Average conveyancing fees in 2026 range from £800 to £1,900 for buying a property, and £600 to £1,300 for selling, depending on property value and type.
For a typical property purchase at £277,000:
- Freehold property: £1,340 total (£790 legal fees + £550 disbursements)
- Leasehold property: £1,550 total (£1,000 legal fees + £550 disbursements)
Your actual costs depend on property value, whether it's freehold or leasehold, and your location.
Conveyancing fees by property value
Buying costs (including legal fees and disbursements)
| Property value | Freehold | Leasehold |
| £150,000 | £1,200-£1,400 | £1,400-£1,600 |
| £250,000 | £1,340-£1,600 | £1,550-£1,800 |
| £400,000 | £1,600-£1,900 | £1,900-£2,200 |
| £600,000+ | £1,900-£2,500 | £2,300-£3,000 |
Selling costs (including legal fees and disbursements)
| Property value | Freehold | Leasehold |
| £150,000 | £700-£900 | £850-£1,050 |
| £250,000 | £804-£1,000 | £970-£1,200 |
| £400,000 | £900-£1,100 | £1,050-£1,300 |
| £600,000+ | £1,000-£1,300 | £1,200-£1,500 |
These figures include legal fees, searches, Land Registry fees and other standard disbursements. Additional costs may apply for leasehold management packs, Help to Buy schemes or gifted deposits.
How much are the conveyancing solicitors' fees for buying a house?
As we've already mentioned, conveyancing costs can vary widely depending on the value of the property.
We've provided the average costs for buying a freehold or leasehold property when using Homeward Legal for your conveyancing.
Typical costs for buying
These examples show costs for a standard residential property purchase with a mortgage at the average UK house price of £277,000. Your quote will vary based on your specific circumstances.
Freehold property (assuming with mortgage)
| Legal fees: | £790 |
| Disbursements: | £550 |
| Total conveyancing fees: | £1340 (including VAT) |
Leasehold property (assuming with mortgage)
| Legal fees: | £1000 |
| Disbursements: | £550 |
| Total conveyancing fees: | £1550 (including VAT) |
The legal fees for buying a leasehold property include a leasehold supplement fee, which is why the total cost works out a little higher than for a freehold property.
At Homeward Legal, our instant conveyancing quote service allows you to quickly view your conveyancing fees.
How much are the conveyancing solicitors' fees for selling a house?
As with buying a property, conveyancing solicitors' fees for selling a house can vary depending on the property's value.
Find below the average costs for buying a freehold or leasehold property when using Homeward Legal for your conveyancing.
Typical costs for selling
Selling costs are lower than buying costs as there are fewer disbursements required. These examples show costs for a standard residential sale.
Freehold property
| Legal fees: | £790 |
| Disbursements: | £14 |
| Total conveyancing fees: | £804 (including VAT) |
Leasehold property
| Legal fees: | £950 |
| Disbursements: | £20 |
| Total conveyancing fees: | £970 (including VAT) |
Remember, it takes a matter of seconds to get a quote for conveyancing costs with Homeward Legal and you can always give us a call on .
What are conveyancing fees?
Conveyancing fees cover the legal work required to transfer property ownership. This includes your solicitor's legal fee plus disbursements (third-party costs like searches and Land Registry fees).
Every property transaction - whether buying, selling, remortgaging or transferring equity - requires a conveyancing solicitor to handle the legal formalities.
Your total conveyancing fees include:
- Legal fees (solicitor's charges for their work)
- Disbursements (searches, Land Registry, bank transfers)
- Additional costs (leasehold packs, Help to Buy supplements, etc.)
Legal Fees
The legal fee is part of your conveyancing fees and covers work carried out by your conveyancing solicitor.
It will vary based on various factors including:
- The price of the property
- The property is a leasehold or freehold
- Where the conveyancing solicitor is based
- If you are using online conveyancing
- If you are using a licensed conveyancer or a solicitor
- If you're purchasing a Shared Ownership or First Homes Scheme property
- If you need potential additional searches (when the property is next to a river for example)
Disbursements
Disbursements are third-party costs your solicitor pays on your behalf. The main disbursements for most transactions are:
- Local authority searches: £250-£450
- Land Registry fees: £45-£830 (depends on property value)
- Bank transfer fees: £39+
- Anti-money laundering checks: £6-£20
Additional disbursements may include:
- Title deeds: If you are selling a house, you will need a copy of your title deeds. These documents are usually held at the Land Registry. You should be aware that leasehold property costs are higher than those for freehold. Title deeds cost £6.
- Searches: They are necessary if you plan to buy a house. You will need a local authority search; this includes a drainage and environmental search. A planning search is also required if you wish to learn about nearby development plans. Local authority searches cost up to £450, depending on the local council.
- Transferring ownership: You will have to pay a fee at the Land Registry for transferring your buyer's names. The cost to transfer ownership is between £45 and £830, depending on the property value.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax: If you are buying a home worth more than £250,000, you will need to pay this tax. The stamp duty rates vary depending on the property value. The rules for first-time buyers are also different.
- Anti money laundering (AML) checks: Online companies are most likely to perform these checks. If you live abroad or are a foreigner, you will have to pay more. The cost for anti-money-laundering checks ranges from £6 to £20.
- Property fraud: Checks that the solicitor you are sending money to has a valid licence. Checks for property fraud are £10.
- Bank transfer fee: Your mortgage provider will require you to use a bank transfer or telegraphic transfer in order to ensure that funds are received on a specific date. Bank transfer fees range from £39.
- Help to Buy: You'll likely be charged more if you buy with a scheme that offers Help to Buy as it involves additional legal work. The cost of a Help to Buy Supplement is typically around £120.
