Mortgage or Re-Mortgage of Freehold or Leasehold Property – Pricing Information

Mortgage or Re-Mortgage of Freehold or Leasehold Property

Our Fees

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the mortgage or re-mortgage of either freehold or leasehold property where the mortgage is not completed at the same time as a purchase.
No two property transactions are the same and each client will have specific requirements as will most lenders. We therefore provide each client with an individual estimate giving full details of our fees and the other costs involved in a transaction. If there are any unforeseen difficulties we will let you know right away and explain any impact this may have on costs before incurring additional expense
Our fees are based on the amount of the loan, nature of the property and the work likely to be involved and will be subject to Value Added Tax at the current rate. Our normal fee for a straightforward mortgage or re-mortgage of either freehold or leasehold property with no unforeseen problems will range between £650.00 plus VAT for a simple transaction to £1,500 plus VAT for a more complicated transaction. The actual charge will depend on will depend on the property and specific circumstances of the transaction and factors which are likely to increase the costs involved will include:-

• If the title to the property is unusual or complex – generally the costs of dealing with a leasehold property will be greater than dealing with a freehold property of a similar value.
• If the title is presently registered or unregistered.
• Whether the lender has appointed its own legal advisor’s and, if so, the nature and extent of their requirements.
• The loan being for a large amount.
• Unusual or complicated requirements by the lender.
• Farm, agricultural or industrial property.
• Other non residential property.
• Where the mortgage is linked to a guarantee or similar arrangement.

Additional work may sometimes be charged by agreement with the client at an hourly rate and the fees chargeable by each of the residential conveyancing team can be seen here.

Payments to Others

There will usually be payments to others (sometimes called “disbursements”) such as search fees, fees payable to HM Land Registry and Value Added Tax. In the case of leasehold property there may be a fee, often in the region of £100.00 to £250.00) payable in respect of a Notice of Mortgage or Certificate of Compliance as well as a fee for obtaining management information (this varies but is usually between £100.00 and £300.00)

We deal with payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

We do not make payments to others in respect of referral fees.

Example Estimate

Based on the re-mortgage of a property with registered title value of £300,000 and a mortgage loan of £100,000 from a mainstream lender our charges and disbursements would be:-

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my transaction take?

We completely understand that you would like some idea of how long the matter will take to deal with and we will do whatever we can to complete the matter in accordance with your preferred timescale. However it is sometimes the case that matters arise which delay a transaction. We will do whatever we can to identify any such matters as early as possible in order that you may plan accordingly.
In our experience, most stand alone mortgages or re-mortgage transactions complete between 6 and 8 weeks from the date that we receive a valid mortgage offer.

What are the stages of the process mortgaging or re-mortgaging?

The precise stages involved in the transaction will vary according to the circumstances. However, our service to you will normally include the following:-

• Take your instructions and give you initial advice
• Obtain details of amount required to repay any existing mortgages
• Check finances are in place to and contact lender if needed
• Receive mortgage offer which usually includes instructions to act for the lender as well as the client borrower
• Carry out necessary searches
• Obtain further planning documentation if required
• Go through conditions of mortgage offer with you
• Send mortgage documents to you for signature
• Agree completion date
• Arrange for all monies needed to be received from lender
• Complete mortgage, repay any existing mortgages, and account to you
• Deal with application for registration at Land Registry
• Deal with any necessary Notice of Mortgage or Certificate of Compliance (leasehold properties)

Who will deal with my transaction?

Our conveyancing team is made up of Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives and Legal Assistants who are experienced in dealing with property transactions and well qualified to help guide you guide you through what can be a very stressful process and provide you with the support you need from start to finish.
They can help you with a wide range of matters, including:-

• Residential property sales and purchases
• Re-mortgages
• Shared & joint ownership
• Matrimonial transfers
• Probate sales
• Residential property investments and lettings
• New homes
• Help to Buy

What if something goes wrong?

If there is a problem you should contact the person who is dealing with your matter as soon as possible with details of your concern. If it is not possible to resolve the matter quickly and informally we have a complaints handling procedure which you can read here.

Debt Collection – Pricing Information

Debt Collection – Pricing Information

Our Fees

Every case is different and we recommend that you have an initial consultation with one of our lawyers who can then discuss with you the likely issues your case will raise and provide an indication of the likely fees involved. There are many factors which may affect the amount of work involved, and therefore the likely cost, including the value of the claim, whether the other party disputes the debt and the complexity of the legal issues involved.

