Conveyancing fees have declined in real terms over the past year, adding pressure on firms already contending with reduced housing market activity and competitive pricing, according to new data.
The average cost of conveyancing for a home mover buying and selling a property reached £2,438 including VAT in the second quarter of 2026, according to analysis by Reallymoving. Prices fell 0.1% from the first quarter and rose just 0.1% year-on-year, compared with CPI inflation of 2.6%.
The figures, based on more than 82,000 conveyancing quotes generated through Reallymoving, include expenses and disbursements as well as the legal work involved in a combined sale and purchase.
Market conditions
Rob Houghton, founder and chief executive of Reallymoving, said: “With mortgage approvals down by around 10% year on year, conditions remain challenging for the conveyancing sector. Prices have barely moved over the past 12 months and once inflation is taken into account, home movers are paying considerably less in real terms for conveyancing services compared to the pandemic period.”
The subdued market conditions echo broader trends in the UK property sector, where transaction volumes have remained under pressure.
Houghton added: “While that’s positive for consumers, persistently low fees place significant pressure on conveyancing firms at a time when investing in technology and skills is increasingly important.”
Regional variations
Seven of the 12 UK regions recorded a quarterly fall in conveyancing costs, with the North West seeing the largest decline at 6.9%. The regional picture was mixed over the longer term, with seven regions recording annual price increases.
Scotland saw the sharpest growth, with average conveyancing costs rising 9.7% quarter-on-quarter and 17.7% year-on-year to £2,543. Annual costs increased by 8.7% in the East Midlands and 8% in the West Midlands, while London remained the most expensive region, with an average bill of £3,096.
The regional disparities in conveyancing costs mirror wider variations in property market activity across the UK.
Service considerations
Houghton said service levels remained an important consideration for consumers choosing a conveyancer. “Our data shows that customers place a greater emphasis on service levels when choosing a conveyancer than they do for surveyors and removals firms, which are much more price-led,” he said.
“Communicating positive reviews is therefore crucial to highlight why the cheapest quote may not always represent the best value.”
The data suggests conveyancing firms face a challenging balance between maintaining competitive pricing in a subdued market while investing in service quality and operational infrastructure.
