How much does conveyancing cost in 2026?

Two things make up your conveyancing bill: the legal fee the firm charges, and disbursements — money the firm pays out on your behalf to third parties. How high the total goes depends on the price of the property, whether it's freehold or leasehold, whether you've got a mortgage, and which firm you pick.

The legal fee

For a normal freehold purchase in 2026, budget £900–£1,800 in legal fees. Leasehold adds another £200–£500 because there's more work in it. Selling is cheaper than buying — £700–£1,200 is typical for a freehold sale.

Most firms work to a fixed fee now. If anyone quotes you by the hour, ask them for a fixed-fee version. Hourly billing on a residential conveyancing matter is unusual, and it leaves you exposed if things drag on.

Disbursements

These get passed through at cost. For a purchase, the main ones are:

• Local authority search: £100–£250 depending on the council. Some councils let you use a commercial search provider, which can be faster and cheaper.
• Environmental and drainage searches: roughly £50–£100 between them.
• HMLR registration fee: set by HMLR on a sliding scale, £20–£910 depending on price. Non-negotiable.
• Stamp duty: a tax, not a fee, but your solicitor usually collects and pays it for you. Rates depend on the price and whether you're a first-time buyer.
• Bank transfer fee: usually £30–£50 for sending the completion money.

Leasehold extras

Leasehold purchases come with more line items, and not all of them are made obvious upfront:

• Management pack: £100–£400, charged by the freeholder or managing agent. You can't haggle this one.
• Notice of transfer and notice of charge: £50–£200 each, paid to the freeholder after completion.
• Deed of covenant: some freeholders require this, £100–£250.

What to watch out for in quotes

Comparison sites and online conveyancers sometimes advertise a low headline fee and either list the disbursements separately or leave them out entirely. Before you say yes to a quote, ask for the all-in number including every disbursement that applies to your property. Ask specifically whether there's an extra fee for acting for your mortgage lender (most firms wrap this in now, but not all).

Also ask whether the quote's a fixed fee no matter what, or an estimate that can move. A proper fixed fee protects you if the job turns out to be harder than they thought.