The additional costs of buying

Once all of the legal work has taken place, the completion statement will be issued showing the remaining costs that need to be paid. These will include:

The deposit:

This is normally at least 5% of the purchase price.

Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)

You may also have to pay Stamp Duty Land Tax. This government tax is payable on property or land above a certain price threshold in England or Northern Ireland. Use our stamp duty calculator to work out how much your stamp duty will be.

Similarly, if you’re buying a property or land in Scotland or Wales, there are equivalents of this tax that you might have to pay. Different rates apply for different property prices, as well as if you’re buying your first home, so it’s worth looking into it well in advance.

For full information on stamp duty, including what it is, how much it costs and to use our stamp duty calculator, take a look here.

What are stamp duty rates in England and Northern Ireland?

Purchase priceNormal rate
Up to ÂŁ250,0000%
ÂŁ250,001 to ÂŁ925,0005%
ÂŁ925,001 to ÂŁ1.5 million10%
Over ÂŁ1.5 million12%
First-time buyer purchase priceRate (first-time buyers only)
Up to ÂŁ425,0000%
ÂŁ425,001 to ÂŁ625,0005%
Homes priced above ÂŁ625,000Normal rate applies (see table above)

What are stamp duty rates in Scotland? (Land and Buildings Transaction Tax)

Stamp Duty in Scotland is now called Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT). It needs to be paid for any land purchases, as well as both residential and commercial property purchases.

It was introduced as a replacement to stamp duty in April 2015.

Purchase priceRate
Up to ÂŁ145,0000%
The portion over ÂŁ145,000 up to ÂŁ250,0002%
The portion over ÂŁ250,000 up to ÂŁ325,0005%
The portion over ÂŁ325,000 up to ÂŁ750,00010%
Over ÂŁ750,00012%

What are stamp duty rates in Wales? (Land Transaction Tax)

Land Transaction Tax (LTT) applies to properties and land purchased in Wales. This replaced what was known as stamp duty, in April 2018.

Land Transaction Tax applies to properties that are either bought or leased above a certain price threshold.

Purchase priceRate
The portion up to and including ÂŁ225,0000%
The portion over ÂŁ225,000 up to and including ÂŁ400,0006%
The portion over ÂŁ400,000 up to and including ÂŁ750,0007.5%
The portion over ÂŁ750,000 up to and including ÂŁ1.5 million10%
The portion over ÂŁ1.5 million12%

Visit the Welsh Government’s website for more information and the latest breakdowns.

Pro-rated leasehold charges

The service charges and ground rent due for leasehold properties are often paid annually or every six months. If the seller has already paid for a period when you will be the owner, you will need to reimburse them the amounts that have already been paid.

Engrossment Fee

This is payable for new build properties and is a fee payable to the developer’s conveyancer for preparing and supplying the legal documentation for signature. The fee varies depending on the developer but is typically £120 – £150.

Land Registration Fee

This is the amount you need to pay to the land register in order to register the property in your name. There is a table of charges depending on when and how the registration is made but the maximum current charges are:

Property PriceFee
0 to ÂŁ80,000ÂŁ40
ÂŁ80,001 to ÂŁ100,000 ÂŁ80
ÂŁ100,001 to ÂŁ200,000ÂŁ190
ÂŁ200,001 to ÂŁ500,000ÂŁ270
ÂŁ500,001 to ÂŁ1,000,000ÂŁ540
ÂŁ1,000,001 and overÂŁ910

Transfer of Money Fee

This is usually a flat fee charged to transfer the money during the transaction as it is usually sent be CHAPs transfer

Finally, other costs which you may want to consider are:

  • Life Insurance: It may be a requirement of your mortgage, but if not it is still worth considering as it will cover the cost of the outstanding mortgage if you were to die.
  • Buildings Insurance: this will be required if you are purchasing your property freehold and will be a condition of the mortgage. If you are purchasing the property leasehold, the property is normally insured by the freeholder and you contribute towards the cost
  • Removals costs — Unless you are travelling light, it is likely you will need to get professional movers in. Get quotes from a removal firm that’s a member of The British Association of Removers.
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