How Much Does It Really Cost to Buy a House?
What are the total costs of buying a house in the UK?
Beyond the purchase price, expect to pay stamp duty (0–12% depending on price and buyer type), solicitor or conveyancer fees (£850–£1,800), survey (£400–£1,500), mortgage arrangement fees (£0–£2,000), and removal costs (£300–£1,500). On a £300,000 home in 2026/27, a home mover pays around £9,000 in total (including £5,000 stamp duty), while a first-time buyer pays about £4,000.
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Most people think of the deposit and mortgage when buying a house. In reality, stamp duty, solicitor fees, surveys, and moving costs can add £10,000–30,000 to the bill — money you need on top of your deposit.
A common mistake is budgeting only for the deposit and assuming the rest will sort itself out. Many first-time buyers are shocked to discover solicitor fees running to £1,500 or more, while home movers forget that estate agent fees consume 1–3% of the sale price before they even move.
This calculator brings together stamp duty, mortgage repayments, legal fees, moving costs, and more into a single comprehensive view. Enter your property details below to see the true total cost of buying a house in the UK.
Property Details
£35,000 (10% deposit · 90% LTV)
Residential purchase estimate. Uses rates checked on 2 October 2026, without historical contract protection. Future purchases assume these published rates continue.
One dwelling bought by an individual, with the correct buyer category already established. Where first-time buyer relief is offered, it assumes every buyer meets the ownership and main-home conditions. Replacing a main residence can avoid additional-property rates even if you own other property.
Excludes linked transactions, companies/trusts, mixed or non-residential use, lease rent, shared ownership, other reliefs and the non-UK-resident SDLT surcharge. Confirm these cases and any refund conditions with your conveyancer.
Total Cost Summary
Total Upfront Costs
£41,915
Deposit + fees + moving
Monthly Mortgage
£1,751
4.5% over 25 years
Total Cost Over Term
£532,177
All costs + mortgage repayments
Where your upfront money goes
Visual breakdown of the cash you need before completion
Upfront total
£41,915
- Deposit£35,00084%
- Stamp Duty£2,5006%
- Legal & conveyancing£1,6654%
- Survey£5501%
- Mortgage fee£1,0002%
- Removals£1,2003%
Stamp Duty
Mortgage Costs
Legal & Conveyancing
Moving Costs
1.8% of purchase price
Plan your moving budgetAdditional Estimated Costs
£400–700 depending on property price and survey level
£0–2,000 — many deals have no fee; higher fees often mean lower rates
Buildings insurance is required by lenders; contents insurance is optional
See all property running costsRefine Your Estimate
The figures above use sensible defaults. For a more accurate picture, use our dedicated calculators to fine-tune each cost:
Stamp Duty Calculator
Exact SDLT/LBTT/LTT for your property
Total Mortgage Calculator
Detailed repayment & interest analysis
Mortgage Affordability
How much lenders will offer you
Moving House Calculator
Comprehensive moving cost breakdown
Selling House Costs
Net proceeds from your sale
Estate Agent Fees
Compare percentage vs fixed fees
Property Running Costs
Ongoing annual ownership costs
Rent vs Buy
Compare long-term costs of each
Leasehold vs Freehold
True cost of leasehold ownership
What this total means for your budget
Your headline cost is more than just the deposit. Stamp duty, surveys, solicitor fees and moving costs are due before completion — so you'll need this money in cash, on top of your deposit, in the weeks leading up to moving day.
A useful rule of thumb: budget an extra 3–5% of the property price for fees on a standard purchase, and up to 10% if you're a buy-to-let investor paying the SDLT surcharge. If your total feels tight, see exactly how much a lender will offer with the Mortgage Affordability Calculator before you make an offer.
Frequently Asked Questions
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