What are the conveyancing costs in City of London?
The conveyancing costs are broken into two sections: the fixed fee you pay your solicitor, and the conveyancing disbursements (known as third-party costs). Here is a transparent breakdown of both costs for property transactions in your area.
1. Solicitor Legal Fees
At SAM Conveyancing, our fixed legal fees remain consistent nationwide, regardless of your property's location. We provide a guaranteed fixed fee for standard residential conveyancing based on your property's purchase price, its tenure (freehold or leasehold), and whether your transaction involves a mortgage or utilises affordable housing schemes such as shared ownership. Below are the current fixed conveyancing fees for a standard freehold valued at £250,000.
- Sale or Purchase: £748 INC VAT INC VAT (plus an additional £60 INC VAT if purchasing with a mortgage).
- Transfer of Equity: £399 INC VAT INC VAT
- Help to Buy Loan Repayment: £333 INC VAT INC VAT
- Shared Ownership Staircasing: £748 INC VAT INC VAT
- Remortgage: £399 INC VAT INC VAT
- Lease Extension: £720 INC VAT INC VAT
2. Conveyancing Disbursements (Third-Party Costs)
Disbursements are fixed third-party fees paid to external bodies (like local councils and HM Land Registry) to complete your legal paperwork. These costs shouldn't vary too much from solicitor to solicitor.
- Property Purchase Tax (SDLT / LTT): Calculated dynamically based on your purchase price, your buyer status (such as a first-time buyer), and whether the property is located in England or Wales.
- HM Land Registry Fee: Ranges from £20.00 to £1,105.00, scale-calculated dynamically based on your property’s purchase price and whether it is an existing registered property or a new build.
- Conveyancing Search Bundle: £325 INC VAT (Includes Local Authority, Water & Drainage & Environmental)
- Online ID Fee: Ranges from £15 to £48 and avoids having to send personal documents in the post or visit our office in order to prove your ID.
- Mortgage Portal Fee: The cost to download your mortgage offer and communicate with your lender. It is £12 if your mortgage lender uses the Lender Exchange portal, or £45 INC VAT if they use the LMS Portal.
Conveyancing search costs and turnaround for City of London
Search Provider | Cost | Turnaround Time |
|---|---|---|
Search Provider City of London This is the local authority search, which is mandatory if you are obtaining a mortgage. | Cost £146.52 INC any VAT | Turnaround Time 10 |
Search Provider Thames Water This is the Water & Drainage Search, which is mandatory if you are obtaining a mortgage. | Cost £83.40 INC VAT | Turnaround Time 1 to 3 working days |
City of London Specific Searches |
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Why choose SAM Conveyancing Solicitors in City of London?
We are a hand-selected panel of SRA-regulated solicitors who deliver to you the high standards we expect, and you'll have a member of the SAM team to guide you through the process from start to finish. Just 1 person you know by name can email or call directly and get your question answered on the same day (normally instantly).
Doing it our way, we've helped over 56,000 clients and gained all the experience from the different transactions. From pressurising agents to complex legal enquiries, and even overcoming issues with your mortgage lender. Our strap line is Property Challenges Solved because that is simply what we do, day in, day out.
Get in contact today and see from the very first call why we are the best conveyancing solicitors for a property transaction in City of London.
Expert Tip: Check your leasehold management pack
When buying a leasehold apartment in City of London, navigating the Building Safety Act 2022 is critical. Your solicitor must obtain a valid EWS1 certificate and an executed Leaseholder Deed of Certificate to ensure you are legally protected from inheriting historical cladding and fire-safety remediation costs.
You can find this information in the LPE1 form and leasehold management pack provided by the managing agent.
Partner & Conveyancing Solicitor
We're first-time-buyer friendly
86% of our purchase clients are First-Time Buyers, so we are hyper-attuned to what you need when buying your first home.
- We take the time to explain the process
- We offer tips on timescales
- We keep it real, never overpromising
Islamic finance solicitors
Specialists in Sharia-compliant conveyancing for Islamic mortgages.
- Can review, advise and negotiate with all Sharia Mortgage Lenders.
- Terms of the contract fully explained with confirmation of Sharia compliance and UK legal compliance.
- We can help with Ijara (Lease), Diminishing Musharaka (Reducing Partnership), and Murabaha (Cost-Plus Financing).
New build solicitors
Our conveyancing solicitors are skilled with new-build purchases to help you navigate the transaction.
- Fixed Fees
- Your conveyancing deposit will be protected by our no sale, no fee policy.
- Independent advice, not developer-led.
Our Conveyancing Services
We can help with all of your conveyancing needs; simple to complex, and always affordable.
