Fees

Debt Recovery Claims

These costs apply where your claim is in relation to an unpaid invoice which is not disputed and enforcement action is not needed. If the other party disputes your claim at any point, we will discuss any further work required and provide you with revised advice about costs if necessary.

Stage 1 – Sending a standard letter before claim

Stage 2 – Issuing a Court claim

Stage 3 –

Anyone wishing to proceed with a claim should note that:

• The VAT element of our fee cannot be reclaimed from your debtor;

• Interest and compensation may take the debt into a higher banding, with a higher cost;

• The costs quoted above are not for matters where enforcement action, such as the bailiff, is needed to collect your debt.

Our fee includes:

• taking your instructions and reviewing documentation;

• sending a letter before action;

• receiving payment and sending onto you, or if the debt is not paid, drafting and issuing claim;

• where no Acknowledgement of Service or Defence is received, applying to the Court to enter Judgment in Default;

• when Judgment in default is received, write to the other side to request payment;

• If payment is not received with 14 days, providing you with advice on next steps and likely costs.

The fee does not include:

• Undertaking any enquiries in respect of the solvency of the debtor (“debtor profiling”);

• Advising you in respect of the merits of your claim or gathering evidence (our fixed fee debt recovery scheme is premised upon the fact that there is an unpaid invoice which is not disputed);

• Dealing with the claim should it become defended, in which case we will discuss further costs and funding the matter with you.

Work outside the fixed fees

We will discuss any work that falls outside of our fixed fees. Our standard hourly rate is £295 per hour, plus VAT.

VAT is charged at 20% (or such other rate as may be set by the Government from time to time)

Timescales

Matters usually take 1-4 month from receipt of instructions from you to receipt of payment from the other side, depending on whether or not it is necessary to issue a claim. This is on the basis that the other side pays promptly on receipt of Judgment in default. If enforcement action is needed, the matter will take longer to resolve.

Meet the Debt Recovery Team

Unfair and Wrongful Dismissal Claims — Our Fees

Below is a breakdown of typical costs, based on the complexity of your case. We’ll always give you a tailored cost estimate once we understand your specific circumstances.

Please note that our fees are all estimated at our standard hourly rate, which is £295 plus VAT.

What Our Fees Include

• Case review, initial advice, and outlining your options

• Drafting your claim or defence

• Preparing schedules of loss or response documents

• Ongoing legal representation, including negotiations

• Tribunal directions compliance and document bundles

• Witness preparation and statements

• Tribunal hearing preparation (including barrister briefing)

Other Costs and Disbursements

• Barrister’s Fees: Agreed in advance, based on seniority, case complexity, and time required

• Expenses: Travel, parking, overnight stays, courier fees — always discussed and agreed first

• Photocopying and Searches: As applicable

Employment Tribunal claims currently do not incur filing fees

Meet the Employment Law Team

Motoring Cases Fixed Fees - Guilty Pleas (Magistrates Court)

We offer fixed fees for guilty-plea cases in the Magistrates Court:

• Single-hearing guilty plea: £250 plus VAT.

• Guilty plea requiring up to two hearings (e.g. first appearance and sentence): £450 plus VAT.

We will discuss with you whether a fixed fee is appropriate for your matter.

If your case falls outside the fixed-fee scope (for example, it is too complex, it becomes contested or requires additional preparation), our standard charging rate applies: £295 plus VAT per hour.

Fee includes:

• Attendance/preparation;

• Considering evidence;

• Taking your instructions;

• Providing advice on plea and likely sentence;

• Advice on sentencing options

• Advice on whether Exceptional Hardship or Special Reasons arguments may be appropriate in the circumstances (although if such arguments are pursued, this will probably cause the matter to fall outside of our fixed fee scheme);

• Attendance and representation at a single hearing at the Magistrates' Court

The fee does not include:

• Instruction of any expert witnesses;

• Taking statements from any witnesses;

• Advice and assistance in relation to a special reasons hearing;

• Advice or assistance in relation to any appeal.