The table below gives an approximate guide as to the costs that are likely to be incurred in cases where there is a straightforward claim and the other party does not contest that the debt is owed. Our fees are bases on an hourly rate of between £150 and £210 plus VAT (currently charged at 20%) depending on the level of fee earner required to deal with the case.

If the claim is not defended, it is possible to request a default Judgment and the claim be dealt with on paper.

Cases where the debt is disputed are likely to cost considerably more to claim through the Courts and we would be able to discuss the likely overall fees with you before Court proceedings are issued.

Time Scales

An undefended money claim is likely to take up to 3 months from issuing court proceedings to obtaining judgment from the court. If the claim is defended, we will discuss with you the likely timescales to reach a conclusion.

Enforcement

If the other party fails to comply with a judgment there are various types of enforcement proceedings open to you and we will discuss with you the prospects of success and the likely costs and fees involved.

Who will deal with my case?

Our debt collection team team is made up of Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives and Legal Assistants who are experienced in dealing with claims arising from employment and well qualified to help guide you through what can be a very stressful process and provide you with the support you need from start to finish.

What if something goes wrong?

If there is a problem you should contact the person who is dealing with your matter as soon as possible with details of your concern. If it is not possible to resolve the matter quickly and informally we have a complaints handling procedure which you can read here.

Estate Administration – Pricing Information

Estate Administration – Pricing Information

Our Fees

We charge for estate administration on an hourly basis. Because of the huge variation in the assets which make up each estate, the terms of the deceased’s Will and other variable factors it is almost impossible to provide a detailed estimate of our fees and the payments to others until we have full details of what is involved.

The exact cost will depend on the individual circumstances of the matter and it is essential that you ask for a specific estimate. For example, if there is one beneficiary and no property or other complex assets, costs will be at the lower end of the range. If there are multiple beneficiaries, a property, multiple bank accounts, an investment portfolio or foreign or other complex assets, costs will be at the higher end.

Our fees cover all of the work required to verify and value all assets and liabilities, complete a Return of Estate (HMRC form IHT205), obtain a Grant of Probate or letters of Administration, collect in and then distribute the net assets (after paying all debts, expenses and taxes) in accordance with the Will or as required by law in cases where there is no Will and prepare final Estate Accounts.

We anticipate that an average case will take between 16 and 20 hours work at between £170 and £250 per hour (depending of the level of fee earner needed to deal with the matter). The qualifications and hourly rates of the fee earners who deal with this type of work can be seen here. VAT has to be added to the fees calculated on this basis at the current rate of 20%.

Example Estimate

This estimate is for an estate where:-

• There is a valid will which contains no trust provisions
• There is no more than one property
• There are no more than 4 bank or building society accounts
• There are no other investments or other intangible assets
• There are 2-4 beneficiaries
• No beneficiary wishes to vary the Will
• There are no disputes between beneficiaries on division of assets. If disputes arise this is likely to lead to an increase in costs
• There is no inheritance tax payable and the executors do not need to submit a full account to HMRC but only the Return of Estate Information (IHT205)
• There is no substantive income tax or Capital Gains Tax liabilities and no final or administration period tax returns are required
• There are no claims made against the estate

Payments to others included in our fee (Disbursements)

• Probate application fee of £273 (which includes the fee for ten Office Copies of the Grant)
• Bankruptcy-only Land Charges Department searches (£2.00 per beneficiary)
• Statutory Adverts in The London Gazette and local newspaper – Protects against unexpected claims from unknown creditors – has a fee of around £270.
• Fee for electronic bank transfers £35 plus VAT (£42) per transfer.

Disbursements are costs related to your matter that are payable to third parties, such as court fees. We handle the payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process

Potential Additional Costs

• If there is no Will or the estate consists of portfolio of share holdings (stocks and bonds) or other quoted investments, foreign property, private company shares, farm land, or business assets there is likely to be significantly more work required and commensurately higher fees that could range significantly depending on the estate and how it is to be dealt with. We can give you an accurate quote of our fees once we have more information about any particular estate.
• Dealing with the sale or transfer of any property in the estate is not included.

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will this take?

On average, estates that fall within this range are typically dealt with within 8-12 months, but each estate is unique and particular factors can cause unavoidable delays.

Typically, verifying assets and getting to the point where HMRC forms (if required) and the application for a grant can be prepared takes about 12 weeks where there are no unusual third party delays, obtaining the grant of probate takes only a few weeks in most cases. Collecting assets and paying liabilities then follows.

