Fees are considerably lower on new properties than resale properties, on which stamp duty must be paid. The fees payable when buying a property in Ireland include some or all of the following:
- stamp duty (except for first-time buyers and new properties);
- legal fees;
- deed registration fee;
- survey or valuation fee;
- ground rent (leasehold properties only);
- management fee (apartments only);
- VAT (certain commercial properties only);
- utility connection fees (new properties only);
- selling agent’s fees (normally ‘included’ in the property price);
- mortgage costs, e.g. application fee, mortgage indemnity fee (on loans above a certain percentage of the purchase price), and life assurance or a mortgage protection policy.
Always ensure you know exactly what the total fees will be before signing a contract.
Stamp Duty
Stamp duty is the main fee involved when buying a home in Ireland. It’s the tax on the purchase deed payable by the buyer when the sale is closed. The rates and criteria for stamp duty were changed in April 1988 and again in June 2000 until a final, simplified system was introduced in 2010. Before the new law, new houses and apartments with a floor area of less than 125m2 were exempt from stamp duty, unless a property was let within five years of the date of purchase. This exemption no longer applies. First-time buyers exemption and consanguinity relief, which allowed rate reduction for transfers of property to close relatives, have also been abolished in 2010.
Stamp duty apply to all residential properties, including sites with agreement to build, and is paid to the Revenue Commissioners at the time of purchase. The rate is 1% if the property value is up to €1,000,000, and 2% if the value is over €1,000,000. Stamp duty applies to the base price of the property, that is, before VAT is added. This means that if you paid €454,000 for the house (the base price of €400,000 plus 13.5% VAT, which equals €54,000), you pay stamp duty on the base price of €400,000.
Note that the cost of any fixtures and fittings (e.g. carpets and curtains) included in a purchase is taken into account when determining the stamp duty ‘band’. You can, of course, buy the fixtures and fittings separately.
Legal Fees
Since the Competition Act, 1994, solicitors’ fees for conveyance are no longer subject to a fixed scale of charges and you must agree them in writing in advance. Under section 68 of the Act, a solicitor is bound to notify a client in writing of the fee to be charged for a particular transaction or of the basis on which the fee will be calculated. The actual amount depends upon the work involved, although according to the Incorporated Law Society of Ireland you should expect to pay between 1 and 1.5 per cent of the property price.
Note that Irish solicitors won’t usually agree to undertake only part of the conveyance, e.g. checking the sales contract. Although engaging a solicitor and paying legal fees is optional, it’s highly recommended. Legal fees are exclusive of disbursements and are subject to VAT at 20 per cent. Fees are usually paid on closing but before registration (see below). Registration can take a year for a new house and even longer for a very old, unregistered property. If there are problems with registration, you may be liable for additional solicitor’s fees.
Deed Registration Fee
Your solicitor will pass on to you the charges relating to registration of the title deed to a property. There are two kinds of title in Ireland: registered and unregistered.
Registered land was introduced by the local Registration of Title (Ireland) Act, 1891 and means that a record of the land is kept with the land registry. Registration, which is compulsory in all counties of Ireland, provides proof of ownership. When a property is sold, a Deed of Transfer is lodged with the land registry, and the Registrar simply deletes the vendor’s name and substitutes the buyer’s. The land registry recently went onto the Internet, so it’s now possible to check ownership and other property details from the comfort of your computer terminal (though it’s still wise to use a qualified solicitor).
In the case of unregistered land, all title documents must be inspected by your solicitor to establish ownership. Copies of these documents are lodged with the registry of deeds in accordance with the Registration of Deeds Act, 1707 in case there’s a conflict of interest, e.g. if two people try to take out a mortgage on the same piece of land simultaneously.
A deed of conveyance is used to transfer freehold unregistered land, a deed of assignment for leasehold unregistered land. There’s roughly an equal amount of registered and unregistered land in Ireland, although land in rural areas is more likely to be registered.
In addition, you’ll be charged for land registry searches, commissioners’ fees, and a copy folio and map. In the case of registration with the registry of deeds, the fees will include searches, commissioners’ fees, and memorials (copies) of the purchase deed and mortgage deed.
Survey or Valuation Fee
If you employ a surveyor to inspect a building or plot of land before you offer to buy it (which is strongly advised), the fee will depend on the kind of survey, any special requirements and the value of the property. Some lending institutions make a fixed charge on a sliding scale according to the value of the property. The valuer’s travelling expenses are sometimes added to the bill. If the mortgage is refused, the valuation fee is refunded.