The key stages of your matter are based on the presumption that you have entered a guilty plea and have a date for your hearing.

Arranging to take any witness statements if necessary (this will have an additional cost, likely between £200 to £1,200 plus VAT, depending upon the number of witnesses. We will give an estimate of costs based upon our hourly rate as necessary).

We will explain the court procedure to you, so you know what to expect on the day of your hearing and the sentencing options available to the court.

We will conduct any further preparatory work, obtain further instructions from you if necessary and answer any follow-up queries you have.

We cannot provide a timescale of when your hearing will take place as this depends on the court listing for that day.

We will attend court on the day and meet with you before going to the court. We anticipate being at court for 1 – 3 hours.

We will discuss the outcome with you. If advice is required on appeal, this will carry an additional cost.

Contested Hearings

Should your matter be adjourned for a contested hearing in the Magistrates’ Court, whether that be on the basis of a not guilty plea or because you are arguing special reasons or exceptional hardship, then we will provide you with an estimate of costs at our hourly rate of £295 plus VAT per hour. The costs will be entirely dependent upon the complexity of the matter and the amount of work involved.

Typically, for a single-day or half-day contested hearing in the Magistrates' Court, including preparation, costs would typically be between £1,500 and £3,000, plus VAT. We will discuss the scope of the work required on your behalf when providing an estimate of costs, but again, typically, that would include analysing the case and advising in respect of it, taking witness statements from all and any witnesses, instructing any necessary expert witnesses, instructing an advocate to represent you at the contested hearing and other ancillary matters.

Crown Court

Should your matter be sent to the Crown Court for any reason, which normally only happens in the more serious cases, then we will provide you with an estimate of costs in relation to the matter at that juncture.

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as for a barrister or for an expert witness to assist your case. There are rarely any disbursements in motoring cases but if there are, we will discuss and agree these with you in advance of incurring them. Barrister’s and expert’s fees can vary but will often be between £1,000 and £3,000, to which VAT would usually be added.

Meet the Motoring Team

An application for a new premises licence (simple application)

Typical fee of between £1,000 and £2,000 +VAT based upon an hourly rate of £295 (excluding disbursements).

Disbursements

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as the application fee. We will pay the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process:

• Application fee (payable to licensing authority) between £100 and £635 depending upon the Band. Additional fees apply for venue capacity over 5,000 people;*

• Advertising fee: approximately £75 + VAT;*

• Enquiry agent fees to display public notices circa £50 to £100 + VAT

• Special delivery fee to serve the application £10 to £15 + VAT;

*These fees vary depending on the individual premises and where it is located. The fees can, on occasion, be higher that the ranges given above. We will give you an accurate figure for each item as soon as we are able to do so. Not all fees attract VAT, but where relevant this will be added at 20%.

Fee includes:

• Taking your instructions and advising you as to how you can promote the licensing objectives within your application;

• Advising you as to the type of plans you are required to submit with your application;

• Completing the application form for a new premises licence (including the operating schedule) in accordance with your instructions and submitting this to the local licensing authority alongside suitable plans. You must provide suitable plans;

• Providing guidance on the fee levels payable to the licensing authority;

• Preparing copies of the premises licence application for disclosure to the responsible authorities and service copies of the application on the responsible authorities;

• Drafting the notices advertising the premises licence application and submitting the notice to the local newspaper;

• Arranging with you for you to display the notice(s) advertising the premises licence application and advising as to where and how this should be done by you in order to comply with the requirements of the Licensing Act 2003;

• Providing a Designated Premises Supervisor (DPS) consent form for signature by a personal licence holder proposed by yourself;

• Checking the licence once granted and correcting any errors with the licensing authority.

The fee does not include:

• Obtaining suitable plans;

• Attending pre-consultation meetings with the Licensing Authority or Responsible Authorities, nor their fee for this meeting;

• Dealing with or advising you in relation to queries or representations received from either the responsible authorities or other interested parties;

• Advice on varying the licence;

• Attendance and representation at a licencing sub-committee hearing of the responsible authority. If representations are received and attendance and representation at a licensing sub-committee is required then we will provide a separate fee estimate for this work which will be charged at an hourly rate.

