Cyprus-Forum.com

[josephinekelly]

We have just signed contracts on the sale of our house. It did involve two lesser contracts for furniture and land. However, not saying here how much, but what in your experience on average do Cypriot lawyers charge on house sale fees? I think we have probably paid way over the odds. Is there a sliding scale of fees anywhere as an indicator?

[CBBB]

It doesn't matter now, you say you have paid it already!

You should have asked before!

[Svetlana]

There is a sliding scale recommended by the Cyprus Lawyers' Society;
illogically it is a %age of the sale price.

I would suggest, for a 'typical' 3 bedroom villa around €3000, including Stamp Duty etc .

Lana

[josephinekelly]

Yes, he said he was entitled to a percentage charge of Cyp£2 per thousand. On our modest price, he said he could have charged Cyp £10,000 but would charge only Cyp £5000. We are still stunned as the average UK solicitor price is around £1000 ish. We actually did ask him how much the fees would be and he said 'not very much' as we had already paid him a fee for trying to obtain planning permissions which in the event we don't now need (and didn't get).

As you said around £3000 then it is certain we have been overcharged. In mitigation, this man is on social terms with us.

Another thing we learned is that the lawyers fee is deducted from the deposit and not from the completion money as in UK. This means of course that if the sale falls through, you have to try to reclaim the lawyers fees from damages (which in some cases can be keeping the deposit or a percentage of it). Live and learn....

[Z4]

Why didn't you confirm the price before the sale?

[josephinekelly]

No, it was vague because he was already acting for us on obtaining back planning permissions and also because he was a friend from social get togethers. When I queried, he said it 'would not be very much'. I am posting this as a caveat really and also to see if we have been just overcharged or outrageously so.

[josephinekelly]

I see you are talking euros and I am talking old Cyprus pounds. Makes it even worse!

[Z4]

It's your own fault for not checking the price I'm affraid.

[josephinekelly]

Mea culpa! Yes.