The cost of a full structural survey is generally added to the valuation report fee but, if you use the same firm for both, you may be able to negotiate a reduced rate. Note that your mortgage lender may insist on a structural report if a property is over 100 years old.
Ground Rent
Title may be freehold, where the property is theoretically held forever free of rent, or leasehold, where it’s held for anything from 250 to 9,999 years. In the case of leasehold property, it’s normal for a nominal ground rent to be paid to a superior title holder, i.e. landlord. There are even cases where the property is leased rent free.
Management Fee
If you’re buying an apartment (or, in some cases, a house on an up-market estate), you’ll usually be liable for annual management fees. Each apartment owner automatically becomes a member of the management company responsible for the insurance and upkeep of the common elements of the property, e.g. grounds, entrances, hallways, lifts and stairs. To cover the costs involved there’s usually a fund to which each owner must contribute. The amount payable depends on a number of factors (e.g. the extent of the grounds and the age and condition of the property).
VAT
Under the Finance Act, 1997, VAT must be included in the price of new properties and doesn’t apply to resale properties. However, commercial property transactions may be subject to VAT at 12.5 per cent, unless the property was developed before 31st October 1972 and hasn’t been extended, altered or adapted since. The rules regarding VAT on property are complicated and you should take expert advice before completing any commercial property transactions, particularly as there can be serious implications if you make a mistake.
Utility Connection Fees
If you buy a new property, you may need to pay for connection to electricity, gas and mains water supplies, as well as for the installation of meters. Your builder will usually provide electricity and gas connections and meters, and the cost of these should be included in your quotation. Provided that a property is within 15 metres of a gas main, there should be no charge for connection.
In the case of electricity there’s a fixed connection charge (plus VAT at 12.5 per cent) if the property is within a certain distance from the medium voltage network. If the property is further than the specified distance from the network, an additional charge will be made according to the work necessary and in some cases there’s an extra charge even if the property is within the specified distance.
You must usually arrange your own water main connection, which can be expensive. Connection charges vary considerably from county to county. You should make enquiries at your local city, county or borough council so that you know how much to budget for.
Selling Agent’s Fees
Estate agents’ fees are usually paid by the vendor. They are, however, usually allowed for in the asking price, so in effect are paid by the buyer. As a buyer you’d be responsible for a separate fee only if you retained an auctioneer to purchase a property on your behalf, in which case you should agree a fee in advance and confirm it in writing. The auctioneer’s fee can vary between 1 and 3.5 per cent of the selling price, depending on the cost of the property and the type of contract, but it’s usually around 2.5 per cent and is subject to VAT (at 20 per cent).
Mortgage Application Fee
Most banks and building societies charge a fee when they grant a mortgage. This is known as a mortgage application (or acceptance or arrangement) fee. When shopping around for a mortgage, however, you should ask if the lending institution is prepared to waive the fee; with increasing competition for mortgages, many lenders will agree to do so. Note that mortgage lenders shouldn’t ask you to pay any legal costs as they usually use your solicitor for their legal work. Check this with them before confirming your mortgage.
Mortgage Indemnity Fee
If you borrow more than 70 or 80 per cent (depending on the lending institution) of the purchase price, you must pay a mortgage indemnity fee (also called a mortgage indemnity bond) of around 3 per cent of the difference between the specified percentage of the purchase price and the amount borrowed, plus a 2 per cent government levy. Some lenders spread the cost of the indemnity over the term of the mortgage, while others don’t charge an indemnity fee but charge a higher rate of interest for loans above 80 per cent. If you’re buying a property for investment, the indemnity fee is 4 per cent.
Mortgage Protection Policy
You’ll need to obtain life assurance before your lender will agree to advance your mortgage; a mortgage protection policy is usually the minimum cover required.
Running Costs
In addition to the fees associated with buying a property, you should take into account running costs. These include management fees (for apartments), garden maintenance (if necessary), and building and contents insurance. There are no local authority charges, ‘rates’ or ‘poll taxes’ for residential property in Ireland, but you will incur standing charges for utilities (electricity, gas and telephone). Water is free (unless you run a business from home) and the cost of refuse collection varies. In a few places, however, the local authority charges more for larger properties. If you’re letting a property, you should also allow for property management fees, income tax on rental income and possibly a tax consultant’s fees.