Conveyancing fees in the UK have increased by up to 10.7% year-on-year, significantly outpacing the country’s general inflation rate of around 3%, according to a six-year study by Property Solvers.
The research, which assumes transaction values of £300,000 and includes mortgage arrangements but excludes disbursements, shows that freehold purchase fees have risen from £1,256 in 2025 to £1,390 in 2026, representing a 10.7% increase. Freehold sale fees increased from £1,191 to £1,317, up 10.6%.
Leasehold transactions also saw notable increases, with sale fees rising 8.2% from £1,506 to £1,629, and purchase fees climbing 9.8% from £1,587 to £1,743. Remortgage fees increased more modestly, from £742 to £783, a 5.5% rise.
Regulatory pressures cited
Ruban Selvanayagam, co-director of Property Solvers, attributed the increases to several factors. “Conveyancers are operating under heavier regulatory and anti-money-laundering (AML) obligations, rising professional indemnity insurance costs and stricter lender panel requirements,” he said.
Selvanayagam also noted that increased levels of abortive work, where sales fail to reach completion, must be absorbed into overall pricing structures. The proportion of failed transactions has reportedly risen, adding to firms’ operational costs.
Industry implications
The fee increases come as the conveyancing sector adopts digital platforms and AI-driven workflows. However, Selvanayagam cautioned against selecting firms based solely on price. “Suspiciously low quotes often exclude key elements or operate on high-volume, ‘low-touch’ models,” he stated, advising that buyers and sellers request clear written breakdowns of services included.
The rising costs add to the overall expense of property transactions for buyers and sellers at a time when the UK housing market faces pressure from elevated mortgage rates and affordability challenges. The data suggests that professional service costs associated with property transactions are becoming an increasingly significant component of overall moving expenses.
