How much are solicitor fees when buying a house?

Solicitor fees when buying a house in the UK typically average £1,520 for buyers and £2,440 for those buying and selling simultaneously.

These costs cover two main categories: legal fees for completing paperwork, and disbursement charges paid to third parties for searches and other services.

From conveyancing fees to hidden charges, learn more about solicitor fees when buying a house below.

What are solicitor fees when buying a house? 

During the house-buying process, you will need to work with a solicitor to ensure all legal paperwork is in order.

This process is called conveyancing, and solicitors will charge conveyancing fees to carry out these services.  

Conveyancing is a multi-stage process. Once you’ve had an offer accepted on a place you want to buy and you’ve instructed (hired) a solicitor, they will begin carrying out property searches, local authority and fraud checks.

This gives you valuable information about the property you want to buy, and is essential preparation for the title to be legally transferred to you.

For carrying out these checks, you may be asked to pay two main types of conveyancing charges.

The first charges are the legal fees, which cover the costs of completing and verifying the paperwork.

The second, or disbursement charges, are charged by third parties for extra services like property searches or bank transfer fees. You can think of these as extra costs.   

How much are solicitor conveyancing fees when buying a house? 

Conveyancing fees for just buying a property are £1,520 on average but this can vary. If you are selling as well, the average rises to £2,440.

Conveyancing costs vary a lot depending on the house you are buying.

Relevant factors that can influence your conveyancing costs include whether or not the property you are buying is freehold or leasehold, where the conveyancer is based, whether you’re using a property solicitor or licensed conveyancer, the price of the property and whether you choose an online-only service.

Buying a leasehold property is more expensive because there is more work for the solicitor, including reviewing the lease agreement and verifying charges.

How much are disbursement costs? 

Depending on the preferences of the buying and selling parties, you may also need to pay more in disbursement costs. Some of the most common disbursement costs include: 

• Anti-money laundering checks: These legal checks confirm your identity and are likely to be done by an online company. They normally cost between £15 and £50 and you may pay them multiple times, for solicitors, lenders and other professionals.

• Searches: You will need property, drainage and environmental searches. If you’re planning on carrying out property developments, you will need a development search. These might cost between £250 to £450.

• Transferring ownership: You will need to pay HM Land Registry a fee for transferring a property into your name, and this can cost between £20 to over £1000 depending on the price of the property and whether you file on paper or digitally.

• Gifted deposits: If you’ve been given money to help buy a property, you will need to fill in extra paperwork to prove the money has come from a legitimate source. If your solicitor or conveyancer will be completing the paperwork, it can cost between £100 and £150 plus VAT per gift.

How can you keep your solicitor conveyancing fees down? 

While completing your legal conveyancing is an important step in the process of buying a house, there’s no obligation to hire a licensed surveyor or solicitor.

Before agreeing to a wide range of conveyancing costs, there’s no harm in shopping around for the best deals.

For example, you may find that some licensed conveyancers’ charges have disbursement fees included, whereas others will only charge the basic legal fees.  

Conveyancer fees are sometimes negotiable, so be sure not to just take one quote at face value.

It’s unlikely that major discounts will be offered on already cheap quotes, but it’s always worth trying your hand.  

Bear in mind, though, that a slow or non-responsive solicitor can delay and even jeopardise your property purchase, so it can be well worth paying for someone with a good reputation, not the cheapest online-only, fixed-fee provider.   

How do you find the right conveyancer or solicitor? 

If you’ve decided to go ahead and hire a third party, be sure to weigh up whether you’d be better off with a licensed conveyancer or a property solicitor.

While a solicitor will be widely trained in a range of different legal disciplines, a conveyancer is a property specialist who knows the business of transferring properties extremely well. Typically, a conveyancer is also less expensive.  

Once you have decided, you will then need to find the right professional to do the job.

Often, this can come down to simply having good connections or having already worked with a successful property solicitor or conveyancer.

You could also speak to people you know to find out if they know any good professionals they could recommend.

Get expert financial advice

Understanding solicitor fees is crucial to avoiding unexpected costs when buying a house. Conveyancing fees can vary significantly, so it’s essential to shop around, compare quotes, and check for any additional disbursement costs that may apply.

Consider whether a licensed conveyancer or a property solicitor suits your needs better, and don't hesitate to negotiate fees for the best deal.

Careful planning and research can help you manage these expenses effectively, ensuring a smoother home-buying experience.

Unbiased will match you with a financial adviser for expert financial advice to help you navigate the complexities of buying a house, manage associated costs, and make informed decisions throughout the process.