How Much Does it Cost to Move House?

Key Takeaways

• Stamp Duty Land Tax: A tax paid to the government when buying a new home, with varying rates depending on property price and location. No Stamp Duty on properties under £250,000; first-time buyers have a higher threshold of £425,000.
• Solicitor/Conveyancer Fees: Legal assistance for property purchase, typically costing between £500 and £1,500, plus additional costs for local searches.
• Survey Costs: Recommended to avoid unforeseen issues, with three types of surveys available: Condition Survey (£300-£900), Homebuyer Survey (£400-£1,000), and Building Survey (£600-£1,500).
• Mortgage Fees: Includes booking fees (£100-£200) and arrangement fees (£1,000-£2,000) for securing and setting up a mortgage.
• Deposit Fees: Initial payment required to secure the property, usually a percentage of the property price.
• Valuation Fees: Charged by the mortgage lender to assess the property’s value, typically costing between £150 and £1,500.
• Estate Agent Fees: Fees for selling your current home, usually between 1% and 3% of the sale price.
• One-off Costs: Additional expenses such as removal costs, storage fees, and insurance.

What are the main home moving costs?

The main costs of moving house include the following:

• Stamp Duty Land Tax
• Solicitor/conveyancer fees
• Survey costs
• Mortgage fees
• Deposit fees
• Valuation fees
• Estate agent fees
• One-off costs

1. Stamp Duty Land Tax

Stamp Duty is a tax paid to the government when buying a new home, flat or land in England. The amount varies depending on your circumstances, the property price and location. This applies to freehold and leasehold properties, whether bought outright or with a mortgage.

You don’t need to pay Stamp Duty on properties that cost under £250,000. If you're a first-time buyer, the limit is £425,000.

Read more about Stamp Duty, the different rates and how it works in Scotland and Wales in our guide.

2. Solicitor or conveyancer fees

Hiring a solicitor or conveyancer isn't mandatory, but it’s highly recommended. They deal with the legal side of the property purchase, from drafting contracts and checking the paperwork to finalising the sale.

If you hire legal help, get a quote before any work begins. Solicitors and conveyancers may charge a fixed fee (usually a percentage of the sale price), but some charge by the hour. The cost of hiring a solicitor or conveyancer to help buy a property varies, usually between £500 and £1,500 (including 20% VAT).

Your solicitor or conveyancer can also conduct local searches (typically costing up to £300) to check for local plans or issues.

Learn more about the legal steps of buying a new home.

3. Survey costs

We recommend getting your new home surveyed before buying it. This ensures no significant structural issues, helping you avoid unforeseen costs in the long run. You can choose from three types of surveys:

• Condition Survey (Level 1). The Level 1 survey provides a general overview of the property’s condition; this typically costs between £300 and £900.

• Homebuyer Survey (Level 2). This is ideal for properties in reasonable condition or under 50 years old. It includes the surveyor's advice on repairs and maintenance, costing between £400 and £1,000.

• Building Survey (Level 3). The Building Survey (Full Structural Survey) provides an in-depth inspection, costing between £600 and £1,500.

4. Mortgage fees

When taking out a mortgage, there are some extra costs to consider. These may include:

• Booking fee. This up-front payment confirms you've secured your mortgage deal and can cost between £100 and £200. It's non-refundable if the purchase falls through.

• Arrangement fee. This is the fee your bank or building society charges you to set up your mortgage. It can be between £1,000 and £2,000.

5. Deposit fees

The deposit is the amount you put towards the cost of your new home. The larger your deposit, the better your mortgage options and the lower your interest rate. You'll typically need between 5-10% of the purchase price for a deposit.

6. Valuation fees

When you apply for a mortgage, the lender evaluates your home to ensure it's worth what you plan to pay. It's not an in-depth structural inspection but a 'drive-by' valuation, costing between £150 and £800 (though some lenders may not charge anything).

7. Estate agent's fees

The seller pays the estate agent fees, usually 1% to 3% of the sale price (plus 20% VAT) or a flat fee for online estate agents.

8. One-off costs

Remember to factor in those one-off costs like new carpets or furniture. If you have pets, you must also consider where they’ll stay while you move.

Moving day payments

With the keys to your new home, you're almost set. Moving day payments you may need to cover include removal costs and mail redirection.

Removal costs

You could rent a van and handle the move yourself or rely on a removal company to do the heavy lifting. Whatever you decide, ensure you gather enough quotes beforehand. Removal costs can range between £300 and £600.

Mail redirection

Redirecting your mail with Royal Mail is easy. Find the process and a breakdown of the costs online.

Other considerations

Other considerations include storage, packing materials, cleaning and building management fees.

Storage

If you've returned the keys to your previous home but are still waiting to move into your new one, you may need a place to store your belongings. The cost will depend on the space you need but usually starts at around £25 for a 50 ft² unit per week.

Packing materials

Factor in the costs of boxes, bubble wrap, tape and labels you'll need for packing your belongings to move to your new home.

Cleaning

You may want to clean your old home before you leave to ensure it’s in good shape for its new residents. You may also want or need to clean your new home when you arrive. You can do this yourself, but if you decide to hire a cleaner, this can cost between £100 and £350.

Building management fees

Are you buying a flat? You may be required to pay fees for maintaining communal areas, like hallways and gardens.

Explore our range of new build homes across the UK. They're energy-efficient, sustainable and stylish. They also have a 10-year warranty and a 2-year fixtures and fittings warranty. Buying your new Barratt home also means enjoying unique home buying offers to help you move.

Call our Sales Advisers to kickstart your journey today.