If you’re buying a house, one of the big questions you’ll want answered early on is: how much will my solicitor’s fees be?
We understand that clear, transparent costs are important when you’re making such a big investment. That’s why we’ve created this comprehensive guide to help you better understand what’s involved in residential conveyancing fees.
Please remember that every property purchase is different. For a personalised, detailed quote, we recommend contacting us directly. But here’s a useful overview to give you an idea of what to expect.
How Much Are Solicitors Conveyancing Fees When Buying a House?
Conveyancing fees can be confusing as your quotation will contain more than just the fee for the legal work that the conveyancer will do for you. In addition to their fee there may be additional 3rd party charges that are unavoidable. Below we breakdown the fees that may appear on your quote.
Legal Fee
This is the fee charged by the Solicitors to undertake the legal work for you. Our typical legal fees (including VAT at 20%) for a basic house purchase range from £500 to £2,750.
This range includes both standard legal work and some additional common services that might apply depending on your transaction.
Additional fees
Additional fees will vary subject to various factors including the type of house you are buying, if you are getting mortgage etc but some examples of additional fees are:
- Leasehold property fee – see below for further information on leasehold fees
- Gifted deposit fee
- Banking and bank charges fee
- Lawyer checker fee
- ID verification administration fee
- Acting for your mortgage lender
- Archive file maintenance fee
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) return preparation fee
- Bankruptcy and Land Registry searches
Extra Costs for Leasehold Properties
Leasehold properties usually involve a few extra-legal steps as they are more complex. As a result, additional fees can apply, such as:
| Fee | Typical Range (excluding VAT) |
| Notice of Transfer | £25 – £300 |
| Notice of Charge (if mortgaged) | £25 – £300 |
| Deed of Covenant | £25 – £300 |
| Certificate of Compliance | £25 – £300 |
| Share Certificate Issuance | £25 – £300 |
Important: These costs vary depending on the lease terms and management company. We’ll confirm exact fees once we review the specific property documents.
Leaseholders should also expect ongoing charges like ground rent and service charges, which we will confirm as soon as this information is available.
Disbursements
Disbursements are costs that we may need to pay on your behalf to 3rd parties. We have no control over these costs and are merely the middleman in the transaction.
They typically include:
- Stamp Duty: 0% to 10% of the purchase price. You can calculate this using the HMRC website or, for properties in Wales, the Welsh Revenue Authority website.
- Land Registry Fees: £45 to £1,105 depending on the property price.
Search Fees
Searches are essential to make sure there are no issues with the property and all mortgage lenders will require you to have searches done on properties they are going to lend on.
Typical search bundles (including Local Authority, Water & Drainage, and Environmental) cost between £50 and £70 per search (inclusive of VAT).
Depending on the property type and location, additional searches may be recommended, such as:
- Mining search
- Brine search
- Chancel repair search
How We Calculate Your Quote
When we provide a quote for your purchase, we base it on the following assumptions:
- The property is registered land.
- All necessary documents are provided promptly by the seller’s solicitors.
- There are no serious title defects or unexpected legal issues.
- The transaction completes without significant delays.
- There are no unusual third-party consents required.
- If there’s a mortgage involved, it’s with a standard high street lender that doesn’t require separate legal advice.
If any of these assumptions change, we’ll discuss any necessary adjustments to your quote with you.
Why Choose Us?
We’re committed to offering transparent, fair, and competitive conveyancing fees with no hidden extras.
Our experienced team will guide you through every stage of the process, keeping things as smooth and stress-free as possible.
When you instruct us, you’ll receive a detailed, personalised quote at the start, so you know exactly what to expect.
FAQs About Solicitors Fees When Buying a House
Q: Can solicitors fees change during the process?
A: They can, but only if unforeseen complications arise. If so, we’ll always discuss any changes with you before carrying out additional work.
Q: Do I have to pay all fees upfront?
A: Typically, we ask for a small payment on account for searches, with the balance due on completion. We’ll explain all payment arrangements clearly at the outset.
Q: What happens if the purchase falls through?
A: In some cases, depending on how much work has been completed, fees may still apply. We’ll always try to keep any costs fair and proportionate.
Final Thoughts
Buying a house is an exciting time and knowing exactly what you’re paying for can give you peace of mind.
If you are shopping around remember that not all quotes will be as transparent so feel free to use this guide to ask questions to make sure you fully understand what you will be paying for.
If you do choose PLS you can be sure to get a trusted, reliable solicitor for your home move!
Get in touch with our friendly team today for your free personalised conveyancing quote!
