Solicitor Fees for Selling a House UK
Solicitor fees for selling a house in the UK are £1,690 including disbursements and potential extra costs.
This article features a breakdown of solicitors' fees associated with selling your home. We’ll also look at when to pay the fees and what can affect costs.
- Average Legal Fees for Selling Freehold vs Leasehold
- Disbursement Fees for Selling a House
- Additional Solicitor Fees to Expect when Selling
- Solicitor Fees for Selling Leasehold
- What Affects the Cost of Legal Fees when Selling?
- What's Included in Solicitor's Fees?
- Do you Need a Solicitor when Selling a House?
- Fixed-rate or Percentage-based Fees?
- When Do I Pay My Solicitor Fees when Selling?
- Do Solicitors Still Charge if the Sale Falls Through?
- Next Steps of Selling a House
Compare My Move has researched the average solicitors fees for selling a house by taking an average from 46 UK conveyancers. The table includes the solicitor's legal fees, disbursements and then potential other costs. Compare My Move’s unique data shows that the average conveyancing fees in 2023 are as follows:
Solicitor Fees | Cost |
|---|---|
Solicitor's Legal Fee | £1,270 |
Conveyancing Disbursements | £88 |
Potential Other Costs | £322 |
Total | £1,690 |
Average Legal Fees for Selling Freehold vs Leasehold
Legal fees will range depending on whether you’re selling a freehold or leasehold property. Below are the average legal fees for selling both freehold and leasehold properties based on property value.
| Property Value | Freehold Solicitor Fees | Leasehold Solicitor Fees |
|---|---|---|
Up to £100,000 | £1,050 | £1,220 |
£100,001 to £200,000 | £1,140 | £1,310 |
£200,001 to £300,000 | £1,270 | £1,420 |
£300,001 to £400,000 | £1,340 | £1,490 |
£400,001 to £500,000 | £1,430 | £1,580 |
£500,001 to £600,000 | £1,640 | £1,780 |
£600,001 to £700,000 | £1,720 | £1,880 |
£700,001 to £800,000 | £1,910 | £2,050 |
£800,001 to £900,000 | £2,030 | £2,170 |
£900,001 to £1000,000 | £2,100 | £2,250 |
£1000,001+ | £2,430 | £2,520 |
Average taken from the fees page of 46 Conveyancers from across the UK. 20% VAT is included.
Use our Conveyancing Fees Calculator to receive an approximate cost that you can expect.
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Disbursement Fees for Selling a House
You’ll pay fewer conveyancing disbursements when selling than buying. Below we’ve listed the main disbursements you can expect to pay.
1. Anti-money Laundering Checks - £5
This is a check carried out by your solicitor to ensure you're not money laundering. If you're paying for your fees through a number of accounts, your solicitor may be suspicious. This is a very common check when buying and selling.
2. Bank Transfer Fee - £40
A bank transfer fee is required when your conveyancer needs to transfer money over £60,000. This can often be to pay off your mortgage or to pay the final sale funds to your account. We found the average cost including VAT was £40 but can range between £25 and £45.
3. Mortgaged Property Supplement Fee - £220
If you’re selling your house and still have a mortgage, your solicitor will need to liaise with your mortgage lender to process the redemption. This extra work will be highlighted in the quote.
4. Title Register Copy - £6
Your conveyancer needs up-to-date copies of the freehold Title Register and filed Title Plan. These can be found on HM Land Registry and proves you’re the owner of the property. This consists of a property register and a plan of the property.
Additional Solicitor Fees to Expect when Selling
There are certain extra costs you may face if your case is complex.
Certain costs will be clear from the start, such as Shared Ownership. Some might crop up during the process, such as delayed completion fees.
These are the most common extra charges faced with conveyancing:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
Remortgage | £500 |
Shared Ownership | £330 |
Unregistered Property Fee | £100-£200 |
Delayed Completion | £100 - £200 |
Indemnity Insurance | Varies |
Transferring Equity | £530 |
Average taken from the fees page of 46 Conveyancers from across the UK. 20% VAT is included.
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Solicitor Fees for Selling Leasehold
Selling a leasehold property comes with higher legal fees than a freehold. This should be documented in the quote upfront. You can expect to pay:
Leasehold Property Supplement Fee - £150
Selling a leasehold property requires extra-legal work from your conveyancer. This is why there’s a supplement fee to cover their time.
Leasehold Management Information Pack - £150-£500
The Leasehold Management Information Pack includes details about ground rent and service charges. Your solicitor will need to provide this to the buyer as part of the formal leasehold enquiries.
What Affects the Cost of Legal Fees when Selling?
There are certain factors that could dictate the cost of your legal fees.
Whether you’re using a solicitor or conveyancer
Solicitors charge more for their legal fee as they’re qualified in a range of property laws. This means they can help with complex cases. Conveyancers only specialise in conveyancing therefore they’re usually cheaper.
Value of property
Solicitor fees are usually based on the value of the property. The more expensive your house is, the higher the fees will be. You should explore whether fixed-fee or percentage-based services will benefit you the most.
Complexity of sale
The complexity of the sale will determine how much you pay for your conveyancing fees. If you’re selling a Shared Ownership home or remortgaging, your solicitor will have to take on more work.
Leasehold or freehold
If the home you’re selling is leasehold, then your legal fees and disbursements will cost more. This is because the sale of a leasehold property involves more legal work, using more of their time.
What's Included in Solicitor's Fees?
The legal fee will cover the solicitor's work including the following:
- Creating draft contract
- Pre-contract enquiries
- Liaise with mortgage lender and buyer's solicitor
- Exchange contracts on your behalf
- Transfer funds to you
- Approve deed of transfer
- Receive title deeds
Do you Need a Solicitor when Selling a House?
Legally, you don’t have to hire a solicitor when selling a house, but it would be difficult to sell without their expert help.
They’re professionals in the industry and know exactly how the process needs to be handled. Unless you’re confident with the legal aspects, you should always hire a solicitor or conveyancer as there are many tasks to undertake.
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Speak to accredited Conveyancers & save today!
Fixed-rate or Percentage-based Fees?
Solicitors will either charge you a fixed rate for their legal fees or base it on a percentage of the final sale price of your property. Fixed fee conveyancing might work to your advantage if the value of your property is high. This should be confirmed before you begin your conveyancing process.
When Do I Pay My Solicitor Fees when Selling?
You’ll pay your conveyancing fees once the sale is completed. Expect to pay a base fee at the start of the process to cover the costs of the relevant disbursements. This is so your solicitor has the funds ready to pay for third-party services.
Do Solicitors Still Charge if the Sale Falls Through?
Many solicitors won’t make you pay their legal fee if the sale falls through. However, you may still have to pay for disbursements such as identity checks. It’s important to check that your solicitor offers a ‘no sale, no fee’ guarantee for their legal fees to avoid paying if the sale falls through.
Next Steps of Selling a House
This has been part of our selling a house guide. In our next article, we take at the fees required by estate agents when you sell your homes. You can read more in our article: How Much Are Estate Agent Fees When Selling a House?
