Solicitor Fees Fees for Buyers and Sellers: Pay Less, Close Fast
Updated: July 2025
Solicitor fees are the legal costs you pay when selling a property, covering your solicitor’s work and all required checks or payments to third parties. These include legal paperwork, Land Registry and anti-money laundering checks, as well as other charges required to complete your sale. Most of what you pay goes to your solicitor for managing the process and making sure your sale is legal.
Key Takeaways:
- Solicitor fees cover all legal work and third-party costs for your sale.
- Always ask for a clear, itemised quote before agreeing to anything.
- Check exactly what’s included so you don’t get caught by surprise charges.
What Are Solicitor Fees When Selling a House?
Most people call them “conveyancing fees,” but in practice, they’re the total costs charged by your solicitor for handling the legal side of selling or buying a property. These include their fee for performing the legal work, as well as all necessary checks and payments to third parties (referred to as disbursements).
According to the HomeOwners Alliance, only 40% of adults in the UK are aware of what conveyancing is. This means that only two out of every five adults are aware of conveyancing and its purpose.
How Much Are People in the UK Paying for Conveyancing Fees?
According to data from Compare My Move, the national average conveyancing fees for buying a house are £1,567 and £1,139 for selling a home. The average conveyancing fees for leasehold properties are £1,370 and £1,420 for sales.
This average conveyancing cost is likely to change over time. Prices have been rising recently, so everyone should expect changes.
According to an online newsletter for property professionals, the prices rose for sales, see the table below to see by how much:
| Transaction Type | 2024 Conveyancing Fees Price | 2025 Conveyancing Fees Price |
|---|---|---|
| Sales | £1,351.71 | £1,401.99 |
| Leasehold Purchase | £1,436.92 | £1,491.83 |
What’s Included in Your Solicitor’s Quote?
A good solicitor’s quote should clearly break down:
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Legal fees: The cost for the solicitor’s time and legal work
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Disbursements: Third-party costs like Land Registry, ID checks, and local searches
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Bank transfer & fraud checks: Necessary for secure payments
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Stamp Duty (for buyers): Often paid through your solicitor, but not always included
Extra Costs to Watch Out For
These are the extra charges that often catch sellers (and buyers) by surprise:
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Leasehold supplement fees (for leasehold properties)
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Help to Buy or gifted deposit fees
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Unregistered property supplement
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Delayed completion or same-day bank transfer charges
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Indemnity insurance (if there’s a legal snag)
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Extra charges for complex situations (shared ownership, boundary disputes)
Hidden Conveyancing Fees: Insights from Housebuyers4u Data
From our own data at Housebuyers4u, it’s clear that many sellers pay much more than expected in hidden legal fees. Here’s what our recent figures show:
| Hidden Fee Type | % of Sellers Affected | Average Extra Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Leasehold supplement | 42% | £225 |
| Unregistered property supplement | 19% | £175 |
| Help to Buy/gifted deposit fees | 14% | £120 |
| Same-day bank transfer/late fees | 23% | £35 |
| Indemnity insurance | 28% | £320 |
| Boundary/shared ownership extras | 9% | £155 |
How to Save on Solicitor Fees When Selling
If you want to avoid overpaying on legal costs, here are a few smart ways to save on solicitor fees when selling your home:
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Compare quotes: Don’t just pick the cheapest, make sure you check what’s actually included in each quote.
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Ask about hidden extras: Ensure your solicitor is clear about all possible extra charges, so you are not surprised later.
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Choose a firm experienced in fast sales: Solicitors who regularly work with house buying companies or handle quick completions are often more efficient and less likely to cause delays.
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Consider selling to a house buying company: This option can save you time and stress, as many house buying companies will cover your solicitor’s fees for you.
Save on Solicitor Fees with Housebuyers4u
If you’re looking to cut costs and avoid legal headaches, Housebuyers4u can help. We offer a guaranteed sale, cover your solicitor fees, and handle all the paperwork so you can sell your home quickly, securely, and with no unexpected costs.
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Guaranteed sale and solicitor fees covered – no hidden charges or last-minute surprises.
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Quick, stress-free process – we take care of all legal paperwork from start to finish.
Ready for a hassle-free sale? Get your free, no-obligation offer from Housebuyers4u today.
