How much does it cost to move house UK 2026?

Buying: £5,000-£20,000+ depending on house price (stamp duty, solicitor fees, surveys, removal). Renting: £2,000-£5,000 (deposit, rent in advance, referencing, removal). These exclude the property cost itself and vary significantly by property value and location.

What fees do you pay when buying a house UK?

Main fees: stamp duty (£0-£150,000+ depending on price), solicitor/conveyancer (£1,000-£2,000), survey (£300-£700), mortgage fees (£0-£2,000), searches (£250-£400), Land Registry (£100-£500). First-time buyers pay no stamp duty on the first £300,000 of a home up to £500,000.

How much does a removal company cost UK?

Full service removal: £500-£1,500 for local moves, £800-£2,500+ for long distance. Factors: volume of belongings, distance, access difficulties, packing services. DIY van hire: £50-£150/day. Man and van: £50-£80/hour. Get 3 quotes and book early for better rates.

What costs do renters pay when moving UK?

Deposit (max 5 weeks' rent), first month's rent in advance, referencing fees (often paid by landlord now), moving costs. Tenants cannot be charged admin fees, credit check fees, or viewing fees. Total typically £2,000-£5,000 depending on rent level.

Moving House Costs UK — Complete Breakdown Guide

Moving house involves many costs beyond the property itself. Here’s what to budget for.

Costs When Buying a House

Overview of Buying Costs

Cost	Typical Range
Stamp duty	£0-£150,000+
Solicitor/conveyancer	£1,000-£2,000
Survey	£300-£700
Mortgage fees	£0-£2,000
Removal	£500-£2,000
Other	£500-£1,500

Total Buying Costs by House Price

House Price	Approximate Total Costs
£200,000	£3,000-£6,000
£300,000	£6,000-£12,000
£400,000	£10,000-£18,000
£500,000	£15,000-£25,000

Assumes not first-time buyer. FTBs pay less in stamp duty.

Stamp Duty

In England and Northern Ireland, Stamp Duty Land Tax is charged in slices: someone moving home pays nothing on the first £125,000 and rising rates on the slices above (all the bands).

First-time buyers: First-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland pay no SDLT on the first £300,000 and 5% on the rest up to £500,000, but only if the price is £500,000 or less and every buyer is a first-time buyer who will live there as their only or main home.
Second homes and buy-to-let: In England and Northern Ireland you pay 5% on top of every SDLT band when you buy a home for £40,000 or more and it won't be the only home you own anywhere in the world, unless it replaces your main home; if you sell your previous main home within 3 years, you can claim the extra back.

Stamp Duty Examples

Price	Moving home	First-Time Buyer
£300,000	£5,000	£0
£400,000	£10,000	£5,000
£500,000	£15,000	£10,000
£600,000	£20,000	£20,000 (no relief)

Try other prices, or Scotland and Wales, in the stamp duty calculator.

Legal Fees

Solicitor/Conveyancer Costs

Component	Typical Cost
Basic fee	£800-£1,500
VAT (20%)	Add to above
Searches	£250-£400
Land Registry	£100-£500
Bank transfer fee	£25-£50
Total	£1,200-£2,500

Conveyancer vs Solicitor

Type	Pros	Cons
Licensed conveyancer	Specialist, often cheaper	Less broad expertise
Solicitor	Can handle complex issues	May be more expensive
Online conveyancer	Usually cheapest	Less personal service

What Searches Cost

Search	Cost
Local authority	£100-£250
Environmental	£30-£50
Water/drainage	£30-£60
Chancel repair	£15-£25
Additional searches	Varies

Survey Costs

Types of Survey

Survey Type	Cost	Best For
Mortgage valuation	£0-£300	Lender requirement
Condition report	£300-£400	New builds, good condition
HomeBuyer report	£400-£600	Standard properties
Full building survey	£600-£1,500	Older/unusual properties

When to Choose What

Property	Recommended Survey
New build	Condition report + snagging
Modern (post-1980)	HomeBuyer report
Older (pre-1930)	Full building survey
Unusual construction	Full building survey
Listed building	Full building survey

