Conveyancing fees for selling a house
Selling conveyancing is generally simpler than buying. Expect a solicitor fee of £600–£1,200 plus disbursements of £100–£300, giving a typical all-in range of £800–£1,500 for a standard freehold sale.
What changes this cost
- Leasehold sales add £100–£300 for management company pack and leasehold information form preparation.
- Redemption of a mortgage on sale carries a telegraphic transfer fee (£25–£50) for repaying the lender.
- The Office Copies fee (Land Registry official title documents) is a small fixed disbursement, typically £6–£20.
- If you are selling and buying simultaneously, many firms offer a combined instruction discount — worth requesting when getting quotes.
Understanding conveyancing fees for selling a house
Selling conveyancing is simpler than buying because the seller's solicitor is not conducting searches or investigating title — that is the buyer's responsibility. The seller's solicitor prepares the contract pack, answers enquiries from the buyer's solicitor, handles redemption of any existing mortgage, and transfers the net proceeds of sale to the seller on completion.
The main disbursements on a sale are the Land Registry office copies fee (to provide official title documents to the buyer), any telegraphic transfer fee for mortgage redemption, and leasehold pack fees if applicable. There are no search fees on the sale side.
If you have an existing mortgage, your solicitor will obtain a redemption figure from your lender and deduct it from the sale proceeds before releasing the balance to you. Make sure your quote includes the telegraphic transfer fee for this.
Turnaround on a sale is partly within your solicitor's control, but also depends on the speed of the buyer's solicitor and any issues raised in enquiries. Providing a complete documentation pack early — including any planning permissions, building regulations certificates and guarantee documents — reduces unnecessary delays.
Add this to your completion budget
Use the links below to load practical calculator scenarios and adjust to your live quotes.
Frequently asked questions
How much are solicitor fees for selling a house?
Solicitor fees for selling a house in England and Wales typically range from £600 to £1,200 for a standard freehold sale, plus disbursements of around £100–£300. A leasehold sale adds a further £100–£300 for management company pack preparation.
Do I pay conveyancing fees if my sale falls through?
Under most 'no completion, no fee' agreements, the solicitor's professional fee is not charged if the sale does not complete. Disbursements already incurred — for example, office copies already ordered — may still be payable. Confirm the exact terms with your solicitor before instruction.
Can I use the same solicitor as my buyer?
No. Buyer and seller must have separate legal representation to avoid a conflict of interest.
What documents should I prepare before instructing a solicitor?
Useful documents to gather include: title deeds (if held outside Land Registry), planning permissions and building regulations certificates for any works, guarantees and warranties (damp, window installation, new roof etc.), and leasehold documents if applicable. Having these ready reduces time spent on enquiries.