Conveyancing solicitors typically cost between £400 and £1,500 in legal fees for buying or selling a house, though total costs usually exceed £2,000 when including disbursements. Total expenses often range from £1,000 to £2,500 for legal fees, disbursements (searches, registry fees), and VAT, with higher costs for leasehold or high-value properties.
In 2025, you can expect to pay anywhere between £1,000 to £2,500 for legal fees depending on your property and location. Your final bill will be split between legal fees (that's what your conveyancer charges for their time) and disbursements (the essential checks, searches, and other things they'll handle for you).
How long is conveyancing taking at the moment in 2025?
A conveyancer's role is to ensure the legal and smooth transfer of ownership. During 2025, conveyancing has typically taking approximately 12 weeks. However this varies depending on the complexity of the property chain, the speed of local authority searches, and mortgage application processing times.
Do you pay conveyancing fees if a sale falls through?
If your property sale falls through, some conveyancers offer a 'no sale, no fee' service, meaning you won't have to pay their legal fees. However, you may still need to cover any disbursements already incurred.
The 5 main stages of conveyancing involve the Pre-Contract Stage (instruction, contract prep, searches, enquiries, mortgage finalization), the Exchange of Contracts, the period Between Exchange and Completion, the Completion itself (transfer of funds, keys), and finally, Post-Completion tasks like registering the title. These steps move the property transaction from initial agreement to legally finalizing the transfer of ownership, ensuring all legal and financial checks are completed.
What is the cost of conveyancing in NSW? | Conveyancing Sydney NSW | Entry Conveyancing | Solicitor
Do I need both a conveyancer and a solicitor to buy a house?
For most straightforward transactions, it should not matter whether you use a licensed conveyancer or a conveyancing solicitor. However, if more complex issues arise (which they often do) having access to the broader expertise of a conveyancing solicitor can be an advantage.
Conveyancing typically takes 12-16 weeks. However, this duration can vary based on factors like if the survey reveals problems or there's a delay in getting property searches back. Get instant quotes from regulated and reviewed conveyancing solicitors that cover your area.
Negotiate with your solicitor to see if you can get a better rate: This may be more likely to be successful if your property transaction is straightforward.
As is so often in the conveyancing process, the moment a third party is involved both solicitors (for buyer and seller) become dependent upon a third party and therefore the whole process becomes liable to delay. This can be terribly frustrating for everyone: buyer; seller; the estate agents; and even the solicitors!
Hidden costs of buying a house include taxes (like Stamp Duty), legal/conveyancing fees, mortgage-related charges (arrangement, valuation), property surveys, moving expenses (removal company), and immediate post-purchase costs (insurance, repairs, furniture, council tax), with leasehold properties adding ground rent and service charges, all adding significant sums beyond the advertised price and deposit.
The simple answer is both. The seller pays their own conveyancer's fees and the buyer does likewise. Fees will differ depending on whether you are buying, selling or both. Costs tend to be higher for those purchasing a property than selling; this is primarily due to there being higher third-party costs.
What Are Red Flags When Buying a House? Red flags are warning signs that suggest a property may have underlying problems. These can range from visible defects, such as cracks and damp, to less obvious issues like unusual seller behaviour or legal complications with land ownership.
A key task for a conveyancer includes checking the title deeds of a property. This process involves investigating the legal ownership of the property while ensuring there's no outstanding mortgage. Conveyancers also verify that the seller of the property has the legal right to sell it.
How much do solicitors usually charge to sell a house?
Solicitors' fees for selling a house in the UK typically range from £600 to £1,300+ for basic sales, plus disbursements (extra costs like Land Registry fees), varying by property value, location, and complexity (leasehold costs more), with fixed fees or percentage-based charges common, and 'no sale, no fee' options available but often still incurring disbursement costs if the sale fails.
Hidden costs are expenses that aren't immediately apparent or accounted for in a business budget. They often arise from inefficiencies, oversight, or unexpected events, making them harder to spot. These costs can include anything from unplanned maintenance fees to unnoticed wastage in day-to-day operations.
Good news: you don't pay stamp duty tax when you sell a house. As the seller, you're not responsible for this tax. Your costs will primarily be related to estate agent fees, legal fees, and any removals. Stamp duty obligations fall on the buyer, so it's not something you'll need to factor into your sale costs.
