By Legal Futures Associate Hoowla [1]
Recent analysis has highlighted an increase in UK conveyancing costs, with reports suggesting homebuyers are now paying an average of £1,375 for freehold transactions and £1,746 for leasehold properties, representing annual rises of 13% and 13.3%, respectively.
A closer look at Hoowla’s own data reveals that our average fee scales mirror these findings when factoring in additional supplements and regional variations. To support our analysis, we examined data from over 350 firms using Hoowla, covering fee quotes from more than 120,000 conveyancing cases in 2024 alone.
Our analysis shows an average conveyancing fee of £1,361.70 for freehold properties and £1,521.61 for leasehold properties, with price brackets reflecting both transaction types. Without supplements, our data indicates that purchase fees range from £865.21 on properties valued at £100,000.99 to £1,789.86 on properties over £550,001. For sales, fees range from £795.01 for properties at £100,000.99 to £1,694.87 for those over £550,001.
However, rising fees are not simply a function of inflation or increasing service charges. Instead, they reflect a broader transformation in conveyancing. Legal professionals today must navigate an increasingly complex landscape where compliance, technology, and client expectations intersect in unprecedented ways. The demand for rapid turnaround times, comprehensive due diligence, and proactive communication means that modern conveyancers are not just processing transactions but actively managing risk, ensuring compliance, and maintaining client trust in an ever-changing market.
Regional variations in fees highlight deeper systemic challenges. London firms often command higher prices due to operational costs and the intricacies of high-value transactions, but similar disparities exist across other regions. That being said, understanding regional pricing trends is not just about benchmarking against competitors; it’s about ensuring conveyancers are compensated fairly for their expertise.
By analysing fee structures across different areas, firms can set prices that reflect their level of service, experience, and added value. Rather than competing on price alone, conveyancers can justify their fees through efficiency gains, client service improvements, and the ability to handle cases with greater precision. Knowing the broader pricing landscape enables firms to price confidently and sustainably, ensuring they are not undervaluing their services.
Otherwise, it’s not just why fees differ but whether firms have the right tools to optimise their workflows and scale effectively in response to market demands. With transaction volumes fluctuating and economic uncertainty persisting, firms that rely on outdated processes may find themselves struggling to remain competitive.
This is the point at which case management software [2] can serve as a valuable asset, enhancing efficiency and support rather than presenting challenges. The firms that successfully adapt to rising costs integrate intelligent systems to automate administrative tasks, enhance client communication, and reduce inefficiencies. Case management software does more than transform processes; it allows firms to harness data-driven insights, improve pricing transparency, and adapt to regulatory changes with greater agility. The efficiency gained translates not just into cost savings but into enhanced service quality, allowing conveyancers to focus on the critical legal aspects of their work rather than being bogged down by administrative burdens.
While digitalisation initiatives like upfront Material Information and Digital Sale Ready standards aim to reduce delays and improve transaction certainty, the human expertise of a conveyancer remains irreplaceable. Technology should not replace professionals but empower them to deliver better service with less strain. The firms that will thrive in this evolving landscape embrace innovation without losing sight of the core values they provide: expertise, diligence, and client advocacy.
Understanding how conveyancing fees are structured requires a broader perspective that considers not just raw pricing data but also the pressures and opportunities shaping the industry. As the sector evolves, firms must balance efficiency, fair pricing, and regulatory compliance while ensuring a sustainable future. Investing in the right tools and strategies today will define the success of conveyancers tomorrow.
If you are looking for new case management software and want to explore what Hoowla has to offer, book a no-obligation case management demo [3] with Adam Curtis.