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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.”
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