A study by Property Solvers, now in its sixth year, shows that conveyancing fees continue to rise faster than general inflation, with standard freehold transactions seeing double-digit increases and leasehold and remortgage costs also growing.
In 2026, the average conveyancing fee for a freehold property sale is £1,317 (including VAT), up from £1,191 in 2025, a 10.6% increase. Freehold purchase fees have risen from £1,256 to £1,390, a 10.7% increase.
For leasehold properties, sale fees are £1,629, up from £1,506 (8.2% increase), while purchase fees have increased from £1,587 to £1,743 (9.8% increase).
Homeowners remortgaging face average fees of £783, up from £742 in 2025, a 5.5% rise.
The research assumes transaction values of £300,000, includes a mortgage being redeemed on sale or taken out on purchase, and excludes disbursements.
By comparison, the UK’s annual Consumer Prices Index (CPI) inflation slowed to around 3% in the year to January 2026, showing that conveyancing fees are rising well above general price increases.
Ruban Selvanayagam, co-director of Property Solvers, commented: “Conveyancers are operating under heavier regulatory and anti-money-laundering (AML) obligations, rising professional indemnity insurance costs and stricter lender panel requirements.”
“At the same time, with a notable number of sales not reaching completion – many firms report increased levels of abortive work, which must be absorbed into overall pricing,” he continued.
Selvanayagam also warned that although more conveyancers are incorporating AI-driven and digital platforms into workflows, caution should still be taken when selecting which firm to instruct:
“We strongly advise sellers and buyers not to choose a conveyancer on headline price alone. Suspiciously low quotes often exclude key elements or operate on high-volume, “low-touch” models. A clear written breakdown and an understanding of what is and isn’t included continues to remain essential.”
It’s really not too difficult to fathom.
The measure of inflation is squiffy.
The costs imposed on business way, way outstrips inflation.
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I thought abortive work was charged for, unless no sale, no fee.
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Golf course fees have gone up – someone has to pay
“At the same time, with a notable number of sales not reaching completion – many firms report increased levels of abortive work, which must be absorbed into overall pricing,” he continued.
So the lawyer is wicking at snails pace – the sale does not complete
– everyone else has to pay for it
never the lazy lawyer
Selvanayagam also warned that although more conveyancers are incorporating AI-driven and digital platforms into workflows, caution should still be taken when selecting which firm to instruct:
T he sooner AI makes many of these spongers redundant the better
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“Golf course fees have gone up – someone has to pay.” Hilarious.
What has actually happened is pretty simple, conveyancing has become more challenging, and continues to do so.
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But the solicitor will never accept responsibility when something goes wrong. My last sale was so slow, despite my solicitor have all the leasehold information, that my buyer pulled out. 5 months to sell a small 2-bed to a cash buyer! I guess that was my fault for selecting a conveyancer who was too busy!
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Or lazy 🙂
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But golf fees have gone up
Good mate of mine partner in a sols firm plays golf every Friday morning and off the the pub in the afternoon where I usually meet him
Conveyancing is an admin job – you do not need to be Michael Mansfield to do conveyancing
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Spend a day in a conveyancers office, or even better spend a day with me and you might be someway educated to actually comment.
Serious invitation by the way. Or I can come to you?
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you can make rude personal comments on a forum well done – big man
As it happens when I was first an estate agent } did spend a day with a solicitor we recommended
His office was next door to ours
When I was area director I paid the same lawyer to allow my new staff to spend a day with one of his staff to see what the steps are in a sale
As a housebuilder last week my solicitor was sent for the 3rd time the exact same enquires has has already answered twice
Maybe you should try working in an environment where you are paid for results?
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Rude personal comments?
My offer remains open.
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