- Purchase
- Sale
- Transfer
- Remortgage
- Help to Buy Repayment
- Help to Buy Sale or Transfer
- Auction Sale or Purchase
- Shared Ownership Sale & Purchase
- Shared Ownership Staircasing
- Lease Extension
- Purchase of Freehold
- New Builds & Off-plan Purchases
- First Time Buyers
- Second Homes
- Buy to Let landlords
Fixed quote for our legal costs plus a budget-friendly breakdown of third-party disbursements.
Your sale or purchase is protected by our no sale, no fee guarantee.
Our panel solicitors are pre-approved to work with 99% of mortgage lenders in England & Wales.
Panel solicitors accredited by the Conveyancing Quality Scheme; regulated by the SRA.
Residential Conveyancing Solicitors in and around City of London
Our City of London conveyancing solicitors can help you with your conveyance locally or in any of the surrounding areas, including West London, North London, East London, South London, South East London, Central London and Westminster.
We have many offices throughout England and Wales, so you can find a solicitor near you.
- Hunter Street WC1N 1BL
- Tonbridge Street WC1H 9PE
- University Street WC1E 6JP
- Bartholomew Close EC1A 7ES
- Pine Street EC1 0JQ
- Monograph Square: – 56 West Smithfield, London EC1A 9DS.
1, 2, 3 and 4-bed homes from £995,000 - £1,970,000, developed by Postmark London.
City of London Property Prices
Average property price in City of London Source: UK House Price Index lasted updated on 26/06/2026 | £960,343 |
What is the population of City of London: Source: Office for National Statistics lasted updated in the 2021 Cencus | 9,401 (2016 est.) |
Thinking of moving to City of London?
The City of London has a unique place in the government of the UK, and indeed within London itself, as it is not only a city but a county and a local government district, in many ways autonomous. It constituted most of London going back to the 1st century AD (the Romans settled it after invading). It isn't a London borough and is the smallest county in size in the UK.
It is frequently referred to as just 'the city', particularly in relation to the West of London. It is world-renowned as the premier global financial trading district, and the area is particularly known for currency exchange and insurance, as well as numerous other financial products, trading and services. It has its own Lord Mayor, quite distinct and much older than the Mayor of London post. The Lord Mayor is elected by aldermen, themselves also elected, uniquely by livery companies. Its local authority is the City of London Corporation, which, unusually, has responsibility for a separate police force/service (the City of London Police) and other powers, some of which run beyond the boundaries of the city itself.
Landmarks and attractions are many, not least because of the sheer preserved history which can be found in and around the area. They include, for example, the Tower of London, Tower Bridge, Pudding Lane, the Old Bailey (the central criminal courts), Lloyds Building, 30 St Mary Axe (otherwise known as The Gherkin), The Shard building, London Wall, the Barbican and many boutique shops and old pubs such as the George and Vulture and the Counting House.
St Bartholomew's Hospital, W Smithfield, London EC1A 7BE
University College Hospital, 235 Euston Rd, Bloomsbury, London NW1 2BU
The Royal London Hospital, Whitechapel Rd, Whitechapel, London E1 1FR
The City of London is extremely well connected in terms of transport links to it. It is, for example, where more than one overland railway terminus is located (take London Blackfriars, London Cannon Street and London Fenchurch Street) but is also traversed by the Thameslink service (City Thameslink is one of the stations to access it) and the Elizabeth Line.
There are numerous tube stations on numerous lines (for example, Manor House station on the District and Circle Lines), numerous red London buses, numerous black cabs and, within easy travelling distance, London City Airport.
Distance to Airports from the City of London (Liverpool Street)
| Airport | miles by car |
| London City Airport (Silvertown) | 5.93 miles |
| Heathrow Airport | 16.68 miles |
| Gatwick Airport | 25.93 miles |
City of London School, 107 Queen Victoria St, Queenhithe, London EC4V 3AL
City of London School for Girls, St Giles Terrace, Barbican, London EC2Y 8BB
Westminster School, Deans Yard, 17A, London SW1P 3PB
Local conveyancing solicitor
Are local, licensed conveyancing solicitors near me more expensive?
Local or high street property lawyers' costs can often be more than those of online conveyancing solicitors. They may handle less cases or be working on a referral arrangement with a local estate agent.
We provide local services, nationally, online, so you get the best of both.
Affordable Housing Schemes
Several affordable housing schemes in City of London help make buying a property more achievable. The work is more complex, and we have specialist conveyancing solicitors to handle the following:
- Shared Ownership Solicitors
- Right to Buy Solicitors - speak to City of London to find out if you are eligible
- Discount Market Sale - check with City of London if they are running a DMS scheme
City of London conveyancing solicitors
You can rest assured that you're in good hands with us. We hand select our panel for skill and experience, from a simple purchase to complex transactions with specialist ownership structures and deeds of trust.
Are you buying or selling a short lease in City of London?
If there are 80 years or less on the leasehold, it will be harder to mortgage. Whether you're buying or selling, consider extending the lease, which may be done before, during, or in some cases after the transaction.
