Conveyancing costs rose modestly in the first quarter of 2026 but remain broadly flat year-on-year underlining ongoing margin pressure across the legal sector.
Analysis from reallymoving, based on more than 86,000 quotes, shows average fees increased by 2.8% between Q4 2025 and Q1 2026. The uplift follows a slower end to last year, when activity dipped ahead of the Autumn Budget.
Despite the quarterly rise, annual growth stands at just 0.1%, suggesting pricing has largely plateaued over the past 12 months.
Home movers handling both a sale and purchase now pay an average of £2,440 including VAT for conveyancing services, covering legal work and associated disbursements.
REGIONAL DIFFERENCES
The data points to a sector caught between rising operational costs and limited pricing power, with firms increasingly relying on service differentiation and technology investment to maintain margins.
Regional differences are beginning to emerge, with nine of 12 UK regions recording quarterly price increases as transaction volumes picked up. Scotland led the way with a 12.4% rise, followed by the North West at 6.5% and the North East at 5.7%.
In contrast, parts of the Midlands and Wales saw more subdued growth, reflecting weaker demand and highlighting the link between transaction activity and fee levels.
However, with inflation running at around 3%, conveyancing fees have effectively fallen in real terms over the past year, increasing pressure on firms already grappling with rising costs.
FLAT GROWTH
Rob Houghton (main picture), Founder and CEO of reallymoving, says: “The market is stabilising after a difficult final quarter of 2025, but not yet delivering the kind of growth conveyancers need.
“A modest quarterly uplift is welcome, but annual growth is currently flat and when adjusted for inflation, conveyancing costs have fallen in real terms.
“This means conveyancers are effectively earning less per transaction in real terms than a year ago.
“Firms are facing rising costs on multiple fronts, from compliance and tech to overheads and staff, yet fees are not keeping pace, which is eating into already slim margins.”
HIGH-QUALITY SERVICE
And he adds: “We can see from our data that while price is certainly a key factor in decision-making, only 40% of customers using reallymoving opt for the cheapest quote.
“The majority choose to pay more for good reviews and ratings, specific service features such as a live app or portal, or just a better sales process.
“In comparison, for surveys and removals, around 50% of customers opt for the cheapest quote, highlighting that service carries extra weight in conveyancing.
“Firms that can consistently deliver a high-quality service while investing in technology are best placed for growth in the current market.”
