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Conveyancing
A complete breakdown of what conveyancing costs in 2026, with regional data, worked examples, and practical advice on reducing your legal fees.
Conveyancing fees are the charges you pay a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle the legal work when buying, selling, or transferring property. Every residential transaction in England and Wales requires conveyancing, and the total bill breaks into two categories: legal fees and disbursements.
Legal fees (sometimes called professional fees) cover the conveyancer's time and expertise. This includes reviewing the draft contract, running title checks at the Land Registry, raising pre-contract enquiries, negotiating terms with the other side's solicitor, managing exchange of contracts, and registering the new owner. Legal fees always attract VAT at 20%, so a quoted fee of £1,200 becomes £1,440 inclusive of VAT.
Disbursements are third-party costs your conveyancer pays on your behalf. These include local authority searches, environmental and drainage searches, Land Registry registration fees, anti-money laundering identity checks, and telegraphic transfer fees for moving funds on completion day. Some disbursements carry VAT (search fees ordered through a commercial provider, for example) while others are VAT-exempt (Land Registry fees and Stamp Duty). This inconsistency causes frequent confusion when comparing conveyancing quotes. For a full line-by-line explanation, see our guide to conveyancing disbursements explained.
The total conveyancing bill combines both elements. A typical quote for a buyer of a £300,000 freehold property shows legal fees of £1,000 to £1,800 plus VAT, with disbursements adding £300 to £800 on top. Sellers pay less because their conveyancer conducts fewer searches and does not handle Land Registry registration or mortgage documentation. A seller of the same property might pay £800 to £1,200 plus VAT in legal fees with £100 to £200 in disbursements.
The Solicitors Regulation Authority requires firms to publish their residential conveyancing pricing under the Transparency Rules, strengthened in 2023 to demand more granular cost breakdowns. This means you should see a firm's base legal fee and estimated disbursements before you instruct them. Understanding the conveyancing process from instruction to completion helps you anticipate when each cost arises and whether a quote is genuinely competitive or hiding charges in the small print.
Buyers always pay more than sellers. The buyer's conveyancer carries out property searches, reviews the mortgage offer, handles the Stamp Duty Land Tax return, and submits the Land Registry application. The seller's conveyancer prepares the contract pack, answers enquiries, redeems any existing mortgage, and drafts the transfer deed. Both sides pay their own conveyancing costs separately.
When you receive a conveyancing quote, check whether it separates legal fees from disbursements and whether VAT is included in the headline figure. A quote showing "£995 all-inclusive" may exclude disbursements entirely, while a more transparent quote of "£1,200 plus VAT plus estimated disbursements of £500" gives you a clearer picture of the true cost.
Conveyancing fees in the UK vary depending on whether you are buying or selling, the property's value, and where you are located. Based on quotes gathered across England and Wales in 2026, here are the current average costs for residential conveyancing.
For a freehold property valued at £300,000, the average total conveyancing cost in 2026 (legal fees plus disbursements, including VAT on the legal fee) is approximately £1,800 to £2,400 for a buyer and £1,000 to £1,500 for a seller. These figures cover the solicitor's professional fee, standard disbursements, and VAT. They do not include Stamp Duty Land Tax, which is a separate government charge paid by the buyer.
Conveyancing fees vary by location for two reasons. First, solicitors in high-cost areas such as London and the South East have higher overheads (office rents, staff salaries) that feed into their professional fees. Second, local authority search charges are set independently by each council and range from around £100 in parts of the North East to over £300 in some London boroughs. The table below shows average total conveyancing costs for a buyer purchasing a £300,000 freehold property in 2026, including legal fees, disbursements, and VAT on the legal fee.
Sellers in every region pay approximately 40% to 50% less than buyers for the same property value, because the seller's conveyancer does not order property searches, handle mortgage documentation, or submit a Land Registry application.
Most people moving home sell one property and buy another simultaneously. Here is a worked example showing the full conveyancing costs for a homeowner selling a freehold property in the Midlands for £250,000 and buying a freehold property in the South East for £400,000.
Sale side (£250,000 freehold, Midlands):
Purchase side (£400,000 freehold, South East):
Combined conveyancing total: £3,325
If you instruct the same firm for both sides, most offer a linked-transaction discount of £100 to £300 on the combined legal fee. Always ask for this discount when requesting your initial conveyancing quote.