- Lifetime or help to buy ISA: You will need to work with your conveyancer to redeem the bonus, but you are only charged £50+VAT.
- Gifted deposits: If you are getting assistance with your deposit, it is likely that you will need to pay a little more for the paperwork required to prove the money came from a legal source. If you deposit money with the Bank of Mum and Dad, law firms can charge up to £100. Insurance can also cost you up to £200.
- Unregistered property supplement: Although most properties are registered at HM Land Registry, some aren't. If the property is not registered, the conveyancer will have to do extra work. This usually adds on £120-£240.
What do typical conveyancing fees include?
Whether you are buying or selling a property, the conveyancing fees are different.
Find in the table below a summary table including the most common conveyancing fees and disbursements for buying and selling.
Fees | Cost | For buying | For selling |
Anti money laundering (AML) check | £6-£20 | ✔ | |
Bankruptcy search | £4 | ✔ | |
Local authority searches | £250-£450 | ✔ | |
Property fraud check | £10 | ✔ | |
Bank transfer fees | £39 | ✔ | |
Stamp duty land tax | 0-12% | ✔ | |
Help to buy supplement | £120 | ✔ | |
Gifted deposit | £50-£100 | ✔ | |
Lifetime/Help to buy ISA | £60 | ✔ | |
Unregistered property supplement | £120-£240 | ✔ | |
Leasehold property supplement | £180 + VAT | ✔ | |
Managing agent pack | £0-£500 | ✔ | |
Title deeds copy | £6 | ✔ | |
Transferring of ownership | £20-500 | ✔ |
Why are leasehold conveyancing fees higher?
Leasehold properties cost more because solicitors must:
Check lease length and terms
- Request management information from landlords
- Arrange notices to freeholders and managing agents
- Review service charges and ground rent
Additional leasehold costs range from £100 to £1,000. These landlord-set fees may not appear in initial quotes as they vary by property.
Understanding freehold vs leasehold helps you budget accurately.
For the seller
- They will be responsible for paying the Leasehold Management Pack, which includes information on service charges and other fees. The price can range from £300 up to £800.
For the buyer
- A Notice of Assignment, also called a Transfer Notice, will be charged. This is sent by your conveyancer to the landlord as a notification that you are now the owner. It can sometimes be free but the price can go up to £300.
- A Notice of Charge will be sent to your landlord if you have a mortgage. This notifies them that the lender is interested in the property. This can cost between £50 and £200.
- Deeds of Covenant might also be required. This is a legally-binding agreement between a buyer and a landlord or management firm about things like repair work.
How to save on conveyancing fees?
Get a comprehensive quote upfront to avoid hidden costs.
Our clients save an average of £360 on conveyancing fees through:
- Fixed Legal Fee - the price quoted won't change
- No Completion No Fee - no payment if your sale falls through
- SearchPlus protection - free second set of searches if needed
Get an instant quote to see your exact costs.
What is Fixed Legal Fee conveyancing
A Fixed Legal Fee means you will pay the fixed price that you were quoted from the beginning, and that price won't change and you won't get any hidden costs. Remember that 'fixed legal fee' is used to describe the legal services, not disbursements.
What is No Sale No Fee conveyancing
The No Completion No Fee conveyancing guarantee ensures that you will not lose money should your property purchase or sale fall through for any reason.
What is the SearchPlus protection
The SearchPlus Protection means that if your purchase falls through for any reason, your second set of searches is free. This is another great way of saving money on your conveyancing.
Get a quote for your conveyancing fees with Homeward Legal
Want a clear, concise explanation of conveyancing solicitors' fees, how much they will be and what they will cover? Look no further than Homeward Legal.
By choosing Homeward for your conveyancing needs, the fixed legal fee we quote you will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs. Our no sale no fee protection also ensures you don't lose money if your transaction falls through.
Talk to our friendly team on or complete a quick online quote to find out what your conveyancing fees will cost.
Frequently asked questions about conveyancing fees
How much are property conveyancing fees in 2026?
Property conveyancing fees in 2026 typically range from £800 to £1,900 for buying and £600 to £1,300 for selling. The exact cost depends on property value, whether it's freehold or leasehold, and your location. For a £250,000 freehold property, expect around £1,340 for buying and £804 for selling.
What are solicitors fees for buying a house?
Solicitors fees for buying a house typically range from £790 to £1,000 for the legal work, plus £450-£600 in disbursements for searches and Land Registry fees. Total costs are usually £1,200-£1,900 depending on whether the property is freehold or leasehold.
How much are residential conveyancing fees?
Residential conveyancing fees vary by property value but typically cost £1,200-£1,900 for buying and £700-£1,300 for selling. Leasehold properties cost £150-£300 more than freehold due to additional checks and management pack fees.
Are conveyancing fees different for leasehold properties?
Yes, leasehold conveyancing fees are £150-£400 higher than freehold due to extra legal work. Your solicitor must check lease terms, request management packs (£300-£800), and arrange notices to freeholders. Total leasehold costs are typically £1,550-£2,200 for buying versus £1,200-£1,800 for freehold.
When do I pay conveyancing fees?
You pay conveyancing fees on completion day when the property transaction completes. However, some disbursements like search fees may require upfront payment. Most solicitors work on a no-completion-no-fee basis, meaning you don't pay legal fees if the sale falls through.
What's included in conveyancing fees?
Conveyancing fees include your solicitor's legal fee (£700-£1,000) plus disbursements such as local authority searches (£250-£450), Land Registry fees (£45-£830), and bank transfer charges (£39+). Additional costs may apply for leasehold properties, Help to Buy schemes, or gifted deposits.