The average solicitor fees for selling a house in the UK amount to £1,642, excluding disbursements and any additional costs that may arise. Solicitor fees typically make up around 20% of the total cost of selling a house.
Selling a property is an exciting milestone, but taking the right steps ensures a smooth process. Hiring a solicitor can make this easier by handling legal requirements and paperwork, helping you confidently navigate the sale.
This article provides a detailed overview of solicitors' fees involved in selling your home. We'll also explore when these fees are due and highlight additional costs, such as disbursements.
What are the Average Solicitor Fees for Selling a House?
The average solicitor legal fees for selling a house in 2025 are £1,642 based on 50 licensed conveyancers across the UK. Compare My Move customers can receive quotes of £814* on average.
Legal fees vary depending on whether you’re selling a freehold vs leasehold property. Below are the average solicitors legal fees for 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 |
*We took a sample of fees from 50 licensed conveyancers across the UK to find these averages, but this is just an indication of costs. Fees will greatly vary depending on your situation and conveyancer. This includes VAT.
Use our Conveyancing Fees Calculator to receive an approximate cost that you can expect.
Are Solicitor’s Fees Different When Selling vs Buying?
Solicitor fees vary depending on whether you're buying or selling a house. Typically, fees for buying a property are higher due to the additional steps involved, such as conducting conveyancing searches.
To learn more about the costs and processes read: Solicitor fees when buying a house.
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Disbursement and Legal Fees for Selling a House
According to our data, you can expect to pay around £277 in disbursement costs when selling a home. There are fewer disbursements required compared to buying due to lower administration costs.
Conveyancing disbursements are third-party fees that are entirely separate from solicitor fees. Your solicitor can manage and carry out these payments on your behalf but will typically charge extra for these services.
Here are the main disbursements you can expect to pay:
| Disbursements | Cost |
|---|---|
| Anti-money Laundering Checks | £5 |
| Bank Transfer Fee | £40 |
| Mortgaged Property Supplement Fee (if applicable) | £220 |
| Title Register Copy | £6 |
| Land Registry Document Fee | £6 |
Additional Costs to Expect When Selling
In some cases, you may need to pay additional charges when selling your home. Common instances include remortgaging and transfer of equity.
If you have a complex house sale this can also increase the additional costs you may face. The most common extra charges faced with conveyancing include:
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
Remortgage | £720 |
Shared Ownership | £330 |
Unregistered Property Fee | £100 - £200 |
Delayed Completion | £100 - £200 |
Indemnity Insurance | Varies |
Transferring Equity | £540 |
These figures are estimated and may not reflect the exact fees individual solicitors charge
Extra Legal Costs for Selling a Leasehold Property
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 must provide this to the buyer as part of the formal leasehold enquiries.
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What's Included in Solicitor's Fees?
When selling a house in England, Wales and Northern Ireland a solicitor will help you understand the conveyancing process, fill out paperwork and liaise with the buyer's solicitor on your behalf. Keep in mind that the cost of selling a house in Scotland can vary as the process is different.
There are many things solicitor fees include, and it's important to be aware of what a solicitor will do for you. Here are the most common fees involved:
Pre-Contract Enquiries
At the start of the conveyancing process, a solicitor will conduct pre-contract enquiries with the buyer's solicitor. They will be expected to answer questions regarding the property including any environmental issues or building regulations that must be highlighted. They will also carry out ID checks to ensure you can sell the home.
Drafting Exchange of Contracts
This is a time-consuming process and includes agreements from both the seller and buyer. They will collate all the information together within the document to allow the sale to become legally binding.
Liaise with Mortgage Lender and Buyer's Solicitor
Your solicitor will spend time liaising with the buyer's solicitor to ensure a smooth exchange of contracts and completion day. This is a time-consuming process and will require the solicitor to have a lot of knowledge of your situation, the home and the results of conveyancing searches.
Complete Necessary Paperwork and Documentation
A solicitor will assist you with completing the necessary paperwork and documentation associated with selling a house. This includes but is not limited to
- TA10 (Fixtures and Fittings Form)
- TA10 (Property Information Form)
Exchange Contracts on Your Behalf
The exchange of contracts is an essential part of the conveyancing process when buying or selling a house. It makes the sale and purchase legally binding.
Completion
Your solicitor will assist with the completion of your house sale. This includes transferring the funds made by the buyer to you, approving the deed of transfer and receiving the title deeds.
Do You Need a Solicitor When Selling a House?
In most cases, you will need to hire a solicitor when selling a house. If you have a charge registered against the property, solicitors acting for the purchaser would need an undertaking that the charge will be repaid. This can only be accepted by the regulated professional who would hold an indemnity insurance policy.
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Finding a Conveyancer
At Compare My Move, we can connect you with up to 6 conveyancers to save you up to 70% on your conveyancing costs. All our conveyancing partners have passed our strict verification process for your peace of mind. This means they are all regulated by either the SRA, CLC, LSS, LSNI or CILEx.
*Based on the average service costs for Compare My Move users. See how our data works.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Do solicitors have 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. This is similar to solicitor fees when buying a house.
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.
To understand more read: When Do I Pay Solicitor’s Fees When Buying a House?
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.
