Our Fees
Alstern Solicitors offers highly competitive fees tailored to your needs. Our transparent pricing structure ensures easy access to the estimated fees listed below. Contact us today to receive a fixed, no-obligation quote that guarantees peace of mind. Please note that our fees exclude VAT. Currently, VAT is set at 20%, subject to potential changes by the UK government
Our Fees
Under SRA Transparency Rules, we are required to publish price and service information regarding our legal services
Immigration Fees
At Alstern Solicitors, we are dedicated to upholding the principles of transparency and compliance with the Solicitors Regulation Authority Transparency Rule when it comes to pricing our immigration services. We understand that immigration matters can be intricate, and our foremost objective is to ensure that our pricing is both lucid and equitable for all our clients.
We have outlined estimated average prices to provide a general idea of the costs associated with various types of immigration applications. However, it's crucial to recognize that the exact cost of your case can vary significantly based on your individual circumstances. Factors that may influence the overall cost include your current place of residence, your previous immigration history, the availability of necessary documentation, the extent of supporting evidence that needs to be reviewed, and the time required to prepare the application.
VAT is a government tax that we are required to charge, and it is typically added at a rate of 20% to our fees and disbursements. However, please note that certain disbursements and our legal fees for services outside the UK are outside the scope of VAT.
discussing your circumstances in detail and confirming whether this is the most appropriate application for you to make and what other options may be available to you;
giving you advice about the requirements of the Immigration Rules and whether you meet the criteria;
if you do not fulfil certain criteria, examine whether this can be overcome and how;
providing you with a comprehensive checklist outlining what documents are required in support of your application;
reviewing supporting documentation provided by you and advising if additional evidence is required* where necessary, helping you obtain further evidence (such as medical records and bank statements), including taking statements of any witnesses;
preparing your application and submitting it on your behalf
Liaising with the Home Office in relation to your application if needed
giving you advice about the outcome of the application and any further steps you need to take.
*the amount of hours depends on the number of documents, whether they need to be translated, whether anything is missing and how long it will take to obtain the missing documents Disbursements
For many of the visa applications listed below, once we have reviewed your circumstances and confirmed your eligibility, we charge on a fixed fee arrangement. This means that regardless of whether the work on your application extends beyond the initial estimate, you will not incur additional charges unless there is a significant change to your circumstances or instructions.
These fees are calculated based on our hourly rates, which vary depending on the experience of the solicitor/Paralegal/Fees earner handling your case.
Solicitors / Consultants or legal executives with over 5 years’ experience
or non-qualified consultants with over 20 years’ experience- Grade A £325.00
Solicitors / Consultants with over 3 years’ experience- Grade B £265.00
Other Solicitors / fee earners with relevant experience- Grade C £215.00
Trainee Solicitors / paralegals with relevant experience- Grade D £165.00
Immigration Advice | Fee (excl VAT £20%)* |
Naturalisation/Registration as British citizen | £600 - £1500 |
EEA National Applications (permanent residence, residence cards, and registration certificates) | £1,000 - £2,500 |
Visitor Visas | £800 - £2,500 |
Student Visas | £800 - £2,500 |
Spouse and partners applications, including fiancé(e)s or proposed civil partners | £1,200 - £2,500 |
Sole Representatives | £4,000 - £7,500 |
High Potential Individual: | £1,500 - £2,500 |
Global Talent Route: | £3,000 - £5,500 |
Tier 1 Investors | £16,000 - £60,000 |
Tier 1 Entrepreneurs | £12,000 - £30,000 |
Ancestry Visas | £2,500 |
Long Residence | £3,500 |
Discretionary Leave | £4,000+ |
BNO Visa | £1,000 - £1,500 |
BNO dependant (Partner/Child) | £900 |
BNO Adult Dependant | £2,000 |
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as visa fees. To ensure a smoother process, we take care of the payment of disbursements on your behalf.
Below are some common disbursements:
Home office costs
Any Home Office fees associated with making the application. These fees should be paid directly to the Home Office as part of the application process. If your application is refused by the Home Office, the costs for advice and assistance in relation to any appeal are not included in the fees quoted here.
