Residential Conveyancing: Fees Guidance
Our schedule of residential conveyancing fees is set out below. Please note that the figures set out are for guideline purposes only and do not constitute a legally binding quotation.
The fee we charge for our legal services depends on the property price and whether the property is freehold or leasehold.
The tables below provide a guide to our residential conveyancing fees for standard transactions. Disbursements and additional charges may apply depending on the nature of the matter.
Residential Sales
Freehold Sales - Outside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,125 - £3,125 | £225 - £625 | £1,350 - £3,750 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,175 - £3,175 | £235 - £635 | £1,410 - £3,810 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,375 - £3,375 | £275 - £675 | £1,650 - £4,050 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £1,525 - £3,525 | £305 - £705 | £1,830 - £4,230 |
| £1m-2m | £1,875 - £4,875 | £375 - £975 | £2,250 - £5,850 |
| £2m-4m | £2,500 - £7,500 | £500 - £1,500 | £3,000 - £9,000 |
| £4m-6m | £5,000 - £10,000 | £1,000 - £2,000 | £6,000 - £12,000 |
Leasehold Sales - Outside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,225 - £3,225 | £245 - £645 | £1,470 - £3,870 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,325 - £3,325 | £265 - £665 | £1,590 - £3,990 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,475 - £3,475 | £295 - £695 | £1,770 - £4,170 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £1,675 - £3,675 | £335 - £735 | £2,010 - £4,410 |
| £1m-2m | £2,225 - £5,225 | £445 - £1,045 | £2,670 - £6,270 |
| £2m-4m | £2,850 - £7,850 | £570 - £1,570 | £3,420 - £9,420 |
| £4m-6m | £5,850 - £10,850 | £1,170 - £2,170 | £7,020 - £13,020 |
Freehold Sales - Inside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,225 - £3,225 | £245 - £645 | £1,470 - £3,870 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,325 - £3,325 | £265 - £665 | £1,590 - £3,990 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,475 - £3,475 | £295 - £695 | £1,770 - £4,170 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £1,675 - £3,675 | £335 - £735 | £2,010 - £4,410 |
| £1m-2m | £2,250 - £5,250 | £450 - £1,050 | £2,700 - £6,300 |
| £2m-4m | £3,500 - £8,500 | £700 - £1,700 | £4,200 - £10,200 |
| £4m-6m | £6,000 - £11,500 | £1,200 - £2,300 | £7,200 - £13,800 |
Leasehold Sales - Inside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,375 - £3,375 | £275 - £675 | £1,650 - £4,050 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,575 - £3,575 | £315 - £715 | £1,890 - £4,290 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,875 - £3,875 | £375 - £775 | £2,250 - £4,650 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £2,125 - £4,125 | £425 - £825 | £2,550 - £4,950 |
| £1m-2m | £3,275 - £6,050 | £655 - £1,210 | £3,930 - £7,260 |
| £2m-4m | £3,675 - £8,675 | £735 - £1,735 | £4,410 - £10,410 |
| £4m-6m | £6,675 - £11,675 | £1,335 - £2,335 | £8,010 - £14,010 |
Residential Purchases
Freehold Purchases - Outside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,175 - £3,175 | £235 - £635 | £1,410 - £3,810 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,225 - £3,225 | £245 - £645 | £1,470 - £3,870 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,425 - £3,425 | £285 - £685 | £1,710 - £4,110 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £1,725 - £3,725 | £345 - £745 | £2,070 - £4,470 |
| £1m-2m | £2,075 - £5,075 | £415 - £1,015 | £2,490 - £6,090 |
| £2m-4m | £2,700 - £7,700 | £540 - £1,540 | £3,240 - £9,240 |
| £4m-6m | £5,700 - £10,700 | £1,140 - £2,140 | £6,840 - £12,840 |
Leasehold Purchases - Outside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,275 - £3,275 | £255 - £655 | £1,530 - £3,930 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,325 - £3,325 | £265 - £665 | £1,590 - £3,990 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,525 - £3,525 | £305 - £705 | £1,830 - £4,230 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £1,725 - £3,725 | £345 - £745 | £2,070 - £4,470 |
| £1m-2m | £2,325 - £5,325 | £465 - £1,065 | £2,790 - £6,390 |
| £2m-4m | £2,950 - £7,950 | £590 - £1,590 | £3,540 - £9,540 |
| £4m-6m | £5,950 - £10,950 | £1,190 - £2,190 | £7,140 - £13,140 |
Freehold Purchases - Inside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,325 - £3,325 | £265 - £665 | £1,590 - £3,990 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,475 - £3,475 | £295 - £695 | £1,770 - £4,170 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £1,875 - £3,875 | £375 - £775 | £2,250 - £4,650 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £1,725 - £3,725 | £345 - £745 | £2,070 - £4,470 |
| £1m-2m | £2,975 - £5,975 | £595 - £1,195 | £3,570 - £7,170 |
| £2m-4m | £3,600 - £8,600 | £720 - £1,720 | £4,320 - £10,320 |
| £4m-6m | £6,600 - £11,600 | £1,320 - £2,320 | £7,920 - £13,920 |
Leasehold Purchases - Inside London
| Property Price | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| up to £250,000 | £1,475 - £3,475 | £295 - £695 | £1,770 - £4,170 |
| £250,000 - £500,000 | £1,675 - £3,675 | £335 - £735 | £2,010 - £4,410 |
| £500,000 - £725,000 | £2,225 - £4,225 | £445 - £845 | £2,670 - £5,070 |
| £725,000 - £1m | £2,825 - £4,825 | £565 - £965 | £3,390 - £5,790 |
| £1m-2m | £3,225 - £6,225 | £645 - £1,245 | £3,870 - £7,470 |
| £2m-4m | £3,850 - £8,850 | £770 - £1,770 | £4,620 - £10,620 |
| £4m-6m | £6,850 - £11,850 | £1,370 - £2,370 | £8,220 - £14,220 |
The value of the property and the complexity of the transaction will determine the final fee charged within the stated range.
