Cheap Low Cost Conveyancing, Is It Worth It?

Written by Martha Lott

16th Aug 2021 (Last updated on 21st Jul 2022) 4 minute read

Understanding Conveyancing Costs

In 2022, the average solicitor fees for buying a house are £1,040 and the average solicitor fees for selling a house are £1,000. Conveyancing costs are made up of the legal fee and disbursements, so you'll need to factor in the disbursements on top of this.

Many conveyancers offer a fixed fee conveyancing service. This means the price you receive upfront won’t change. Others may offer no sale no fee conveyancing so you won’t be required to pay the solicitor’s legal fee if the sale falls through. You’ll still have to pay other third party costs.

Some conveyancers still charge an hourly rate. This may seem cheap at first but it doesn’t include third-party costs.

For more information, read conveyancing fees

What to Expect in a Conveyancing Quote

Below, we’ve included a breakdown of the usual costs you’ll find in a conveyancing quote for buying a house priced at the UK’s average.

It’s important to note that these are average costs. Each conveyancer or solicitor will have a different legal fee and local councils will have different prices for searches. Other costs will depend on your personal circumstances.

Is Online Conveyancing Cheaper?

Online conveyancing services can charge less because they take on a lot more cases at once. In traditional conveyancing, you only deal with one solicitor.

Some people dislike online conveyancing as they believe their case will be rushed. Others prefer this method of conveyancing because everything is done online with no need to sign documents in person.

To learn more, read what is online conveyancing?

What to Look Out For in Low Price Quotes

There’s an abundance of cheap online conveyancing quotes with prices advertised as low as £99. This will likely be the solicitor’s legal fee, not including other important costs.

For an average-priced house, it’s important to avoid any quotes that are well under £1,000. If you think a quote seems too cheap, then it probably is too good to be true.

What Type of Property is the Cheapest for Conveyancing?

Solicitors base their conveyancing quotes on the value of the property you’re buying or selling. The higher the house is priced, the higher your conveyancing costs will be.

If you’re buying a freehold property, you’ll experience cheaper conveyancing fees than if it were a leasehold property. Buying a leasehold involves additional conveyancing work, therefore a higher legal fee.

Conveyancing for a Shared Ownership or Help to Buy property will also require more conveyancing work. Again, this means it will be more expensive.

What's the Difference Between an Estimate and a Quote?

A quote is an agreed price that should not change throughout the process. An estimate is a rough idea of the price that is subject to change.

It’s essential to get a full breakdown of the quote before you pay for the service.

Do You Get Cheaper Quotes in Different Parts of the UK?

An important part of the conveyancing quote will be the property searches. The cost of these will vary depending on each local council and their set prices.

According to the City of London council website, a Local Authority Search will cost a total of £133.20. Whereas Manchester Council’s Local Authority cost is £74.50 for the standard search of the Con29 and LLC1.

Cost of conveyancing searches across the UK:

To learn more, read what is a local authority search?

Does Paying More Mean You'll Get a Better Service?

No, paying more for your conveyancing doesn’t guarantee a better service.

The only reason you’d pay more for your conveyancing is if:

• The property has a high value
• You're buying a leasehold property
• You're buying with Help to Buy
• You're buying with Shared Ownership

The process usually takes between 8-12 weeks, regardless of how much you pay. Conveyancing searches take the longest time to be returned. Although some councils offer a quicker service for an additional fee.

The majority of the process is made up of legal practices and dealings with mortgages. As these are third-party services, they will take the same amount of time for most people.

Are Conveyancers Cheaper Than Solicitors?

Solicitors tend to charge more than conveyancers because they are more qualified in a range of areas within property law. They can help with complicated cases that involve lease extensions, transfer of equity or remortgaging.

However, should you be unhappy with your chosen professional, know that it is possible to change solicitors or conveyancers when buying or selling a house.

How Can Compare My Move Provide Cheap Conveyancing Quotes?

Using a comparison site for your conveyancing will help you get a wide range of quotes, allowing you to find the best deal.

By using Compare My Move, you can get prices from up to 5 conveyancers to help find the best deal for you.

Learn More About Conveyancing

This is part of our conveyancing guide. In our next article, we discuss the steps to pull out of a house sale and when it's most appropriate to do so. To learn more, read can you pull out of a property sale or purchase.