How long will my application take?

Matters usually take 2 to 4 months from receipt of full instructions from you. This is on the basis of the application being relatively straightforward and you being able to provide all the necessary documents promptly. If your matter is more complex, for example if there is substantial opposition from interested parties or if there is a delay in receiving the documents we need, it may take longer.

Meet the Licensing Team

PROBATE/ADMINISTRATION OF ESTATES FOLLOWING DEATH

Obtaining Grant only (where no inheritance is due - please note that we only exceptionally accept instructions on a grant only basis)

Obtaining Grant only (where Inheritance Tax form is required- please note that we only exceptionally accept instructions on a grant only basis)

Our fees for assisting with the full administration of an estate (pre and post Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration) cover:-

• Receiving initial instructions from you.

• Notifying various parties and institutions of the death.

• Valuing the estate including jointly owned property, other assets, debts and liabilities as at the date of death.

• Preparing IHT400 Tax Return and supplementary documents, if required.

• Arranging for the payment of any Inheritance Tax before moving to the next stage i.e. Grant of Probate.

• Commencing the application for Grant of Probate/Letters of Administration to include statement for the executors/administrators to send to the Probate Registry (with the original Last Will and Codicil, if the deceased executed one).

• Applying to the Probate Registry for the Grant of Probate (or Letters of Administration where there is no Will).

• Receiving the Grant and circulating it amongst asset holders to procure the closure/settlement of assets.

• Receiving and holding funds on client account pending completion.

• Preparing Estate Accounts to confirm all assets received or transferred, all liabilities paid and the net sums or assets due to the beneficiaries.

• Liaising with the beneficiaries and making final distributions.

*These fees are indicative only. Fees will be confirmed following receipt of the full details relating to the estate acceptance of instructions. We hope you appreciate that each case is individual. Please note we do not advise on the deceased’s liability for income tax, or estate liability for income tax but can refer to a tax adviser.

Disbursements are costs relating to a particular matter and are payable to third parties, such as Court fees. Disbursements are in addition to our fees. We generally handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf. Some of the disbursements that are likely to arise are set out below (please note these fees are subject to annual review) :-

If there is no Will or the estate consists of any shareholdings there is likely to be additional costs that could range significantly depending on the estate and how those assets are to be dealt with.

If there are numerous beneficiaries, there is also likely to be additional costs involved due to having liaise with those beneficiaries and settle their entitlements.

Dealing with the Conveyancing on the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included in our fees. We have a separate team of residential conveyancers that can assist with this and would be happy to provide a quote if and when required.

Any disputes between beneficiaries or the executors is not included in our fees quoted above.

Queries from HMRC regarding valuations supplied may also be charged separately.

On average, it can take around 12 to 20 weeks to obtain a Grant of Probate where there is no Inheritance Tax payable.

Where there is Inheritance Tax to pay, it can take around 16-20 weeks for the Grant to be issued.

The timescale depends on the arrangements for paying IHT, the obtaining of valuations and HMRC issuing a relevant unique code required to apply for Probate.

We have a separate department that offer advice and guidance on Will disputes or actions against executors of estates.

Please do contact us if you need any assistance in this regard.

Meet the Private Client Team

Buying, Selling and Re-Mortgaging Your Property

We offer a clear, fixed-fee service for most residential conveyancing transactions — whether you’re buying, selling, or re-mortgaging a property. Our fees cover all legal work and essential administration, including redeeming existing mortgages, paying estate agents on your behalf, handling Land Registry applications, and dealing with Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT).

Our Fees

Our fees typically range from £1,300.00 to £1,750.00 + VAT, depending on factors like property value, location, and complexity. In the vast majority of cases, these are fixed fees. If your transaction requires additional work, we’ll always let you know in advance and agree how those costs will be handled.