Important information about our fees
The fees shown on this page do not include matters involving specialist or non-standard circumstances, including:
- Farm, land, or mixed-use sales, including properties with equestrian use or vineyards.
- SDLT advice or wider tax advice. Our standard fees cover submission of the SDLT return only, where applicable.
- Employment advice relating to staff connected with a property, such as farm workers or groundskeepers.
- Mixed commercial and residential properties.
- Trust deeds, wills, or lasting powers of attorney.
Full details of costs, scope of work, and any additional fees will always be confirmed in your client engagement letter and terms and conditions.
Residential remortgage fees
Our fees for residential remortgages depend on the value of the property and the complexity of the transaction. The figures below are for guidance only and do not constitute a binding quotation.
| Property value | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| Up to £250,000 | £750–£2,000 | £150–£400 | £900–£2,400 |
| £250,001–£500,000 | £750–£2,500 | £150–£500 | £900–£3,000 |
| £500,001–£750,000 | £1,250–£3,500 | £250–£700 | £1,500–£4,200 |
| £750,001–£999,999 | £1,500–£4,500 | £300–£900 | £1,800–£5,400 |
| £1 million and above | Price on application | — | — |
For properties valued at £1 million or above, our fees are normally between 0.5% and 1.25% of the property value, plus VAT.
Additional charges and disbursements may apply depending on the circumstances of the transaction. These will be confirmed as part of your quotation.
Additional Fees
| Add on | Our fees net of VAT | VAT 20% | Our fees inc of VAT |
| Arranging indemnity policy insurance (per policy) | £100 | £20 | £120 |
| Bank administration fee (per transfer) | £50 | £10 | £60 |
| Company search fee | £75 | £15 | £90 |
| Completing less two weeks after exchange | £150 | £30 | £180 |
| Dealing with any shared ownership scheme | £375 - £875 | £75 - £175 | £450 - £1,050 |
| Dealing with unregistered property | £500 - £2,000 | £100 - £400 | £600 - £2,400 |
| Deed of covenant | £125 | £25 | £150 |
| File administration fee | £100 | £20 | £120 |
| File opening fee | £150 | £30 | £180 |
| Foreign national search | £100 | £20 | £120 |
| Help to Buy | £350 - £850 | £70 - £170 | £420 - £1,020 |
| ID administration fee | £75 | £15 | £90 |
| Land Registry portal fee | £100 | £20 | £120 |
| Managed freehold | £300 | £60 | £360 |
| Mortgage fee where lender is separately represented | £1,500 | £300 | £1,800 |
| Mortgage redemption fee (per mortgage) | £200 | £40 | £240 |
| New build fee | £1,000 | £200 | £1,200 |
| Preparing/amending a statutory declaration | £200 - £1,700 | £40 - £340 | £240 - £2,040 |
| Removing a restriction in the title register | £200 - £1,700 | £40 - £340 | £240 - £2,040 |
| SDLT/SDRT submission fee | £150 | £30 | £180 |
| Winding up search fee | £75 | £15 | £90 |
| Building Safety Act | £450 - £1,500 | £90 - £300 | £540 - £1,800 |
| Review of assured shorthold tenancy (per tenancy agreement) | £200 | £40 | £240 |
| Review of tenancies (per tenancy) | £250 - £750 | £50 - £150 | £300 - £900 |
| Gifted deposit fee (per donor) | £200 - £350 | £40 - £70 | £240 - £420 |
- Tenancy review will be based on an hourly rate and the number of tenancies.
- Where a range is offered this is dependant on the scope and complexity of that legal requirement.