While the regional table shows costs for a £300,000 property, your fees will differ if your property is worth more or less. Some conveyancers use a tiered pricing structure where the legal fee increases with property value. A typical structure looks like this:
Land Registry fees also scale with property value. Registering a property worth up to £100,000 costs £40 online, while registering one worth £500,001 to £1,000,000 costs £270. These are fixed government charges that remain the same regardless of your location or solicitor.
When comparing conveyancing quotes against these averages, keep three things in mind. First, always compare the total cost including VAT and disbursements. A headline fee of £695 that excludes VAT and disbursements will cost £1,200 or more in practice. Second, firms that charge based on property value rather than a flat fee will quote higher for expensive properties. A percentage-based fee of 0.5% on a £500,000 property works out to £2,500, which is significantly above the average flat fee for the same region. Third, online conveyancing firms typically quote below these averages because they operate without high street offices, but service levels vary and a cheaper quote does not always mean faster or smoother completion.
These figures reflect standard freehold transactions. Leasehold properties, new builds, shared ownership, and properties with title defects all incur supplementary charges that increase the total above the averages shown here.
Every conveyancing quote contains two parts: the legal fee and a list of anticipated disbursements. The legal fee is straightforward, but the disbursement section often confuses buyers because it contains unfamiliar items with varying prices. Here is what each line means, what it costs in 2026, and whether VAT applies.
Local authority searches are the single largest disbursement for most buyers. Your conveyancer submits a search to the local council covering planning history, building control records, road proposals, and environmental notices affecting the property. Council turnaround times range from 48 hours to 6 weeks depending on the authority, and some conveyancers use regulated search providers for faster results. The cost varies from £100 to £300 depending on the council. For a detailed explanation of each search type, see our guide to conveyancing searches.
Environmental searches check for contaminated land, flood risk, ground stability, and radon gas. These are ordered from commercial providers and typically cost £40 to £60 including VAT.
Drainage and water searches confirm that the property is connected to mains water and sewerage and identify any public drains running through or near the property. These cost £40 to £60.
Land Registry fees are paid to register you as the new owner (buyers only) or to obtain official copies of the title and plan. Registration fees are set by the Land Registry on a sliding scale based on property value, ranging from £40 for properties up to £100,000 to £455 for properties over £1,000,000. These fees are VAT-exempt.
Anti-money laundering (AML) checks are a legal requirement. Your conveyancer must verify your identity and source of funds before acting for you. The electronic ID check typically costs £10 to £20 per person named on the transaction.
Telegraphic transfer fees (TT fees) cover the cost of sending money electronically on completion day. Each bank transfer costs £25 to £50. A buyer might pay for two transfers (deposit to the seller's solicitor and the main completion funds), while a seller typically pays for one transfer of the sale proceeds.
Bankruptcy search fees are a £2 Land Registry charge per person to confirm the buyer is not subject to a bankruptcy order. This is required by mortgage lenders as a condition of the advance.
Stamp Duty Land Tax is technically not a disbursement but often appears on the completion statement because your conveyancer submits the return and payment to HMRC on your behalf. The tax is calculated based on the purchase price and paid separately from conveyancing fees.
VAT treatment varies between disbursements. Local authority searches obtained directly from the council are VAT-exempt, but if your conveyancer orders them through a commercial search provider, VAT at 20% is added. Environmental and drainage searches from commercial providers always include VAT. Land Registry fees, Stamp Duty, and bankruptcy search fees are VAT-exempt. Your conveyancer's own legal fee is always subject to VAT at 20%. When comparing quotes, check whether disbursement estimates include or exclude VAT, as this can create a difference of £50 to £100 between apparently similar quotes.
Indemnity insurance policies may be required if there are minor title defects, missing planning permissions, or absent building regulation certificates. These are one-off premiums costing £20 to £300 depending on the risk insured, and they are VAT-exempt.
For a standard freehold purchase of a property valued at £250,000 to £350,000 in 2026, total disbursements typically range from £450 to £750. For a leasehold purchase, add the cost of the leasehold information pack (£200 to £400) to these figures. Sellers face far fewer disbursements, typically £80 to £200, covering only AML checks, a telegraphic transfer fee, and any mortgage redemption administration charge.
The disbursement table below shows the cost range for each item a buyer can expect to see on a standard conveyancing quote in 2026. Sellers will see fewer items because they do not pay for property searches or Land Registry registration.
Several factors influence the conveyancing fees you will pay. Understanding these helps you gauge whether a quote is reasonable for your specific situation or whether you are being overcharged.