Please see the following link for further information regarding the Home Office fees:
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/visa-regulations-revised-table
Expert witnesses costs
Fees of independent expert witnesses where required. The cost of the expert witness may also incur VAT at 20%.
Costs for Interpreters/Translations
If you require the services of an interpreter or need documents translated, we will confirm the associated costs. Interpreter fees vary based on the language spoken and the time required by the interpreter. Please note that the cost of interpreters may also include VAT at a rate of 20%.
Translated Documents
The Home Office mandates that documents must be translated by a specialist company for acceptance. Consequently, you may incur costs for translating documents, and these costs may also be subject to VAT at 20%.
Counsel Fees
Counsel's fees may be incurred for specialized advice on complex issues or representation, whether before the Home Office or in Tribunal hearings. The average hourly rate for Counsel ranges from £250 to £450 per hour, depending on their level of experience, knowledge, and skill. In most cases, Counsel's fees also include VAT at 20%.
Travel and Accommodation Costs
For clients applying from outside the UK, we often arrange in-person meetings. In addition to our fees, we charge for flight and accommodation expenses to facilitate these meetings and provide you with the necessary support.
We cannot guarantee how long the Home Office will take to process your application. Read the current processing times.
We will normally be able to submit this type of application within 2-8 weeks of you instructing us, but we will let you know at the earliest opportunity if it is likely to take longer than this.
Please note the anticipated fees are an estimate based on the facts above. All applications are likely to vary and of course, we can give you a more accurate estimate once we have more information about your specific case
Our team has over 50 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to immigration. Regardless of who works on your matters, they will be supervised by Lani Nguyen, Director of Alstern Solicitors.
Find out more about out people here.
Frequently asked questions
Our conveyancing work is typically carried out on a fixed-fee basis. Our estimated fees vary based on the value of the freehold property you are buying or selling. If the property is leasehold, additional fees will apply – as outlined below:
Freehold Property Value | Our Fee* |
Up to £350,000 | £1,600 plus VAT |
£350,001 to £550,000 | £1,700 plus VAT |
£550,001 to £850,000 | £1,800 plus VAT |
£850,001 to £1,000,000 | £2,000 plus VAT |
£1,000,001 to £1,500,000 | £2,200 - £4,500 plus VAT |
£1,500,001 and above | 0.17% of property value plus VAT |
Leasehold Property Value | Our Fee* |
Up to £350,000 | £1,800 plus VAT |
£350,001 to £550,000 | £1,900 plus VAT |
£550,001 to £850,000 | £2,000 plus VAT |
£850,001 to £1,000,000 | £2,200 plus VAT |
£1,000,001 to £1,500,000 | £2,400 - £5,000 plus VAT |
£1,500,001 and above | 0.20% of property value plus VAT |
* as an example, a property valued at £2.0m would be charged at £3,400 + VAT.
If you are buying and selling a property then a charge would be made both the sale and the purchase.
If you are buying or selling a leasehold property then please add a fixed fee of £250 + VAT to the pricing for the Freehold Property Scale shown above to give you an estimate of what the fee would be.
If you are buying a leasehold property that subject to Building Safety Act then additional £500 plus VAT will be charged.
The following additional fixed fees are likely to apply to your transaction and, if they do, will be included in any quote provided.
Items | Our Fee* |
File Set Up Fee (Non-refundable) | £150 plus VAT |
CHAPS/Telegraphic Transfer Admin Fee | £40 plus VAT |
ID/AML/Source of Funds Check (Nation) | £49 plus VAT per person |
ID/AML/Source of Funds Check (International) | £100 plus VAT per person |
Completion of SDLT Form | £150 plus VAT |
Lawyer Checker Admin Fee | £25 plus VAT |
Limited Company Purchase/Sale | £250 plus VAT |
Gifted Deposit Deed | £150 plus VAT |
Pre-Completion Searches | £50 plus VAT |
The average referral fee paid is £150. Please keep in mind that this fee may vary depending on the source of the instruction.
The disbursements you incur will depend on whether you are buying, selling, or both, and whether the property is freehold or leasehold. Additionally, the location and type of property can also affect the required disbursements. Properties in specific locations, for instance, may necessitate more extensive searches and checks than others.
