The cost of setting up a home has climbed by almost a third over the past decade, according to research from Coventry Building Society, though the increase still lags behind the broader rise in consumer prices.
Analysing a basket of essential homeware and services needed to settle into a new property – from conveyancing to white goods – the building society found costs have risen by 31.75% since April 2015. Over the same period, the Consumer Prices Index rose by 38.6%.
The report offers a rare look beyond the property price headlines, examining how the practical costs of turning a house into a home have changed in the past ten years. It points to a mixed picture for consumers, with some items rising well above inflation while others have dropped significantly in price.
Conveyancing fees have seen the sharpest rise, climbing by 83.5% from £719 in 2015 to £1,319 in 2024 – a jump that reflects growing pressure on legal services in the housing sector. Among appliances, fridge freezers have shown the largest increase, up 58.9% from £320 to £508.
Even everyday essentials have seen steep increases, with kettles up by 50.2%, curtains by 55.9% and carpets by 48.7%, all outpacing CPI over the period.
However, not all costs have soared. Larger furniture items and DIY basics have seen more modest increases: double wardrobes are up 21.7%, paint 16.1%, and cutlery sets just 17.3%. Meanwhile, the price of some household tech has declined. Home office desks are down 7.8%, televisions have dropped 35.7%, and vacuum cleaners are 16.4% cheaper than they were a decade ago.
Jonathan Stinton, head of intermediary relationships at Coventry Building Society, said the figures highlight how buyers can be caught off guard by the true cost of setting up a home.
“House prices often dominate the conversation when it comes to homebuying – but the costs don’t stop when you get your keys,” he said. “Setting up a home comes with all sorts of additional expenses, from furniture and appliances to conveyancing and removals.
“It’s easy for buyers to underestimate these expenses, especially first-time buyers who are focused solely on saving for a deposit. Understanding where these costs sit can help brokers guide their clients through realistic budgeting and prevent unexpected shortfalls post completion. It’s all part of helping them not just buy a property but afford to comfortably live in it too.”
While the overall rise in home set-up costs remains lower than general inflation, the figures suggest careful budgeting is now more important than ever, particularly for younger buyers entering the market for the first time. For brokers, it offers a timely reminder to include post-completion costs in conversations with clients, especially as financial pressures continue to mount in other areas of household spending.