Closing bank accounts is usually a relatively quick affair but selling other assets can be a lengthy process. However, deposit accounts may be subject to notice periods which cannot be triggered until a Grant of Probate is obtained and this may delay matters. House sales proceed at their own pace, depending upon the property and market conditions, and the conveyancing process once a sale has been agreed by the executors will typically take 8-12 weeks. There may also be reasons to delay asset sales in some cases.

Finalising any tax or other issues which arise in respect of property and asset sales can only commence once the sales are completed and obtaining clearance from HM Revenue and Customs can be a lengthy process. This means that it may be some weeks after an asset or property sale before executors can distribute the funds raised by that sale.

In cases where all additional expenses are predictable, interim distributions can be made to beneficiaries leaving the remaining funds available to the executors to cover those liabilities.

In some cases it can be prudent or necessary for executors to decide to delay distributions of cash and asset transfers to beneficiaries in order to protect the estate.

Who will deal with my transaction?
Our private client team is made up of Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives and Legal Assistants who are experienced in dealing with all aspects of inheritance and estates and well qualified to help guide you guide you through what can be a very stressful process and provide you with the support you need from start to finish.

They can help you with a wide range of matters, including:-

• Estate Planning and Wills
• Looking after your Will
• Inheritance Tax planning
• Trusts and Settlements
• Lasting Powers of Attorney
• Court of Protection matters
• Probate and Estate Administration

What if something goes wrong?
If there is a problem you should contact the person who is dealing with your matter as soon as possible with details of your concern. If it is not possible to resolve the matter quickly and informally we have a complaints handling procedure which you can read here (Link to complaints page).

Freehold Residential Property – Pricing Information

The Sale and Purchase of Freehold Property – Pricing Information

Our Fees

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale or purchase of your new home, including (as appropriate) dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales please note that this is self assessed so you should ensure the information given is accurate. We do recommend that you seek independent financial advice for complex SDLT as we are not specialist in the matter. Should you require mortgage finance to assist in your purchase, our fees also include acting on behalf of any lender provided that they are a UK Finance member, save for fees charged by Lender Marketing Services.

No two property transactions are the same and each client will have specific requirements. We therefore provide each client with an individual estimate giving full details of our fees and the other costs involved in a transaction. If there are any unforeseen difficulties we will let you know right away and explain any impact this may have on costs before incurring additional expense.

Our fees are based on the value of the property and the work likely to be involved and will be subject to Value Added Tax at the current rate. Our normal fee for a straightforward freehold sale or purchase with no unforeseen problems will range between £1240 plus VAT for a property valued at up to £250,000 to £2,660 plus VAT for a property valued at up to £1M. For properties valued at over £1M we have a minimum charge of £2,660 but the actual charge will depend on will depend on the property and specific circumstances of the transaction.

We have a minimum charge of £1,500 plus VAT for dealing with a purchase under the Help to Buy Scheme
In addition we will charge:-

• £35.00 plus VAT for dealing with an electronic money transfer
• £25.00 plus VAT for completing an SDLT return (purchase only)

Additional work may sometimes be charged by agreement with the client at an hourly rate and the fees chargeable by each of the residential conveyancing team can be seen here.

Payments to Others

There will usually be payments to others (sometimes called “disbursements”) such as search fees, LMS fees, fees payable to HM Land Registry, Stamp Duty Land Tax (payable on the purchase of a property) and Value Added Tax. We deal with payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.

We do not make payments to others in respect of referral fees.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (on purchase)
This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using HMRC Website. There is currently no SDLT payable on a first time purchase up to a value of £300,000. The amount of SDLT payable otherwise will depend on the value of the property, whether or not it is a second property, whether you are a UK national and, if leasehold, depending on the ground rent.

Example Estimate

Based on the purchase of a property with registered title at a value of £300,000 our charges and disbursements would be:-

*checks will need to be carried out on each purchaser as well as any person gifting money towards the purchase

Frequently Asked Questions

How long will my house purchase take?
We completely understand that you would like some idea of when you will be able to move into your new home and we will do whatever we can to complete the matter in accordance with your preferred timescale. However it is sometimes the case that matters arise which delay a transaction. We will do whatever we can to identify any such matters as early as possible in order that you may plan accordingly.
In our experience, most purchase transactions complete between 9 and 12 weeks from the date that we receive a contract from the seller’s conveyancers. Please note that third parties may cause delays to transactions.

