The cost of conveyancing rose by 11.9% in the first quarter of this year, following growth of 16% in the final quarter of 2024, as homebuyers rushed to meet the Stamp Duty deadline.
Analysis of almost 59,000 conveyancing quotes on home mover comparison site reallymoving shows that fierce competition for conveyancing services drove prices to a record high of £2,434 in Q1 2025, amid fierce competition for legal services.
The costs published include expenses and disbursements for combined sale and purchase.
In real terms, conveyancing cost increases outpaced inflation by 1.6% quarter on quarter and by 8.8% year on year, growing to £1,874.
Regional conveyancing costs
During the first quarter of this year, the cost of conveyancing increased in every region of the UK apart from the South West and Yorkshire & the Humber, which saw quarterly falls of 2.6% and 0.4%, respectively. Price growth was otherwise strong across the board, with the largest increases in the North East (+6.5%) and Northern Ireland (+6.2%). In London, conveyancing costs rose +1.5% compared to Q4 2024.
“The conveyancing industry is breathing a sigh of relief after working flat out for six months leading up to the stamp duty deadline, said co-founder and CEO of reallymoving, Rob Houghton.
"This surge in demand, combined with the pressure of time-sensitive transactions and the fact that many firms are currently understaffed, pushed the cost of conveyancing to record levels - but this growth may not be sustainable long-term if buyer demand softens.”