Many conveyancing firms use a tiered fee structure where the legal fee increases as the property value rises. This is because higher-value transactions carry greater financial risk and often involve more complex title issues. A property worth £150,000 might attract a legal fee of £800 plus VAT, while a property worth £750,000 could cost £1,800 plus VAT with the same firm. Land Registry registration fees also scale with property value, adding £40 for a property up to £100,000 but £270 for one between £500,001 and £1,000,000.
Not all firms scale their fees by value. Some charge a flat fee regardless of the property price, which benefits buyers of more expensive homes but may mean slightly higher costs for cheaper properties. When comparing quotes, check how each firm calculates its legal fee.
Leasehold conveyancing costs more than freehold because the conveyancer must review the lease terms, check ground rent and service charge obligations, examine the freeholder's management history, and obtain a leasehold information pack (LPE1 form) from the managing agent. This pack alone costs £200 to £400 and can take 2 to 4 weeks to arrive. Most firms add a leasehold supplement of £150 to £350 on top of their standard legal fee, bringing the total additional cost for leasehold to £350 to £750 compared with an equivalent freehold purchase.
If you are extending a lease as part of the transaction, expect additional legal costs of £500 to £1,500 depending on the complexity of the extension and whether it is dealt with informally or through a statutory notice.
As shown in the regional table above, conveyancing fees vary across the UK. London conveyancers charge the most, reflecting higher operating costs. Local authority search fees also differ by council area, from around £100 in the cheapest authorities to over £300 in some London boroughs. If you are buying in an area with slow council search turnaround, your conveyancer may recommend a personal search or regulated search provider, which costs more but delivers results within 48 hours.
You are not required to use a local conveyancer. Many buyers choose firms in lower-cost regions or use online conveyancers to reduce costs, since conveyancing can be handled entirely remotely. The key factor is the firm's experience with transactions in the relevant local authority area, not their office location.
The length and stability of the property chain affects your costs indirectly. A longer chain increases the risk of delays, additional enquiries, and the transaction falling through entirely. While the conveyancing fee itself does not usually change based on chain length, a collapsed transaction means you may lose the disbursements already spent (typically £300 to £500) unless you have a no-sale-no-fee arrangement in place.
New build conveyancing often carries a supplement of £100 to £300 because the conveyancer must review the developer's contract (which is typically longer and more complex than a standard resale contract), check planning conditions, examine the NHBC or equivalent warranty documentation, and deal with the developer's solicitor who acts for many buyers simultaneously. Help to Buy equity loan redemptions and shared ownership transactions add further complexity and cost.
If you are buying with a mortgage, your conveyancer acts for both you and the lender. This adds responsibilities such as reviewing the mortgage offer, reporting on the property to the lender's specifications, and ensuring compliance with the UK Finance Mortgage Lenders' Handbook. Most firms do not charge extra for this dual role, but some add a mortgage-related supplement of £50 to £150. Cash buyers avoid this requirement entirely, which can speed up the process and occasionally reduce the overall fee.
If you need an expedited transaction (for example, completing within 2 to 3 weeks rather than the typical 8 to 12), some firms charge a priority fee of £200 to £500. This reflects the additional staff time required to fast-track searches, enquiries, and documentation outside normal turnaround periods.
Properties with title defects, missing documentation, or unresolved planning issues require additional legal work. Common examples include missing building regulation certificates for past extensions, absent guarantees for damp-proofing or underpinning work, and restrictive covenants that might affect your intended use of the property. Your conveyancer may need to obtain indemnity insurance policies (£20 to £300 each) or negotiate indemnities with the seller's solicitor. These issues are difficult to predict before the transaction begins, which is one reason the final bill sometimes exceeds the initial quote.
Instruction and payment on account
Many conveyancers request £200 to £500 on account when you instruct them. This upfront payment covers early disbursements such as property search fees and electronic identity verification checks ordered in the first two weeks.
Property searches ordered (weeks 2-4)
Your conveyancer orders local authority, environmental, and drainage searches costing £250 to £450 combined. These are funded from your payment on account or invoiced separately. Results typically arrive within one to six weeks.
Pre-exchange preparation
No additional payment is normally required at this stage. Your conveyancer reviews search results, raises and resolves enquiries with the seller's solicitor, and reports on the title to you and your mortgage lender.
Completion day
The main legal fee, VAT, and any remaining disbursements are deducted from the completion funds on the day of completion. Your conveyancer takes their payment directly from these funds before transferring the balance to the seller.