What are the stages of the process when buying property?
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential property vary according to the circumstances. However, our service to you will normally include the following:-

• 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
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• 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

Who will deal with my transaction?
Our conveyancing team is made up of Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives and Paralegals who are experienced in dealing with property transactions and well qualified to help guide you guide you through what can be a very stressful process and provide you with the support you need from start to finish. We also have a team of Assistants to assist with non legal matters.

• The Team can help you with a wide range of matters, including:-
• Residential property sales and purchases
• Re-mortgages
• Shared & joint ownership
• Matrimonial transfers
• Probate sales
• Residential property investments and lettings
• New homes
• Help to Buy loans and redemptions
• Transfers of Equity
• Equity Release mortgages

What if something goes wrong?
If there is a problem you should contact the person who is dealing with your matter as soon as possible with details of your concern. If it is not possible to resolve the matter quickly and informally we have a complaints handling procedure which you can read here.

Important Points to Remember When Comparing Charges

The fees estimated above assumes that: –

1. the property that you are purchasing has a “good and marketable” title i.e. that the seller is entitled to sell the property to you, that the Property benefits from all rights necessary for its use and is not the subject of any onerous covenants, rights or charges in favour of any other party.
2. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
3. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
4. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.
5. SDLT is not included as this varies depending on the value of the property and other factors.

Leasehold Residential Property – Pricing Information

The Sale and Purchase of Leasehold Residential Property – Pricing Information

Our fees cover all of the work required to complete the sale or purchase of your new home, including (as appropriate) dealing with registration at the Land Registry and dealing with the payment of Stamp Duty Land Tax (Stamp Duty) if the property is in England, or Land Transaction Tax (Land Tax) if the property you wish to buy is in Wales. Should you require mortgage finance to assist in your purchase, our fees also include acting on behalf of any lender provided that they are a UK Finance member save for fees charged by Lender Marketing Services. .

No two property transactions are the same and each client will have specific requirements. We therefore provide each client with an individual estimate giving full details of our fees and the other costs involved in a transaction. If there are any unforeseen difficulties we will let you know right away and explain any impact this may have on costs before incurring additional expense.

Our fees are based on the value of the property and the work likely to be involved and will be subject to Value Added Tax at the current rate. Our normal fee for a straightforward leasehold sale or purchase with no unforeseen problems will range between £1,390 plus VAT for a property valued at up to £250,000 to £2,560 plus VAT for a property valued at up to £1M. For properties valued at over £1M we have a minimum charge of £2,560 but the actual charge will depend on will depend on the property and specific circumstances of the transaction.

We have a minimum charge of £1,500 plus VAT for dealing with a purchase under the Help to Buy Scheme.

In addition we will charge:-

• £25.00 plus VAT for dealing with an electronic money transfer
• £25.00 plus VAT for completing an SDLT return (purchase only)

Additional work may sometimes be charged by agreement with the client at an hourly rate and the fees chargeable by each of the residential conveyancing team can be seen here

Payments to Others

There will usually be payments to others (sometimes called “disbursements”) such as search fees, LMS fees, fees payable to HM Land Registry, Stamp Duty Land Tax (payable on the purchase of a property) and Value Added Tax. We deal with payment of the disbursements on your behalf to ensure a smoother process.
We do not make payments to others in respect of referral fees.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (on purchase)

This depends on the purchase price of your property. You can calculate the amount you will need to pay by using the HMRC Website. There is currently no SDLT payable on a first time purchase up to a value of £300,000. The amount of SDLT payable otherwise will depend on the value of the property, , whether you are a UK national, whether or not it is a second property and on the ground rent.

Example Estimate

Based on the purchase of a leasehold property with registered title at a value of £300,000 our charges and disbursements would be:-

Other payments for leasehold properties

• Notice of Transfer fee – This fee if chargeable is set out in the Management Pack. Often the fee is between £100.00 and £400.00 plus VAT
• Notice of Charge fee (if the property is to be mortgaged) – This fee is set out in the Management Pack. Often the fee is between £75.00 and £150.00 plus VAT.
• Deed of Covenant fee – This fee is provided by the management company for the property and can be difficult to estimate. Often it is between £150.00 and £300.00 plus VAT.
• Certificate of Compliance fee – To be confirmed upon receipt of the lease and Management Pack, as can range between £150.00 and £200.00 plus VAT.

