Fixed Fee Conveyancing

The average solicitor fee for buying a house is £1,624, based on the average UK house price of £292,000. This fixed conveyancing fee covers the solicitor’s legal fee. Solicitor fees when selling a house would be around 50% less.

The fee is dependent on the value of the property and the location. Most solicitors will provide a full breakdown of their conveyancing fees. In some cases, they may include certain disbursements, although this is not guaranteed.

Average Solicitor Fees inc. VAT (£) based on property price

• Up to £100,000: £1,090
• £100,001 to £300,000: £1,190 - £1,320
• £300,001 to £500,000: £1,390 - £1,490
• £500,001 to £700,000: £1,750 - £1,800
• £700,001 to £1,000,000: £2,000 - £2,160

Use our Conveyancing Fees Calculator for a personalised estimate.

A solicitor who offers hourly rates will charge customers based on the amount of time they act on their behalf. The main advantage of hourly rates is that the solicitor charges the same rate, regardless of the task.

On the other hand, hourly rates are risky as the final quote can drastically increase, especially when buying a leasehold property. Your solicitor will have extra tasks, such as reviewing the Leasehold Management Information Pack.

Fixed-fee conveyancing may appear more expensive initially as you will receive your initial quote at the start of the process. However, this may work out to be a lot less than hourly rates.

Whichever route you choose, you'll still pay disbursements separately, but make sure you receive a breakdown of the solicitor’s services and fees where possible.

Different from fixed-fee conveyancing, “no sale no fee conveyancing” is a sales agreement from a conveyancer. This means if the sale or purchase of the property falls through, you won’t have to pay their legal fees.

You might still have to pay costs to cover the searches or any other third-party services used. Always confirm with your conveyancing solicitor if they offer a "no sale no fee" guarantee as well as fixed price conveyancing. Read our guide where we break down solicitor fees when the buyer pulls out.

Using a fixed-fee service can help reduce your conveyancing costs. To ensure you’re not overcharged, you should:

• Thoroughly read through the quote breakdown so you know what the cost covers
• Read each item on the quote and query anything you’re unsure about
• Make sure each company explains what service you will receive
• Read the Terms and Conditions so you're not surprised by any hidden costs

Pros

• Budgeting is easier as you should have a pre-agreed price
• Higher level of certainty as you're aware of what you're paying
• Transparent services

Cons

• Unclear communication with your solicitor can lead to misunderstandings
• Surprise charges can occur