What is the Cost of Selling a House in Scotland?
The average cost of selling a house in Scotland is £5,938, based on the average house price in Scotland of £177,166. The total cost of selling a house in this part of the UK will depend on the price of the house, its size, which solicitor you use and whether you need additional services.
Compare My Move work with experts in the property sector to bring you the most up to date information on the house selling process in Scotland. This includes the estate agent and solicitor fees, the cost of a Home Report and removal company costs.
How Much Does Selling a House Cost in Scotland in 2021?
According to the latest data from the House Price Index published in September 2021, the average price of a property in Scotland has increased 14.6% to £177,166. Using this figure as a basis, Compare My Move has calculated that the average Cost of Selling a House in Scotland is £5,938.
In addition to this article, to assist you with working out the cost of your house sale, we’ve created a free moving house calculator. Below we’ve set out the average cost of selling a house in Scotland. It should be noted that these are averages based on data correct as of September 2021 and true costs will vary depending on the size and value of your property.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
Estate Agent Commission (at 1.5%) | £2,657 |
Conveyancing | £1,500 |
Home Report | £600 |
Removal Company Cost | £1,181 |
Total | £5,938 |
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Estate Agent Fees
Cost of estate agent: £2,657 (1.5% commission fee)
In Scotland, many estate agents are commission-based. According to getagent.co.uk, you can expect estate agent fees of around 1% to 3.5% of the sale price of your property. We calculated that an estate agent commission fee of 1.5% for the average property price in Scotland of £177,166 would be £2,657.
Be aware that this cost is an estimate and the estate agent's fee for your sale will depend on the percentage your estate agent takes and the price your property sells for.
In Scotland, many, if not most solicitors offer both an estate agency and conveyancing under one roof known as a “Solicitor Estate Agent”. They will handle the legal aspect of your property, in addition to the marketing of the property and vetting and communicating with potential buyers.
Solicitor Fees
The average cost of conveyancing: £1,500
A solicitor is required when selling your home across the UK. When it comes to conveyancing in Scotland, this can cost around £1,500 depending on the size and price of your property. In addition to the cost of the work your solicitor undertakes, the conveyancing costs will also cover any fees to third parties.
If you opt for a Solicitor Estate Agent, the costs of a solicitor and the estate agent commission will be combined in one fee. It is possible to enlist the service of separate estate agents and solicitors in Scotland, although less common. If you choose to use a separate estate agent and solicitor be aware that you will have two separate fees to pay.
Scottish solicitor estate agents are usually members of Solicitors and Property Centres and bound by the Law Society of Scotland guidelines. Under the guidelines, if you want to accept a higher offer after accepting an offer from another buyer (known as gazumping), your solicitor must withdraw from acting on your behalf. As a result, you will have to find another solicitor to complete the sale, costing you time and money, adding to the overall cost of selling your home.
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Home Report Fees
Cost of a Home Report: Between £585 and £820
The cost of a Home Report will depend on the size of your property but according to the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors, this can cost between £585 and £820. Unlike in the rest of the UK where the buyer arranges a survey on the home, in Scotland, it is the responsibility of the seller to provide a Home Reportt to all potential buyers.
This is designed to give the buyer an overview of the property, any issues and the energy efficiency of the home before they commit to buying.
The Home Report includes a Single Survey and Energy Report, both of which are conducted by a RICS registered surveyor. The third is a Property Questionnaire which is completed by the seller.
Be aware that a Home Report is a legal requirement in Scotland and failure to produce one will result in a local authority penalty charge of £500.
Removal Company Costs
Removal company cost: £1,181
A removal company will cost on average £1,181. This is based on an average 3-bedroom house move in the UK, with a distance of 50 miles. Unlike the surveying and conveyancing process, the removal process is the same across the UK.
As stated, this is an average cost and the cost of your house move will depend upon the size of your property, the number of possessions you have, the distance between your old property and new home and the company you hire.
The average removal cost in Glasgow for a 3-bedroom house is £665, according to our data, whilst in Edinburgh, the average cost for a 3-bedroom house move is £1,781
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Capital Gains Tax
We have not included Capital Gains Tax in our overall estimation of selling a house in Scotland as this only applies to second homes. If you are selling a second home or a buy-to-let property, you will need to factor this into the cost of selling.
Currently, the tax is charged at a rate of 10% on the gains. This is a tax on the profit you make if it has increased in value, not the overall amount the property sold for. There is currently a Capital Gains Tax tax-free allowance of £12,300.
Next Steps of Selling a House
This article is part of our selling a house guide. Once you've explored all the costs involved with selling your house, it's important to learn the time it takes to sell a house. In the next article in this guide, we'll explore the timeline of selling a house, from listing your property to negotiating offers. To learn more read the time it takes to sell a house.