The above payments relate to Purchase transactions only.

When selling a Leasehold property you will be required to pay the Freeholder for a Management Pack, the price of these range from £190 – £500.

Under the terms of the Lease, you may also be required to pay a Contingency fee and Transfer fee to the Landlord upon completion. This is usually a small percentage of the sale price.

These fees vary from property to property and can on occasion be significantly more than the ranges given above. We can give you an accurate figure once we have sight of your specific documents.
You should also be aware that ground rent and service charge are likely to apply throughout your ownership of the property. We will confirm the ground rent and the anticipated service charge as soon as this we receive this information.  Upon completion you may be required to pay an apportionment for any charges paid by the seller that exceed beyond the legal completion date.

When selling, should the current year accounts not yet be complete, your Solicitor may be required to retain an agreed sum pending receipt of these, to cover any unknown expenses from your period of ownership.

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the stages of the purchase process?
The precise stages involved in the purchase of a residential leasehold property vary according to the circumstances. However, our service to you will normally include the following:-

• 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 and lease requirements
• 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
• Send final contract to you for signature
• Draft Transfer
• Advise you on joint ownership
• Obtain pre-completion searches
• 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
• Deal with any necessary Notice of Mortgage or Certificate of Compliance (leasehold properties)

The work in connection with a sale is broadly similar but without the need for searches or dealing with mortgage finance (although it my be necessary to repay a mortgage on completion)

How long will my house sale/purchase take?

We completely understand that you would like some idea of when you will be able to move into your new home and we will do whatever we can to complete the matter in accordance with your preferred timescale. However it is sometimes the case that matters arise which delay a transaction. We will do whatever we can to identify any such matters as early as possible in order that you may plan accordingly.
In our experience, most purchase transactions complete between 9 and 12 weeks from the date that we receive a contract from the seller’s conveyancers.

Who will deal with my transaction?
Our conveyancing team is made up of Solicitors, Chartered Legal Executives and Legal Assistants who are experienced in dealing with property transactions and well qualified to help guide you guide you through what can be a very stressful process and provide you with the support you need from start to finish.

They can help you with a wide range of matters, including:-

• Residential property sales and purchases
• Re-mortgages
• Shared & joint ownership
• Matrimonial transfers
• Probate sales
• Residential property investments and lettings
• New homes
• Help to Buy loans and redemptions
• Transfers of Equity
• Equity Release mortgages

What if something goes wrong?

If there is a problem you should contact the person who is dealing with your matter as soon as possible with details of your concern. If it is not possible to resolve the matter quickly and informally we have a complaints handling procedure which you can read here.

Important points to remember when comparing charges

The fees estimated above assume that:-

1. this is a standard transaction and that no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction.
2. this is the assignment of an existing lease and is not the grant of a new lease.
3. the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise.
4. all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providing documentation.
5. no indemnity policies are required. Additional disbursements may apply if indemnity policies are required.
6. SDLT is not included as this varies depending on the value of the property and other.

Privacy Policy

Privacy Policy

About us

Gilbert Stephens LLP is a Limited Liability Partnership incorporated in England and Wales (registered number OC352723) and is a “controller” under the General Data Protection Regulation.

You can contact us:-

• By mail at our registered office which is at is at 15-17 Southernhay East, Exeter EX1 1QE
• By telephone 01392 424242 (ask for the Data Protection Officer)
• By e mail

We are committed to protecting and respecting your personal information and privacy. This privacy and cookie policy relates to our use of any personal information we collect from you from any of our services. Whenever you provide such information, we are legally obliged to use your information in accordance with all applicable laws concerning the protection of personal information which includes the General Data Protection Regulation.

Whose data do we hold?

We may hold data about the following people:

• Clients
• Employees
• Suppliers and service providers
• Advisers, consultants and other professional experts
• Complainants
• Prospective clients

What data will we collect?

We will only collect information from you that is relevant to the matter that we are dealing with.  In particular, we may collect the following information from you, which is defined as “personal data”:

• Personal details
• Family lifestyle and social circumstances
• Financial details
• Business activities of the person whose details we are processing

Special Categories

We may also collect sensitive information that is referred to as being in a “special category”.  This could include:

• Race or ethnic origin
• Religious beliefs or other beliefs of a similar nature
• Criminal convictions
• Sexual orientation
• Physical or mental health details

Basis for processing

The basis on which we process your personal data is one or more of the following:

• It is necessary for the performance of our contract with you
• It is necessary for us to comply with a legal obligation
• It is in our legitimate interests to do so
• You have given us your consent (this can be withdrawn at any time by advising our Data Protection Officer)

How will we use your data

We may use your information for the following purposes:

• Provision of legal services, including advising and acting on behalf of clients
• Promotion of our services
• Provision of education and training to clients and employees
• Maintaining accounts and records
• Supporting managing staff

Who will we share your information with?