Post-completion submissions
After completion, your conveyancer submits the Stamp Duty Land Tax return to HMRC within 14 days and applies for Land Registry registration. These costs are included in your completion statement and paid from funds already held.
Final statement and reconciliation
You receive a detailed final financial statement within two to four weeks of completion. This reconciles all charges, payments, and fund movements. Any surplus held on account is refunded to you by bank transfer.
You can instruct either a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer to handle your property transaction. Both are regulated, both can do the legal work required, and both carry professional indemnity insurance that protects you if something goes wrong. The key differences lie in their training, scope of practice, and typical fee levels.
A solicitor is regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA), holds a law degree or equivalent qualification, and has completed the Legal Practice Course and a training contract. Solicitors can practise any area of law, and many specialise in property alongside other practice areas. This broader training can be an advantage when transactions involve disputes, trusts, or unusual title issues.
A licensed conveyancer is regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC), holds a specialist qualification in property law and practice, and works exclusively on property transactions. Because licensed conveyancers focus solely on conveyancing, they often process transactions faster and may offer lower fees, particularly for straightforward freehold purchases and sales.
On average, licensed conveyancers charge 10% to 20% less than solicitors for equivalent residential conveyancing work. For a standard freehold purchase of a £300,000 property in 2026, the typical fee comparison is shown in the table below.
The cost gap narrows for complex transactions. For leasehold purchases, new builds, and transactions involving title defects, solicitors and licensed conveyancers charge similar fees because the additional work required is the same regardless of the professional's title or regulatory body.
For a straightforward freehold purchase or sale, a licensed conveyancer often provides equal service at a lower price. For complex transactions involving boundary disputes, shared ownership staircasing, trust properties, or simultaneous lease extensions, a solicitor's broader legal training may be a genuine advantage worth paying for.
The most reliable indicator of quality is not the professional title but the firm's track record with similar transactions. Check online reviews, ask how many transactions the firm completed in the past 12 months, confirm that your named conveyancer (not just the firm) will handle the work personally, and verify that the firm is registered on the SRA or CLC website.
Both solicitors and licensed conveyancers must hold professional indemnity insurance and contribute to a compensation fund that protects clients if the firm ceases trading. Both must follow anti-money laundering regulations and comply with their regulator's transparency rules on pricing.
Whether you choose a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, you also face the choice between a traditional high street firm and an online conveyancing service. Online firms typically quote lower fees (£500 to £1,000 for the legal fee element, compared with £800 to £1,800 for high street firms) because they operate without branch offices. However, communication can be less personal, you may deal with different case handlers throughout the transaction, and response times during busy periods can be slower if the firm handles a high volume of cases.
High street firms offer face-to-face meetings (useful if the transaction involves complex discussions or if you prefer in-person communication), a single point of contact, and often faster access to your conveyancer by phone. These advantages come at a higher price, but many clients find the additional cost worthwhile for the reassurance and accessibility during what is often a stressful process.
One practical consideration: if you are using a mortgage, your lender maintains an approved panel of firms authorised to act on its behalf. Not all licensed conveyancers appear on all lender panels. Before instructing a firm, confirm that it is on your mortgage lender's panel to avoid changing conveyancer mid-transaction, which causes delays and may incur duplicate fees.
Conveyancing is a necessary cost when buying or selling property, but there are legitimate ways to reduce what you pay without compromising the quality of the legal work.
The single most effective way to save on conveyancing fees is to obtain quotes from at least three firms, including a mix of high street solicitors, licensed conveyancers, and online providers. Ensure each quote breaks down the legal fee, VAT, and estimated disbursements separately so you can compare like for like. A quote showing a single "total" figure without this breakdown makes it impossible to judge whether the legal fee or the disbursement estimates are inflated. For a structured approach to finding lower-cost providers, see our guide to cheap conveyancing.
Fixed-fee conveyancing means the legal fee does not change regardless of how long the transaction takes or how many enquiries are raised. This protects you from unexpected cost increases. Most reputable firms now offer fixed fees for standard residential transactions. Ask specifically: "Is this a fixed fee or an estimate?" An estimate can increase during the transaction, and some firms use initial low estimates as a sales tactic before adding supplementary charges as the work progresses.
