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How Much Are Solicitors Fees for Selling a House?

The costs of selling a house can soon mount up, and solicitors or conveyancers fees will make up a sizable chunk of your expenses.

In this guide, we’ll look at the typical conveyancers and solicitors fees for selling a house in the UK, what work these fees cover and how to choose a legal representative you can trust to get the job done efficiently.

If you decide to sell your property to House Buyer Bureau, you can avoid legal costs altogether. Use one of our partner solicitors, and we’ll cover the cost or choose your own representative, and we will contribute £600 towards the fees.

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Solicitors Fees for Selling a Property

Solicitors fees are generally proportional to the value of the property being sold — typically around £1,000 for the seller. The legal cost of selling a property is typically lower for the seller than the buyer but can still run into thousands of pounds.

If you sell a house for the current national average of £254,624, you can expect to incur some or all of the following (approximate) costs:

Solicitor's fee£900
Telegraphic or bank transfer fee£20 - 40
Title deed£6
Anti-money laundering check£6
Mortgage property supplement fee — for settling the balance on your mortgage, if you have one£100
Leasehold property supplement fee — for the extra time required to manage the complexities of
selling a leasehold property		£150
Unregistered property fee — for the extra time needed to locate a copy of the title deed£100-200

As well as comparing costs, there are various price structures to choose from. Some solicitor’s charge a fixed fee. This means that they quote a price upfront, and this will not change. Others charge by the hour, although this is increasingly uncommon as it is less appealing to sellers because it makes budgeting tricky, and costs can soar. There are also a growing number of “no sale no fee” services, which means that if your sale falls through, and one in four house sales in the UK do, you won’t be charged the full conveyancing fee (there will generally be something to pay but not the entire balance).

Do You Need a Solicitor to Sell Your Home?

There is no legal requirement for a homeowner to instruct a solicitor when selling a property. However, it is highly advisable as conveyancing is complex, and mistakes can be costly. If you’re selling to a buyer using a mortgage to finance the sale, the lender may insist that you instruct a solicitor.

You can use a conveyancer or a solicitor to manage the legalities of selling your home.

Find out more about how a sale to House Buyer Bureau works. Use one of our partner solicitors for free!

What’s the Difference between a Solicitor and a Conveyancer?

Solicitors handle a wide range of legal matters, whereas conveyancers specialise in property. Conveyancers generally cost less than solicitors.

You can use either professional to sell a house.

What Is Conveyancing?

Whether you choose a solicitor or a conveyancer, the legal process of selling a house is the same. The conveyancing process starts when you accept an offer on your home, and it involves all the legal and administrative work required to transfer ownership from you to the current owner.

Conveyancing ensures that your house purchase or sale is valid under UK law, so it’s vital to instruct a qualified and experienced solicitor who will ensure that every “i” is dotted and every “t” crossed.

What Will a Solicitor or Conveyancer Do for Me?

What exactly do you get for the often hefty fee that solicitors and conveyancers charge? Your solicitor or conveyancer will handle all the legalities of transferring ownership from you to the buyer, including:

Drafting a Legal Contract

Once a seller accepts an offer on their property, their solicitor (or conveyancer) is responsible for drawing up a legal contract to transfer ownership to the buyer. The contract includes extensive details about the property, such as where the boundaries lie, any legal restrictions or rights, planning regulations and services to the property. It will also outline the terms of the sale — the price, which fixtures and fittings are included and when the sale will complete.

Advising You on How to Complete the Necessary Documents

As a seller, your solicitor will probably ask you to complete several forms to provide the buyer with essential information about the property they are purchasing, including three transaction (TA) forms. See “What Information Will My Solicitor Need From Me” below for more information.

Investigating Problems and Finding Information

The primary responsibility of the seller’s solicitor is to provide the buyer with all the information they need about the property they are purchasing. They may also need to support and assist the seller in finding information and evidence requested by the buyer’s solicitor. If the required documentation is hard to find or obtain, the seller’s solicitor will undertake investigations to locate the information and satisfy the buyer.

Liaising and Negotiating with the Buyer’s Solicitor

A seller’s solicitor will respond to questions from the buyer’s legal representative and negotiate the contract details if necessary. They will also agree upon dates for the exchange of contracts and completion in accordance with their client’s wishes.

Manages the Seller’s Finances on Completion Day

Completion day is when the sale becomes final, and ownership is transferred from the current owner to the new one. The seller’s solicitor receives the funds from the buyer and pays any outstanding mortgage balance and the estate agent’s fees. The net proceeds (minus their fee) are then transferred to the seller.

House Buyer Bureau works with a network of partner solicitors who are experts in quick house sales. If you sell to us, there is no charge for using one of our solicitors, and they will keep your sale moving along fast! Find out more about how selling to us works and what we pay, or get your free no-obligation cash offer now.