For clients buying a Freehold property, the following typical disbursements apply:
Our Fee (Varies)
Land Charges Search: 6 per name (no VAT)
Land Registry Search: £3 per name (no VAT)
HM Land Registry Fee: Calculated using the HMLR Fee Calculator
SIM Index Map Search: £5 (no VAT)
Property searches - £250 - 650 inc VAT
Land registration fee - £20- £910
When selling a property, you will typically need to pay the following disbursement:
Land Registry Office Copy Entries and Title Plan: £6 per title number (no VAT)
If the property is a 'leasehold' property, the disbursements differ and usually include:
Notice of Transfer fee (chargeable as per the lease, typically £50 to £200 + VAT)
Notice of Charge fee (if mortgaging, as per the lease, typically £50 to £200 + VAT)
Deed of Covenant fee (provided by the management company, typically £100 to £250 + VAT)
Certificate of Compliance fee (varies, typically £150 to £250 + VAT)
Leasehold Management Pack fee (applies when selling a leasehold property, typically £150 to £450 + VAT)
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority's website.
The timeframe from when you engage our services (upon receiving an offer on your property) to the actual move-out date depends on several factors. On average, this process typically spans 12-14 weeks.
However, the duration can vary, influenced by the parties involved in the property chain and the promptness of their responses and document submissions. For instance, if your property is leasehold, obtaining the management pack may extend the timeline considerably, contingent on the specific management company's procedures. Similarly, if your property has structural issues, such as subsidence, the process can take significantly longer than the usual 6-10 weeks, and there may be additional charges associated with such situations.
We follow the SRA's suggested stages of the process as follows:
Take your instructions and give you initial advice
Check finances are in place to fund purchase and contact lender's solicitors if needed
Receive and advise on contract documents
Carry out searches
Obtain further planning documentation if required
Make any necessary enquiries of seller's solicitor
Give you advice on all documents and information received
Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
Send final contract to you for signature
Agree completion date (date from which you own the property)
Exchange contracts and notify you that this has happened
Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender and you
Complete purchase
Deal with payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
The table below provides a typical example of our costs that may apply when selling a freehold property for £500,000 (excluding Estate Agency Fees), involving a single client:
Item | Fees |
Our Legal Fees | £1,700 plus VAT |
Telegraphic Transfer Admin Fee (per transfer) | £40 plus VAT |
Office Copy Entries | £6 no VAT |
ID/AML/Source of Funds Check (per person) | £49 plus VAT |
HM Land Registry Fees | £100 no VAT |
Net Total | £1,895 |
Plus VAT | £357.8 |
Gross Total | £2252.8 |
Please note - See the additional charges list for charges that may apply to your individual case.
Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as Land Registry fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC's website or if the property is located in Wales by using the Welsh Revenue Authority's website.
How long will my property purchase take? How long it will take from your offer being accepted until you can move in to your house will depend on several factors. The average process takes between 8 to 12 weeks. It can be quicker or slower, depending on the parties in the chain. For example, if you are a first-time buyer, purchasing a new build property with a mortgage in principle, it could take 16 weeks.
Stages of the process
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, below we have suggested some key stages that you may wish to include:
Initial Instructions and Initial Advice
Financial Verification and Contacting Lender's Solicitors (if necessary)
Receiving and Advising on Contract Documents
Conducting Property Searches
Obtaining Additional Planning Documentation (if required)
Making Necessary Inquiries to the Seller's Solicitor
Providing Advice on All Received Documents and Information
Reviewing Mortgage Offer Conditions with You
Sending the Final Contract for Your Signature
Agreeing on the Completion Date (the date when you own the property)
Exchanging Contracts and Notifying You of the Exchange
Coordinating Receipt of All Required Funds from You and the Lender
Completing the Purchase
Managing the Payment of Stamp Duty/Land Tax
Handling the Application for Registration at the Land Registry
Our team has over 50 years of collective experience in delivering high quality work in all matters relating to conveyancing. Regardless of who works on your matters, they will be supervised by Lani Nguyen, Director of Alstern Solicitors.
Find out more about out people here.