Before accepting a quote, ask about additional charges that may not appear in the headline figure. Common extras include:
A firm that quotes £800 for the legal fee but adds £400 in supplements may cost more than a firm quoting £1,100 with no extras. Always ask for a complete breakdown of every charge you will face, and get the answer in writing before you instruct the firm.
No sale no fee conveyancing means you do not pay the legal fee if the transaction falls through. However, "no fee" refers only to the solicitor's professional fee. You will still be liable for disbursements already incurred, typically £300 to £500 for searches and checks ordered during the transaction. Some firms also exclude specific scenarios from their no-sale-no-fee promise, such as withdrawal by the buyer, transactions that collapse due to unsatisfactory survey results, or cases where the buyer cannot obtain a mortgage. Read the terms carefully before assuming you will pay nothing if the transaction fails.
Conveyancing fees are negotiable, particularly if you are instructing the same firm for both a sale and a purchase, or if you are a returning client. Ask directly: "Can you reduce the legal fee?" Many firms have discretion to offer 5% to 15% off the standard rate, especially during quieter periods (January to March is typically slower than the spring and summer market). If you have received a lower competing quote, sharing it with your preferred firm often prompts them to match or beat the price.
A conveyancing quote significantly below the market average should prompt caution rather than celebration. Specific red flags include:
The cheapest quote is rarely the best value. A firm that charges £200 more but completes the transaction smoothly, responds to queries within 24 hours, and avoids delays that cost you money in other ways (mortgage offer expiry, chain collapse, extended rental costs) will save you more overall than a budget provider that causes weeks of avoidable delays.
Remortgage conveyancing is simpler and cheaper than purchase conveyancing because there is no change of ownership, no property searches to order, and no chain to manage. However, you still need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle the legal transfer of the mortgage charge from your current lender to the new one.
Your remortgage conveyancer reviews the new mortgage offer, checks the title at the Land Registry for any changes since your original purchase, prepares the new mortgage deed for your signature, arranges redemption of your existing mortgage with the outgoing lender, and registers the new lender's charge at the Land Registry. This process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks from instruction to completion.
Remortgage conveyancing fees in 2026 typically range from £300 to £700 for the legal fee (plus VAT), with disbursements of £50 to £150 covering Land Registry searches, AML checks, and the telegraphic transfer fee. The total cost, including VAT, is usually £400 to £1,000, which is significantly less than the £1,800 to £2,400 a buyer pays for a purchase transaction.
Many mortgage lenders offer "free legals" as part of their remortgage deal, meaning the lender pays the conveyancing fee on your behalf. In these cases, the lender appoints a conveyancer from its panel to act for both you and the lender. You have no choice over which firm handles the work, but you save the full legal fee. The lender-appointed conveyancer still acts in your interest and must comply with the same professional and regulatory standards as any other firm.
If your lender does not offer free legals, or if you prefer to instruct your own conveyancer, shop around in the same way you would for a purchase or sale. Remortgage quotes are easier to compare because there are fewer variables: no property searches, no chain considerations, and a standard set of disbursements.
Lender-funded "free legals" are only free in the sense that you do not receive a separate conveyancing bill. The cost is built into the mortgage product, typically through a slightly higher interest rate or product fee. If you are offered two remortgage deals with similar rates but one includes free legals and the other does not, calculate the total cost of each deal over its fixed-rate period (including product fees and conveyancing costs) before deciding which is genuinely cheaper.
Remortgage conveyancing is also required if you are transferring equity, for example adding or removing a partner from the mortgage after a relationship change. Equity transfer conveyancing costs are similar to standard remortgage fees but may include additional charges of £100 to £300 for the extra legal work involved in amending the title register and any associated property ownership documents.
Conveyancing fees are one part of the total cost of moving home. Understanding where they sit alongside other expenses helps you budget accurately and avoid financial surprises on completion day.
Here is a breakdown of the main costs involved in a typical move, based on a homeowner selling a property for £250,000 and buying one for £350,000 in 2026:
Total estimated moving costs: £9,360 to £14,320
Conveyancing fees represent roughly 20% to 30% of the total cost of moving, making them a significant but not dominant expense. Estate agent fees on the sale side are typically the largest single cost, often exceeding the combined conveyancing fees for both transactions.
While reducing conveyancing fees by £200 to £300 through careful comparison shopping is worthwhile, the largest potential savings come from negotiating estate agent fees (which can vary by thousands of pounds between agents) and choosing the right mortgage product (where a 0.2% rate difference on a £280,000 mortgage saves over £550 per year). That said, conveyancing is the area where poor service has the greatest potential to delay or derail the entire transaction. A slow or disorganised conveyancer can cause your mortgage offer to expire (requiring a costly re-application), allow the chain to collapse, or force you to extend rental agreements at additional cost. The true cost of cheap but ineffective conveyancing often exceeds the savings on the legal fee itself.
