How much does conveyancing cost?
How much does conveyancing cost?
Conveyancing costs vary with the property’s value, its tenure (freehold or leasehold) and how complex the transaction is. Most quotes break down into three parts:
- Legal fees — the firm’s charge for doing the work. This is the part that varies most between firms.
- VAT — charged on the legal fees at the standard rate.
- Disbursements — third-party costs the firm pays on your behalf: property searches, Land Registry fees, and bank transfer fees. On a leasehold purchase you may also pay notice and freeholder fees.
Why leasehold costs more
Leasehold transactions involve extra work — reviewing the lease, dealing with the freeholder or managing agent, and checking ground rent and service charges — so they usually carry a higher legal fee than an equivalent freehold.
Comparing fairly
A low headline legal fee can hide higher disbursements or “extras” added later. Always compare the all-in total — legal fee + VAT + disbursements — for your specific transaction. Many panel firms also offer a no completion, no legal fee guarantee, so you’re not charged the legal fee if your sale or purchase falls through.
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