The cost of conveyancing remained broadly unchanged in the second quarter of 2025, dipping by just 0.1% compared with the previous three months, according to data from the comparison site reallymoving.
The analysis, based on 47,000 conveyancing quotes, shows that home movers now pay an average of £2,435 for combined sale and purchase services. This is 2.3% higher than in the same period last year, although once adjusted for inflation, costs were down 1.9% on Q1 and 1.2% year on year.
The marginal fall comes after a sharp rise in fees in the first quarter of the year, when demand surged ahead of the 31 March stamp duty deadline. Conveyancers appear to have largely held on to the price gains achieved earlier in the year, despite a softening in demand.
Regionally, costs rose in seven of twelve areas of the UK. The East of England saw the sharpest increase at 3.3%, followed by the West Midlands at 3.1%. Falls were recorded in Wales (-3.2%), the North East (-2.8%), the North West (-2.2%), the East Midlands (-1.5%) and London (-0.2%). The mixed picture was attributed to local transaction volumes and competition between firms.
COSTS STABLE
Rob Houghton, founder and chief executive of reallymoving, said: “Following a rush of completions in Q1 ahead of the stamp duty deadline, conveyancing costs have now stabilised, dipping only fractionally in Q2.
“While firms have managed to sustain most of the price gains made earlier this year against a backdrop of softening demand, home movers are actually paying slightly less in real terms than they were 12 months ago.”
He added: “Home movers continue to be cautious and price-sensitive, but transactions have steadily recovered since the disruption caused by changes to stamp duty in the spring.
“That said, speculation around property tax reform could slow momentum leading up to the Autumn Budget if homebuyers adopt a wait-and-see approach, putting conveyancing costs under pressure again.”