Under our Code of Conduct, there are very strict rules about who we can share your information with and this will normally be limited to other people who will assist with your matter.  These may include:

• Barristers
• Medical experts
• Health Care Professionals
• Social and Welfare organisations
• Courts and Tribunals
• Private Investigators
• Credit Reference Agencies

Sometimes  we use third party service providers (data processors) to supply and support our services to you.  We have contracts in place with our data processors which ensure that they cannot do anything with your personal information unless we have instructed them to do so. They will not share your personal information with any organisation apart from us and will  hold it securely and retain it only for the period we instruct.

Where you authorise us to do so, we may also disclose your information to family, associates or representatives and may also disclose your information to debt collection agencies if you do not pay our bills.

How long will we keep your information for?

We will only retain your personal information for as long as necessary to fulfil the purposes we collected it for, including for the purposes of satisfying any legal, accounting, or reporting requirements.

When it is no longer necessary to retain your personal information, we will delete or anonymise it. In some circumstances we may anonymise your personal information (so that it can no longer be associated with you) for research or statistical purposes in which case we may use this information indefinitely without further notice to you.

To determine the appropriate retention period for personal information, we consider the amount, nature, and sensitivity of the personal information, the potential risk of harm from unauthorised use or disclosure of it, the purposes for which we process your personal information and whether we can achieve those purposes through other means, and the applicable legal or regulatory requirements.

Contacting you

If you were an existing client as at 1^st May 2018, and have been receiving information about our legal services (marketing) from us, we will continue to contact you by postal and electronic means (e-mail) with information about our legal services, unless you ask us not to do so by contacting .

If you become a client after 1^st May 2018, we will contact you by post or electronic means with information about our legal services, but only if you have consented to this. You can choose to not receive these types of communication by contacting .

Transfers to third countries

We may from time to time transfer your data to a country outside of the European Economic Area. Normally this would be necessary for the performance of your contract with us, or for the exercise or defence of a legal claim on your behalf. Sometimes we may transfer data for other reasons and we will ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place at all times.

Security arrangements

We will ensure that all of the information you provide us with is kept secure using appropriate technical and organisational measures.  We hold the Law Society Lexcel Practice Management Standard. In the event of a personal data breach we have in place procedures to ensure the effects of such a breach are minimised and will liaise with the Information Commissioner’s Office and with you as appropriate. More information is available from the Data Protection Officer.

What rights do you have?

You have the following rights under the GDPR:-

• A right to be informed about how we process your data
• A right of access – you are entitled to find out what information we hold about you and why- see below
• A right to rectification so that we must correct or update your details
• A right to erasure – see below
• A right to restrict processing
• A right to data portability enabling you to obtain and re-use the personal data you have given to us
• A right to object to us processing your data for marketing or profiling purposes
• Rights concerning automated decision making and profiling

Right of access

You have a right to see the information we hold about you. To access this you need to provide a request to our Data Protection Officer, together with proof of identity.  We will usually process your request free of charge and within 30 days.  However, we reserve the right to charge a reasonable administration fee and to extend the period of time by a further 2 months if the request is manifested and founded or vexatious and/or is very complex.  Further details are available in our Data Subject Access Policy which is available on request from the Data Protection Officer.

Right to erasure

You have a right to ask us to erase your personal data in certain cases.  Details can be found in Article 17 of the GDPR.  We will deal with your request free of charge and within 30 days, but reserve the right to refuse to erase information that we are required to retain by the law or regulation or that is required to exercise or defend legal claims.  To exercise your right to erasure please contact our Data Protection Officer.

Who you can complain to

If you are unhappy about how we are using your information or how we respond to your request then initially you should contact the Data Protection Officer.  If your complaint remains unresolved then you can contact the Information Commissioner’s Office, contact details are available at www.ico.org.uk.

Further information

To find out more information about the General Data Protection Regulation and the way in which it is administered  contact the Information Commissioner’s Office or online at www.ico.org.uk.