- For unregistered property an estimate will be given or it will be charged at an hourly rate. Unregistered properties are rare.
Anticipated disbursements payable to third parties
| Anticipated disbursements | Average Fees (inc 20%VAT) |
| Pre-contract searches (estimated) | £450 |
| Land Registry search fee (per title number) | £8.80 |
| Bankruptcy search fee (per person) | £7.80 |
| HM Land Registry fee | £150 * |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax / Land Transaction Tax | Variable ** |
| AML search fee | £7.50 |
| eCOS ID verification/AML (estimated) | £16.80 |
* HM Land Registry fees
The amount payable is based on a sliding scale depending on the property price. A scale can be found on the government’s website.
** Stamp Duty Land Tax or Land Transaction Tax (purchases only)
The amount payable depends on the purchase price of the property and your individual circumstances, including whether you are a first-time buyer or own other property.
You can calculate the likely amount using the relevant official calculator:
- English properties: HMRC Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator.
- Welsh properties: Welsh Revenue Authority Land Transaction Tax calculator.
We will confirm the applicable position as part of your transaction, but we do not provide standalone tax advice.
Key stages of a residential sale or purchase
Below we have summarised the services provided for a typical property transaction. Whether you are a buyer or a seller, we recommend you read our conveyancing process overview for a comprehensive understanding of each stage.
Stage 1: Instruction (0-2 weeks)
- Once you have informed your conveyancer of the transaction details, the firm will confirm the instructions in a letter and provide an estimate of costs.
- Signed initial letter documentation of instruction must be returned to the conveyancer, enabling them to begin the legal process.
- The conveyancer will also ask for identification and, if purchasing, evidence of where the funds to purchase are coming from.
- Money will be requested on account to cover the cost of any third-party disbursements. These will include ordering property searches on the purchase and title documentation for a sale.
Stage 2: Production of contract papers (0-3 weeks)
- The seller will be asked to complete a property information form, fittings and contents form and if the property is leasehold, a leasehold information form and full management information. These form part of the 'contract papers' and provide vital information directly from the seller about the property to be sold.
- The contract papers will also contain evidence from the Land Registry that the seller is the legal owner of the property.
- A draft contract will be drawn detailing the terms and conditions of the sale.
Stage 3: Investigation of title and arranging funding (0-6 weeks)
- Following receipt of the contract papers, the buyer's conveyancer will examine the information supplied and raise any pre-contract enquiries that need to be raised on the seller. These will include enquiries on the contract, title, and property. The seller must provide adequate replies to these enquiries before the buyer is happy to proceed.
- The buyer will also request property searches from the Local Authority, water company and Environmental Agency. Further enquiries may then have to be raised following the receipt of the results.
- The buyer must arrange a survey of the property by a qualified surveyor and raise any issues that arise from the report to the seller.
- The buyer must arrange a mortgage offer and inform their conveyancer of the details.
Stage 4: Reporting and signing contract documentation (0-2 weeks)
- Once the buyer's conveyancer is satisfied that Stage 3 is complete, their conveyancer can report to the buyer, supplying their legal expertise on the title being offered and the transaction as a whole. If the property is leasehold, the reporting stage may take longer because the lease terms must be reported on and can be complex. The buyer will need to ensure they are happy with the report and raise any further enquiries they may have following the review.
- Both conveyancers will then arrange for the buyer and seller to sign their contract and agree on a completion date.
Stage 5: Exchange of contracts (0-1 week)
- Upon receipt of the signed contracts and the buyer supplying their deposit, the contracts will be formally exchanged to complete on the agreed date.
Stage 6: Completion (time agreed by parties)
- Monies will be transferred from the buyer to the seller's conveyancer, signalling the transaction's end and the keys' release. This is usually two weeks after the contract exchange to allow for funds to be provided and mortgage advances to be obtained.
Key stages of a residential remortgage
The key stages of a typical residential remortgage include:
- Receiving instructions and completing identity checks.
- Reviewing the property's title and obtaining mortgage redemption information.
- Reviewing the new mortgage offer and satisfying the lender's requirements.
- Arranging completion and redeeming the existing mortgage.
- Registering the new mortgage with HM Land Registry.
How long will the matter take?
Every conveyancing matter differs in complexity, and it is important to note that certain factors impacting the timescales are outside of your conveyancer's control – for example mortgage applications and offers, third-party searches, the chain, or waiting on documents from other parties.
On average, a typical sale or purchase of a freehold property takes between 8-10 weeks, and a leasehold property takes between 10-12 weeks for completion.
A typical residential remortgage takes approximately 10 to 40 days, depending on factors including receipt of the mortgage offer, searches and how quickly clients respond to requests for information.
Who will handle the matter?
Your matter will be handled in our residential property department.
All work is supervised by Dominic Mercer.