of time charged at the following rates:-
| Hourly Charge Rate | |
| Partner | £300.00 plus VAT |
| Senior Associate | £250.00 plus VAT |
| Associate | £220.00 plus VAT |
| Conveyancer | £190.00 plus VAT |
VAT is charged at 20%.
If the Assent triggers first registration of the property at the Land Registry these costs will increase dependent on the complexity of the registration.
Are there any hidden costs or disbursements?
We will always be upfront with our fees at the start of a transaction. Disbursements are not always known at the outset but we would not expect there to be many disbursements for an Assent. Common disbursements you can expect to pay include:-
| Disbursement | Average Cost |
| Copies of documents from HM Land Registry (e.g. title registers, title plans etc) | £3.00 per document |
| ID checks (required under the Anti Money Laundering Regulations) | £25.00 plus VAT per person
|
| Registration fee to HM Land Registry | These range from £20 – £1,105 dependent on the value of the property and whether or not the transfer is for consideration.
You can find more information about the Land Registry fees and how they are charged here. We will, of course, advise you at the start of your matter how much you can expect to pay. |
What work is included in those costs?
Every matter is of course different, but in general you can expect our costs to include:-
- Obtaining and reviewing copies of the title deeds.
- Advising you on the legal implications of the Assent.
- Preparing the Assent and arranging for its execution.
- Registering the Assent at HM Land Registry.
Is there anything not included?
Our costs include all work that is usually required to complete the declaration of trust. However, you may require additional legal services as a result (such as updating your Will) and these would be charged separately. You can find more information about the other legal services we offer here.
How long will the transaction take?
We would expect a simple declaration of trust to be completed within 1 – 2 weeks.