When planning your budget, add 10% to 15% to the total estimated costs above to cover unexpected expenses. These might include additional indemnity insurance policies, re-inspection fees if the survey raises concerns, storage costs if completion dates do not align, or supplementary conveyancing charges for issues discovered during the transaction. Your conveyancer provides a detailed financial statement before completion showing every charge and the funds required, giving you a final confirmed figure before you commit to exchanging contracts.
Building the total cost picture early in the process helps you avoid overcommitting. If you are a first-time buyer, the absence of estate agent fees and Stamp Duty relief on properties below £425,000 significantly reduces the overall moving cost, making conveyancing fees a proportionally larger share of your total outlay and even more worth comparing carefully before you instruct a firm.
Conveyancing fees cover two things: your solicitor's legal fee for handling the transaction, and disbursements (third-party costs paid on your behalf). The legal fee covers contract review, title checks, enquiries, exchange, completion, and Land Registry registration. Disbursements include local authority searches (£100 to £300), environmental searches (£40 to £60), Land Registry fees (£40 to £455), AML identity checks (£10 to £20), and bank transfer fees (£25 to £50). VAT at 20% applies to the legal fee and some disbursements.
For a standard £300,000 freehold purchase in 2026, total conveyancing fees (legal fees plus disbursements including VAT) typically range from £1,800 to £2,400. Sellers pay less, typically £1,000 to £1,500 for the same property value. Leasehold properties cost £350 to £750 more than freehold due to the additional legal work and the leasehold information pack. London and the South East are the most expensive regions, while the North East and Wales offer the lowest average fees.
Both the buyer and the seller pay their own conveyancing fees separately. The buyer's fees are higher because the buyer's conveyancer handles property searches, mortgage documentation, Stamp Duty submission, and Land Registry registration. The seller's conveyancer prepares the contract pack, responds to enquiries, and redeems any existing mortgage, which involves less work and fewer disbursements. Neither side is responsible for the other's legal costs unless specifically agreed otherwise in the contract.
Most conveyancers request a small payment on account of £200 to £500 when you instruct them, covering initial search fees and identity checks. The main legal fee and remaining disbursements are deducted from the completion funds on completion day. Your conveyancer takes payment directly before transferring the balance to the seller's solicitor. A final financial statement reconciling all charges is sent within 2 to 4 weeks after completion, and any surplus from the payment on account is refunded.
Yes. Most conveyancers have discretion to reduce their legal fee by 5% to 15%, particularly if you are instructing them for both a sale and purchase simultaneously, are a returning client, or can share a lower competing quote. The quieter months of January to March often yield better rates because firms are less busy. Disbursements (third-party costs like Land Registry fees and search charges) are fixed government or provider charges and cannot be negotiated, but the solicitor's own professional fee is always open to discussion.
Under a no-sale-no-fee arrangement, you do not pay the solicitor's legal fee if the transaction collapses. However, you remain liable for disbursements already incurred, typically £300 to £500 for searches and checks. Without a no-sale-no-fee agreement, you may owe the full legal fee or a cancellation charge. Read the firm's terms carefully, as some exclude specific scenarios such as buyer withdrawal, failed mortgage applications, or unsatisfactory survey results from their no-sale-no-fee guarantee.
Leasehold conveyancing costs £350 to £750 more than an equivalent freehold transaction. The additional cost comes from the leasehold supplement (£150 to £350 added to the legal fee) and the leasehold information pack (LPE1 form), which costs £200 to £400 and is obtained from the freeholder's managing agent. For a £300,000 leasehold purchase in 2026, expect total conveyancing fees of £2,200 to £3,100 including the legal fee, all disbursements, VAT, and the leasehold information pack.
Technically yes, but it is not recommended for most transactions. DIY conveyancing means handling your own title checks, property searches, contract drafting, and Land Registry applications without professional support. Most mortgage lenders will not allow it because they require a qualified solicitor or licensed conveyancer to act on their behalf as a condition of the mortgage advance. You also lose the protection of professional indemnity insurance if something goes wrong. The potential saving of £1,000 to £2,000 is outweighed by the risk of costly legal errors.
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