Conveyancers face continued pressure as prices fall 3.5% year-on-year

The price paid by home movers for conveyancing services fell by 3% in Q3 2026 compared with the previous quarter, amid continued subdued market activity and strong competition among conveyancers. Costs were 3.5% lower than in Q3 last year – a fall of 6.5% after adjusting for CPI inflation. Analysis of over 77,000 conveyancing quotes generated on the home mover comparison site reallymoving shows it now costs an average of £2,365, including VAT, to handle the legal side of a combined property sale and purchase, including expenses and disbursements. 

Regional Conveyancing Costs

Conveyancing costs fell in nine of the 12 UK regions in Q3, with the sharpest quarterly declines in the West Midlands (-9.3%), East Midlands (-5.3%) and Northern Ireland (-5.2%). Only East of England (+0.3%), the South West (+0.2%) and Wales (0.2%) recorded modest increases in average conveyancing bills. London remains the most expensive region for home movers, with a combined sale and purchase cost of £2,975.

Commenting on the data, reallymoving founder and CEO Rob Houghton, said: “A 3% quarterly fall in the cost of conveyancing is concerning for firms already balancing pressure on margins with the urgent need to invest for the future.

“Conveyancers are managing increasingly complex anti-money laundering checks, building and fire safety requirements, leasehold issues and cybercrime risks alongside the core legal work of buying and selling a home – all while fees are declining. Inflation is compounding the challenge, widening the gap between what firms can charge and the cost of delivering their services.

“Lower costs may benefit home movers in the short term, but sustained pressure on fees over time will only weaken the sector’s capacity to deliver the fast, efficient and high-quality service movers need, especially as the government’s homebuying and selling reforms approach.”