SRA Handbook

Costs information

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Version 21 of the Handbook was published on 06/12/2018. For more information, please click 'History' Above

Rule 1: Costs information

1.1

An authorised body [Not yet in force: , or an individual practising in the circumstances set out in regulation 10.2(b)(i) to (vii) of the SRA Authorisation of Individuals Regulations,] who publishes as part of its usual business the availability of any of the services set out at rule 1.3 to individuals or at rule 1.4 to businesses, must, in relation to those services, publish on its website cost information in accordance with rule 1.5 and 1.6.

1.2

Rule 1.1 does not apply to publicly funded work.

1.3

The services in relation to individuals are:

(a)

The conveyance of residential real property or real estate which comprise:

(i)

freehold or leasehold sales or purchases; or

(ii)

mortgages or re-mortgages;

(b)

the collection and distribution of assets belonging to a person following their death, where these are within the UK and the matters are not contested;

(c)

the preparation and submission of immigration applications, excluding asylum applications;

(d)

the provision of advice and representation at the First-tier Tribunal (Immigration and Asylum Chamber) in relation to appeals against Home Office visa or immigration decisions, excluding asylum appeals;

(e)

the provision of advice and representation at the Magistrates Court in relation to summary only road traffic offences dealt with at a single hearing;

(f)

the provision of advice and representation to employees in relation to the bringing of claims before the Employment Tribunal against an employer for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal.

1.4

The services in relation to businesses are:

(a)

the provision of advice and representation to employers in relation to defending claims before the Employment Tribunal brought by an employee for unfair dismissal or wrongful dismissal;

(b)

debt recovery up to the value of £100,000;

(c)

the provision of advice and assistance and representation in relation to licensing applications for business premises.

1.5

Costs information must include:

(a)

the total cost of the service or, where not practicable, the average cost or range of costs;

(b)

the basis for your charges, including any hourly rates or fixed fees;

(c)

the experience and qualifications of anyone carrying out the work, and of their supervisors;

(d)

a description of, and the cost of, any likely disbursements, and where the actual cost of a disbursement is not known, the average cost or range of costs;

(e)

whether any fees or disbursements attract VAT and if so the amount of VAT they attract;

(f)

details of what services are included in the price displayed, including the key stages of the matter and likely timescales for each stage, and details of any services that might reasonably be expected to be included in the price displayed but are not; and

(g)

if you use conditional fee or damages based agreements, the circumstances in which clients may have to make any payments themselves for your services (including from any damages).

1.6

Cost information published under this rule must be clear and accessible and in a prominent place on your website.