What Information Will My Solicitor Need from Me?

There are three transaction (TA) forms that most sellers will be asked to complete:

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    The TA6, Property Information form – This form for freeholders covers all the information the buyer needs before exchanging contracts, such as property boundaries and details of disputes. Leaseholders will be asked to complete a TA7 form instead, and if you have a commonhold, the TA9 is the correct form to use.

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    The TA10, Fittings and Content form – This sets out all the items included in the sale. If the seller agrees to include certain fixtures and fittings for an extra cost, this must be detailed in the TA10 form.

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    The TA13, Completion Information and Undertakings form – includes finalisation details such as arrangements for handing the keys to the buyer.

How to Choose a Solicitor

Do your research. Don’t just go with your estate agent’s recommendation (they may be earning a referral fee). Shop around and request quotes from several solicitors and conveyancers before deciding who to instruct. Personal recommendations from friends, family and colleagues may give you peace of mind that a solicitor will do a good job. Also, check what accreditations and experience a legal representative has before instructing them — this is especially important if you are selling an unusual or “problem” property.

Request a full breakdown of any quotes you receive to ensure that you understand what is (and isn’t) included in the solicitor’s fee. Online solicitors may be cheaper but be sure you are going to receive the service you need.

Checklist for comparing solicitors:

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    Ask for a breakdown of all the fees due – get several quotes and compare; check what fees are payable if the sale falls through.

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    Find out who your solicitor will be and what their qualifications are – the person who provides your quote may not be the one who handles your case.

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    Check accreditations and membership of professional bodies – The Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) is a recognised quality standard for residential conveyancers.

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    Ask for personal recommendations – to give you the peace of mind that your solicitor will deliver on their promises.

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    Check that the solicitor has experience selling properties like yours – especially if it is a non-standard construction or requires specialist knowledge, e.g. leasehold.

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    Contact your mortgage lender to find out if they have an approved list of conveyancers – if so, you must choose a solicitor from this list.

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    Ask if the solicitor has an established dispute resolution procedure – if issues arise, you want to be sure there is recourse to action.

At House Buyer Bureau we’ve done the research for you. Our partner solicitors are experts in the quick house sale industry and know how to keep your sale running smoothly and efficiently — and there are no solicitors fees to pay! Compare the cost of selling via an estate agent or selling to us or contact us to discuss your options.

Get Your Free Cash Offer Today

Getting your no-obligation cash offer is easy. Just find your address and answer a few quick questions about your property. Sell your house in weeks instead of months and with zero hassle — you could even sell in as little as 7 days.

What Are the Conveyancing Costs of Selling a Leasehold Property?

The legalities of selling a leasehold property are more complex than selling a freehold. There may be additional costs to pay to cover the extra time your solicitor will need to invest in managing your transaction. Conveyancing costs for selling a leasehold property can be several hundred pounds higher than for selling a freehold.

When Do I Have to Pay Conveyancing Fees?

This will depend on the solicitor. When researching potential solicitors and conveyancers, ask them what their requirements are when you request a quote. You will probably be asked to pay a deposit when you instruct your legal representative and then pay the balance on completion.

What if My Sale Falls Through?

If you hired a solicitor on a “no sale no fee” basis, you should not have to pay the outstanding balance for conveyancing services if your buyer pulls out of the transaction. It’s unlikely that all costs will be waived as your solicitor will have spent time on your sale.

Check the terms of your agreement to find out how much you will be liable for if the sale falls through — this should be part of your research when choosing a legal representative. If it’s not clear, be sure to ask before deciding on which solicitor to instruct.

How Can I Reduce or Avoid the Cost of Conveyancing?

Moving house can be an expensive business, so cut costs where you can. Managing conveyancing yourself is generally not a good idea — the legalities of selling a property are complex, and mistakes could be expensive.

Make sure you’re getting the best deal by shopping around, comparing quotes and checking the terms and conditions before instructing a legal representative. Alternatively, avoid conveyancing costs altogether by selling to House Buyer Bureau.

Use one of our recommended solicitors, and there will be no legal costs to pay! Or choose your own, and we’ll contribute £600 towards your solicitor’s fees. You’ll also avoid estate agent fees and various additional costs that are typically related to a traditional on market sale, such as completing home improvements and making mortgage payments until you find a buyer. Learn more about what we pay.

We have made the sales process quick, easy and hassle-free. Fill in our short online form to get started, and one of our friendly property buying experts will give you a call to find out a little more about your property and discuss whether a quick house sale is the right choice for you. If you’re keen to go ahead with a sale to House Buyer Bureau, we have the funds ready to buy your house in as little as 7 days

Get Your Free Cash Offer Today

Getting your no-obligation cash offer is easy. Just find your address and answer a few quick questions about your property. Sell your house in weeks instead of months and with zero hassle — you could even sell in as little as 7 days.
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