How much does conveyancing cost?
Conveyancing fees in 2026 range from around £800 to £1,900 for buying a property and £600 to £1,300 for selling. The exact figure depends on the property value, whether it is freehold or leasehold, and whether you have a mortgage.
At Best Value Conveyancing, purchase conveyancing starts from £564 and sale conveyancing from £552, with all costs shown upfront in your quote.
What conveyancing fees actually cover
Your total conveyancing cost is made up of two separate things, and it is worth understanding the difference before you compare quotes.
Legal fees are what your solicitor charges for the work they do: reviewing contracts, raising enquiries, dealing with your mortgage lender, handling the exchange and completing the transaction. This is the part that varies between firms and the part our Fixed Legal Fee Guarantee applies to.
Disbursements are third party costs your solicitor pays on your behalf. They are the same regardless of which firm you use. The main ones for most transactions are:
- Local authority searches: £250 to £450 (varies by council area)
- Land Registry fees: £45 to £830 (scales with property value)
- Bank transfer fee: £39 or more
- Anti-money laundering checks: £6 to £20
When comparing quotes, make sure both the legal fee and the disbursements are included. A low headline price that excludes disbursements is not a complete quote.
Conveyancing costs when buying
These figures include legal fees and standard disbursements. Costs for leasehold properties are higher due to additional legal work.
Buying costs by property value
| Property value | Freehold | Leasehold |
| £150,000 | £1,200 to £1,400 | £1,400 to £1,600 |
| £250,000 | £1,340 to £1,600 | £1,550 to £1,800 |
| £400,000 | £1,600 to £1,900 | £1,900 to £2,200 |
| £600,000+ | £1,900 to £2,500 | £2,300 to £3,000 |
Typical breakdown for a £277,000 purchase (UK average house price)
Freehold with mortgage Legal fees: £790 / Disbursements: £550 / Total: £1,340 including VAT
Leasehold with mortgage Legal fees: £1,000 / Disbursements: £550 / Total: £1,550 including VAT
Leasehold purchases cost more because your solicitor has additional work to do: checking the lease length and terms, requesting a management pack from the freeholder, arranging notices and reviewing service charges.
Conveyancing costs when selling
Selling is less expensive than buying because there are fewer disbursements involved. You are not paying for searches, and stamp duty does not apply to sellers.
Selling costs by property value
| Property value | Freehold | Leasehold |
| £150,000 | £700 to £900 | £850 to £1,050 |
| £250,000 | £804 to £1,000 | £970 to £1,200 |
| £400,000 | £900 to £1,100 | £1,050 to £1,300 |
| £600,000+ | £1,000 to £1,300 | £1,200 to £1,500 |
Typical breakdown for a £277,000 sale
Freehold: Legal fees: £790 / Disbursements: £14 / Total: £804 including VAT
Leasehold: Legal fees: £950 / Disbursements: £20 / Total: £970 including VAT
What about stamp duty?
Stamp Duty Land Tax is separate from conveyancing fees and is often the largest single cost in a property purchase. It is a government tax, not a solicitor fee, and your conveyancer will handle the submission and payment on your behalf.
Current rates for residential purchases in England:
Property value | Standard rate | First time buyer rate |
Up to £125,000 | 0% | 0% |
£125,001 to £250,000 | 2% | 0% |
£250,001 to £300,000 | 5% | 0% |
£300,001 to £500,000 | 5% | 5% |
£500,001 to £925,000 | 5% | 5% (no FTB relief) |
£925,001 to £1,500,000 | 10% | 10% |
Over £1,500,000 | 12% | 12% |
First time buyers pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000. On purchases between £300,001 and £500,000, a 5% rate applies on the portion above £300,000. Above £500,000 no first time buyer relief applies and standard rates apply in full. Different rates apply to second homes and buy-to-let properties, where a 3% surcharge applies on top of the standard rates.
Stamp duty does not apply to sellers. Your conveyancing quote will show any stamp duty liability based on your purchase price and buyer type.
Why leasehold costs more
For buyers
- Leasehold supplement: around £180 plus VAT added to legal fees
- Notice of Assignment (transfer notice to the landlord): up to £300
- Notice of Charge (if you have a mortgage): £50 to £200
- Deeds of Covenant: varies, required by some freeholders
For sellers
- Leasehold management pack: £300 to £800, charged by the freeholder
Other costs that can affect your quote
Most of these only apply in specific circumstances. Your quote should make clear which apply to your transaction.
- Help to Buy supplement: around £120 if purchasing through a Help to Buy scheme
- Gifted deposit: up to £100 extra if part of your deposit is a gift, to cover the additional paperwork
- Unregistered property: £120 to £240 extra if the property is not registered at Land Registry
- New build supplement: additional legal work is often required for new build purchases
What to watch out for when comparing quotes
Not all quotes are built the same way. Always ask for a fully itemised figure that includes legal fees, disbursements, VAT and any supplements relevant to your transaction. The only number that matters is the total you will pay at completion.
At Best Value Conveyancing, your quote includes all of the above from the start. The price is fixed. Nothing is added later.
Read more about cheap conveyancing solicitors and what to look for in a quote, or find out what makes the best conveyancing solicitors before you instruct anyone.
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You’ve seen what conveyancing costs. Ours starts from £564 for a purchase and £552 for a sale, fixed from the start with nothing added later.
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