If an hourly rate applies, our charges are:

• Director: £265.00 + VAT

• Assistant Conveyancer: £245.00 + VAT

• Trainee Solicitor: £150.00 + VAT

VAT is charged at 20% (or the current government rate).

All matters are handled by qualified team members with the experience to manage your transaction from start to finish. Roach Pittis is proud to be CQS-accredited, reflecting our high standards in residential conveyancing.

Freehold Sale or Purchase

Leasehold Sale or Purchase

Re-Mortgage Fees

Freehold:

• Up to £350,000 — £700.00 + £140.00 VAT

• £350,001 – £400,000 — £850.00 + £170.00 VAT

Leasehold:

• Up to £350,000 — £900.00 + £180.00 VAT

• £350,001 – £400,000 — £1,200.00 + £240.00 VAT

Disbursements & Additional Costs

Disbursements are third-party fees we pay on your behalf (such as search fees or Land Registry charges). Typical disbursements include:

• ID check (per person): from £12.00 + £2.40 VAT

• Lawyer checker fee: from £15.00 + £3.00 VAT

• Search pack: from £271.60 (inc. VAT)

• Bankruptcy search (per person): £7.80

• Land Registry search: from £8.80 per document

• Official copy documents: £17.60 per title

• Funds transfer fee (per transfer): from £35.00 + £7.00 VAT

• Land Registry fees: £20.00–£680.00 depending on property value

• Stamp Duty: Based on purchase price and ownership — use the HMRC Stamp Duty Calculator or Welsh Revenue Authority if the property is in Wales

Leasehold Property Third-Party Costs

These fees are set by landlords or management companies and can vary:

• Notice of Transfer / Charge fees: £25.00–£200.00 (plus VAT)

• Deed of Covenant fee: £25.00–£200.00 (plus VAT)

• Certificate of Compliance fee: £25.00–£200.00 (plus VAT)

• Sales pack / leasehold enquiries: £100.00–£450.00 (plus VAT)

Some of these are compulsory. Final costs will be confirmed when we receive full information. Ongoing ground rent and service charges are also likely to apply and may increase over time.

When Fees Might Increase

We’ll always notify you in advance if your matter requires more work than originally expected. Additional charges may apply if, for example:

• The property is unregistered or has defective title

• Planning or building regulations are missing

• You’re buying with a Help to Buy ISA

• The purchase is via a company or involves shared ownership

• There are multiple lenders, bridging finance, or a lease extension

• The property is a new build

How Long Will It Take?

On average, a sale or purchase takes 9 to 12 weeks from offer to completion.

Faster timelines may apply for simple, chain-free freehold transactions (6–8 weeks), while more complex leasehold or new build purchases may take 4–6 months, especially if a lease extension is required.

Step-by-Step Guide: Buying a Property

1. Take initial instructions and give advice

2. Discuss finances and mortgage offers

3. Review and explain contract documentation

4. Carry out legal searches

5. Raise and resolve legal enquiries

6. Report on all findings and conditions

7. Finalise contracts and agree a completion date

8. Exchange contracts and request funds from your lender

9. Complete your purchase

10. Pay Stamp Duty (if applicable)

11. Register your ownership with HM Land Registry

12. Serve any leasehold notices if required

Step-by-Step Guide: Selling a Property

1. Take initial instructions and provide advice

2. Draft and issue contract pack

3. Liaise with existing lenders for redemption figures

4. Respond to buyer’s legal enquiries

5. Finalise contracts and agree completion date

6. Exchange contracts

7. Complete your sale and redeem mortgages

8. Send post-completion documents to the buyer’s solicitor

Meet the Residential Conveyancing Team

Fees

If you wish to instruct us at Roach Pittis to serve Notices and/or issue possession proceedings, then the following fixed charges will apply:

Court Hearings

If your matter is listed for a Court Hearing (and the likelihood of that is something we can discuss if you have an initial appointment with us) then we charge for preparation and attendance at Court Hearings at hourly rates, although we are happy to discuss our charges with you and we will of course give you an appropriate cost estimate in advance.

Meet the Residential Landlord & Tenant Team