Our specialist leasehold conveyancing solicitors have vast experience handling the extension of a short lease for buyers and sellers. Speak to a SAM advisor for inclusive, fixed-fee, conveyancing quotes for leasehold conveyancing or share of freehold conveyancing today. Property Challenges Solved.
Look no further for your residential conveyancing solicitor in City of London
Whatever your property challenge, we can solve it.
Selling a property
Your expert conveyancing solicitor's role when selling a property will include:
- Draft contracts – Your conveyancing solicitor drafts the initial legal contract to be sent to the buyer's solicitor.
- Responding to enquiries – your solicitor responds to any questions the buyer's solicitor may have (this is where you'll find out if you are missing documents, which can cause delays to your sale).
- Investigating issues – your solicitor may need to complete further investigation to try and satisfy them.
- Exchange contracts – once the buyer's solicitor has satisfied their enquiries, contracts are finalised and exchanged.
- On the day of completion – your solicitor receives the money for the sale, discharges the mortgage (if required), pays the estate agent, deducts their fee and then sends the net sale proceeds to you.
- Post completion – your solicitor receives the DS1 discharge documents and, when leasehold, settles your liabilities for ground rent and service charges.
Our conveyancing solicitors' cost for selling a property starts from £748 INC VAT.
Buying a home
- Draft contracts – Your solicitor reviews the draft contract sent by the seller's solicitor.
- Raising enquiries – your solicitor will ask the seller's solicitor questions based on the contract, title, and property documents to protect you from any nasty surprises.
- Exchange contracts – once your solicitor is satisfied with their enquiries, they agree with the seller to finalise and exchange contracts
- Day of completion – on the day of completion, your solicitor transfers the money for the sale.
- Post completion – following completion, your solicitor makes an application to HM Land Registry to register you as the new owner.
Our City of London conveyancing solicitors' cost for buying a property starts from £748 INC VAT.
Add or remove someone from a property title
With a Transfer of Equity, you can buy someone out of a shared property and remove them from the title, or add someone to the title to transfer ownership of a share of the property, making them a joint owner. This service includes:
- Property solicitors' fees, including ID checks, office copies
- HM Land Registration fees
- (if party being removed) ID1 Form verification fee
- (if mortgage) Change of mortgage fee
- (if leasehold) Notice fee to freeholder
Our City of London conveyancing solicitors' cost for a Transfer of Equity starts at £399 INC VAT.
If someone is giving up their share of the property for less than market value, they may be required to get independent legal advice, which will be an additional expense.
Switch your mortgage deal in City of London
Your remortgage solicitor will perform all the necessary checks, review your new mortgage offer, and update HM Land Registry post-completion. The process is similar to when you purchase but should take less time, as the solicitor doesn't need to raise any legal enquiries.
If you own a leasehold property, your solicitor must carry out extra work to investigate the lease terms. Our conveyancing solicitors' cost for a remortgage in City of London starts at £399 INC VAT.
Purchase the next chunk of your equity
When you're ready to buy the next chunk of the equity in your shared ownership property, a conveyancer will be required to handle:
- The bank transfer;
- obtaining a mortgage redemption statement from your existing lender;
- receiving your new mortgage offer and confirming the lender terms;
- receiving the memorandum of staircasing;
- handling completion;
- filing SDLT form (if required); and
- registration at the Land Registry.
Our conveyancing solicitors' cost for shared ownership staircasing in City of London starts at £823 INC VAT.
If you need to add someone to the legal title, you will need to pay an additional fee for a transfer of equity.
Paying off your Help to Buy equity loan
You'll need a solicitor to:
- Receive redemption letter;
- review title for ownership and restrictions;
- obtain Authority to Complete;
- draft a deed of postponement for your current lender;
- handling completion;
- bank transfer; and
- if repaid in full, removal of the loan restriction at the Land Registry.
Our conveyancing solicitors' cost for Help to Buy loan redemption in City of London starts at £333 INC VAT.
Price based on a freehold with the loan being repaid in full using savings.
Conveyancing FAQs
What are the conveyancing costs?
Fees vary between online conveyancing solicitors, high street conveyancers or housing solicitors introduced by your estate agent.
The actual conveyancing costs, outside of the legal work, should be fixed, including:
For buyers: stamp duty, land registration, property searches, ID searches and leasehold charges (if buying a leasehold property).
For sellers: office copies, title plan and management information (if selling a leasehold property).
Make sure to budget for all of the above conveyancing costs and to get a fixed fee conveyancing quote from several firms, to compare value.
Making the right choice of solicitor is key to the whole process:
- Cheap Conveyancing
- Fast Conveyancing
- Best Conveyancing Service
Do I need to come to your office to see the solicitor?
Historically you used to have to see your solicitor face to face for ID and signing contracts.
Nowadays technology has moved on and there isn’t the need to as everything can be completed via email, post and telephone and with online ID checking, which is great as it saves you time and money.