Mortgage Costs

Mortgage Fees

Fee	Typical Amount
Arrangement fee	£0-£2,000
Booking fee	£0-£250
Valuation fee	£0-£500
Mortgage broker	£0-£500 (or % of loan)

Fee vs Rate Decision

Option	When Better
No-fee mortgage	Smaller loans, moving soon
Fee for lower rate	Larger loans, staying long term

Removal Costs

Removal Company Options

Service	Typical Cost
Full service (local)	£500-£1,500
Full service (long distance)	£1,000-£3,000
Packing included	Add £200-£500
Disassembly/reassembly	Add £100-£300

DIY Options

Method	Cost
Van hire	£50-£150/day
Man and van	£50-£80/hour
Borrow/hire trailer	£20-£50/day

Factors Affecting Cost

Factor	Impact
Volume of items	Main factor
Distance	Longer = more
Floor/lift access	Stairs add cost
Day of week	Weekends often more
Time of year	Summer busier/pricier
Packing needed	Adds significantly

Getting Quotes

Tip	Why
Get 3+ quotes	Compare fairly
Home survey	More accurate than phone
Book early	Better availability/price
Check insurance	What’s covered?
Read reviews	Quality matters

Other Buying Costs

Often Forgotten

Cost	Amount
Redirecting post	£40-£100
Cleaning	£100-£300
New locks	£100-£200
Utility connections	Usually free
Council tax lag	Up to 1 month overlap
Contents insurance	£100-£300/year

Setting Up Home

Item	Budget
Furniture	Varies enormously
Curtains/blinds	£200-£1,000
Appliances	£500-£2,000
DIY supplies	£100-£500
Garden equipment	£100-£300

Costs When Renting

Tenant Fees (What You Can Be Charged)

Allowed Charge	Maximum
Deposit	5 weeks’ rent
Rent in advance	Usually 1 month
Default fee (late rent)	Capped
Lost key replacement	Reasonable cost

Banned Fees

Landlords Cannot Charge
Admin fees
Credit check fees
Viewing fees
Inventory fees
Checkout fees
References

Example Renting Costs

Monthly Rent	Deposit (5 weeks)	First Month	Total Upfront
£800	£923	£800	£1,723
£1,000	£1,154	£1,000	£2,154
£1,200	£1,385	£1,200	£2,585
£1,500	£1,731	£1,500	£3,231

Deposit Protection

Scheme	Your Rights
DPS	Free scheme
My Deposits	Insured scheme
TDS	Either option
All	Must be protected in 30 days

Costs When Selling

Selling Fees

Cost	Typical Amount
Estate agent	1-3% of sale price
Online agent	£500-£1,500 flat fee
EPC certificate	£50-£100
Solicitor	£800-£1,500

Estate Agent Fee Examples

House Price	1% Fee	1.5% Fee	2% Fee
£250,000	£2,500	£3,750	£5,000
£350,000	£3,500	£5,250	£7,000
£500,000	£5,000	£7,500	£10,000

Plus VAT

Summary: Moving Costs Checklists

Buyer Checklist

Cost	Budget	Actual
Stamp duty	£_____	£_____
Solicitor fees	£_____	£_____
Survey	£_____	£_____
Mortgage fees	£_____	£_____
Removal	£_____	£_____
Post redirect	£_____	£_____
New locks	£_____	£_____
Cleaning	£_____	£_____
Total	£_____	£_____

Renter Checklist

Cost	Budget	Actual
Deposit (5 weeks max)	£_____	£_____
Rent in advance	£_____	£_____
Removal costs	£_____	£_____
Post redirect	£_____	£_____
Total	£_____	£_____

Money-Saving Tips

Tip	Potential Saving
First-time buyer? Check SDLT relief	Thousands
Compare conveyancing quotes	£200-£500
Get multiple removal quotes	£200-£400
Move mid-week/month	10-20%
Declutter before moving	Smaller van needed
Pack yourself	£200-£500

Budget 10-15% more than estimates for unexpected costs. Moving house always costs more than you think, but planning ahead reduces surprises.

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Buying and Selling Property UK 2026 — The Complete Process Guide

Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. PocketWise provides information and guidance, not financial advice. Seek independent mortgage advice before making decisions about borrowing.

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