How much does conveyancing cost?
On average, conveyancing can cost £500-£1500.

If you’ve been looking into selling your house and buying another, you’ve more than likely seen lots of information about conveyancing fees. Conveyancing is an essential aspect of selling and buying a house, and so you should make sure that you know everything you can about it before you start a sale or a purchase of a property. As a legal process, there is lots to know about conveyancing, but it isn’t always put simply. That’s why here at We Buy Any House, we’ve compiled all of the information that you need – including the amount it costs, something every homeowner should be aware of.

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What is conveyancing?

You will need a solicitor or a conveyancer when you’re selling or buying a house to handle the legal aspects of the transaction. You are able to do these yourself if you have the knowledge and have done so previously. Still, it’s recommended to go to a professional to make sure that everything is done correctly and that the legal work is confirmed. Conveyancing isn’t a cheap part of moving, and so you should factor it in when you’re considering moving to a new house, especially if you’re selling a house to buy another.

What do conveyancing fees cover?

Several fees are involved in the conveyancing process, such as –

• An identification fee – This will cost around £10 per person involved in the sale. Conveyancers have to confirm the identity of each person to comply with the regulations of money laundering and the lender requirements.
• Bank transfer – When you’re buying a house, the funds will be electronically transferred to ensure the arrival in the seller’s account on the agreed completion date. These cost between £15-£45, depending on the sale.
• Fraud prevention – These confirm the identity and the details of the bank account for the seller’s solicitor. This usually costs £7-£12.
• Stamp duty form fee – This isn’t the same as stamp duty. It’s the fee that solicitors will charge for completing stamp duty forms, that they will fill out on your behalf. This form has to be completed on every house that’s bought even if there isn’t any stamp duty due. It will cost £20-£50.
• Leasehold supplement – If you’re buying a leasehold property, it tends to be a longer process than a freehold. More documents are involved in the legal process that will need to be checked by your conveyancer. This costs £100-£350.
• Bankruptcy searches – A bankruptcy search is mandatory for the behalf of your mortgage lender. This will usually only cost £2.
• Land registry fees – This is the fee charged for changing ownership of a property. A title register and a title plan cost £3 each.
• Searches – Your conveyancer will perform various searches on the property that you’re buying along with the area that you’re buying in to make sure there are no problems that could reduce the value of the house. These fees will vary on the area but can cost £190-£400.
• Land Registry – There are fees when a property changes hands and differ on the price of the property.

How much does it cost overall?

On average, the fee for a conveyancer if you’re selling or buying a house will cost £500-£1500. This could go up if more local services are needed, such as in areas that are prone to flooding. These costs can double if you’re selling a house to buy another, but you do have a chance if you use the same conveyancer to both sell and buy your new house to get a deal on both fees. This isn’t guaranteed but is something that you can ask for when you’re looking for your conveyancer. What you should know about conveyancing is that a high cost doesn’t always mean a better service. Looking into the conveyancer’s reputation will give you all of the information that you need to make your decision. Do your research and make sure that you’re going to get the best service you can.

When do I pay my conveyancer?

Once the sale has completed, you will need to pay your conveyancing fees. It will need to be paid upfront and cannot be added to your mortgage fees like some of the other costs involved in buying or selling a house. If you’re being asked to pay the fees before the completion, you should check your conveyancer’s process. You shouldn’t need to pay anything until the end of the process on the day that you’ve agreed your completion.

How long should conveyancing take?

Conveyancing can vary from four to as much as twenty weeks when you’re buying or selling a house. It is a legal process with several steps, and each step must be done correctly as if it isn’t, there could be severe repercussions down the line with your ownership of the house. If there is no chain for your house, it will tend to be a faster process, but other aspects can slow it down, such as issues with the reports. Conveyancing cannot be rushed, so if it’s taking longer than you expected it’s best to wait it out until your conveyancer lets you know that things are completed.

If you’re not sure on the process of conveyancing, we’ve outlined it for you in one of our previous blog posts, so if you’re selling or buying we’ve got it all outlines for you to have each step. We’re also happy to answer any questions, so if you’re not sure, you can get in touch with us and see how we can help.

One of the reasons that homeowners choose to use We Buy Any House is because we take care of all of your legal fees when you’re selling your house to us. We also handle all the paperwork, making it as easy as possible for you to achieve your sale.

If you’ve been looking to sell your house but are put off by the various fees involved, then get in touch with us today. We can provide you with a free quote for your property and give you an idea of the timeframe and process, so you know exactly what we do.

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