What this page is based on
Trust and data notes
- ReviewedReviewed by the True Home Costs editorial team against the central calculator assumptions and the cited official sources.
- How to read the figuresOfficial charges and estimate-led costs are shown separately so buyers can see which parts of the total are fixed rules and which parts are planning ranges.
- When to double-checkFigures are guidance only. Buyers should check important numbers with their solicitor, lender or the relevant official authority before making financial decisions.
- Source styleThis page includes official-rate references and linked source notes where applicable.
Official reference points used on this page include MoneyHelper guide to buying and moving costs and MoneyHelper home buying guidance.
At a glance
Key facts buyers should know first
Transactions
Sale + purchase
Buyer legal range example
£1,050–£1,800
Mortgage-fee range example
£300–£1,450
Moving range example
£550–£1,800
Trust note
Official-rate items vs estimate-led items
TrueHomeCosts separates published rates from market-based assumptions so buyers can see which figures are official and which ones are planning estimates.
Official or published-reference items
- property tax on the purchase under the applicable rules
- registration charge for the purchase application
- EPC requirements where an EPC is legally required for marketing
Estimate-led items
- estate agent, sale and purchase conveyancing fees
- mortgage exit, product, arrangement and broker charges
- removals, storage, temporary accommodation and duplicated running costs
How labels are used across the site
Official charge: based on published tax bands or fee scales.
Lender charge: fees tied to mortgage products, valuations or broker work.
Solicitor/conveyancing estimate: legal work and disbursement planning ranges.
Market estimate: surveys, moving, furnishing or other provider-led costs.
Optional cost: useful for planning, but not required on every purchase.
Situation-dependent cost: applies only to some properties or buyer types.
Plan the full picture
Use this guide with the right follow-up pages
Start with the homepage calculator to test your own numbers, then compare this topic with Moving costs in the UK, UK conveyancing costs and solicitor fees, Costs payable before completion and Ongoing Costs of Owning a Home in the UK.
One move, two cost schedules
The table below shows main cost groups for a simultaneous sale and purchase, with columns for Part of the move and Possible costs.
| Part of the move | Possible costs |
|---|---|
| Selling | Estate agent fee, selling conveyancing, EPC where required, mortgage exit or early-repayment charge where applicable |
| Buying | Buying conveyancing, searches, survey, tax, registration and mortgage product or arrangement charges |
| Physical move | Removals, packing, storage, cleaning and access or parking costs |
| Timing risk | Extra storage, temporary accommodation, duplicated bills or short-term funding if dates do not align |
| After completion | Repairs, insurance, first mortgage payment and ongoing ownership costs |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Selling costs
- Estate agent fee: check the percentage or fixed fee, VAT, tie-in, sole-agency terms and when payment is due.
- Selling conveyancing: title review, contract pack, enquiries, mortgage redemption and completion work.
- EPC: normally needed for marketing unless a valid certificate or exemption applies.
- Mortgage redemption: ask the lender for an illustration of the balance, early-repayment charge and exit fee.
- Leasehold or managed estate packs: third-party information fees and lead times can be material.
- Preparation: optional cleaning, minor repairs, photography or staging.
Buying costs
At £300,000, the calculator's standard purchase legal range is £1,050–£1,800. Searches, survey, registration, tax and transfer fees remain separate.
A home mover normally does not receive first-time buyer tax treatment. If an old main residence has not been disposed of by the relevant completion date, additional-property tax treatment may arise, subject to the rules and possible refund provisions. Confirm the position before exchange.
Try this in the calculator
Run your own version of this scenario
Use the homepage calculator to change the property price, nation, buyer type and assumption level so you can compare the simple version of the budget with a more realistic one.
Open the calculatorChain timing and completion risk
A same-day chain depends on money and documents moving through several transactions in order. Delays can affect key release, removals waiting time and access to sale proceeds.
Agree a contingency plan for late keys, failed completion or a gap between sale and purchase. Storage, accommodation and duplicated utilities are planning risks, not inevitable costs.
Practical note
Mortgage costs on both sides
The table below shows questions for the existing and new mortgage, with columns for Existing mortgage and New mortgage.
| Existing mortgage | New mortgage |
|---|---|
| What is the redemption balance on the target date? | Is there a product, booking, valuation, arrangement or broker fee? |
| Does an early-repayment charge or exit fee apply? | Can a fee be added to the loan, and what interest would that create? |
| Is the product portable and what does porting actually require? | When will funds be released and what conditions remain? |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Home mover versus first-time buyer
The table below shows why the budget profile changes, with columns for First-time buyer and Home mover.
| First-time buyer | Home mover |
|---|---|
| No property sale costs | Estate agent, sale conveyancing and redemption costs |
| May qualify for buyer-specific tax relief subject to rules | Usually assessed under home-mover treatment; timing of disposal can matter |
| May need more furniture and setup | May own more belongings, increasing removal or storage needs |
| No chain below | Sale and purchase timelines are linked |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Questions to settle before exchange
- What is the net sale equity after mortgage redemption and selling costs?
- How much of the purchase deposit will come from sale proceeds?
- Are exchange deposits being passed up the chain, reduced or topped up?
- Which fees are due even if one transaction fails?
- What is the removals plan if keys are delayed?
- Would temporary accommodation or storage be affordable without short-term borrowing?
- Does the completion date stay within every mortgage-offer and search-validity period?
Model the purchase, then add the sale
Use the calculator for the next home, then add itemised estate agent, selling legal and mortgage-redemption figures to produce the complete home-mover budget.
Go to the calculatorReference points
Official UK guidance
This guide is informed by publicly available UK guidance from official and consumer-support sources where relevant.
Content notes
Reviewed and maintained by the TrueHomeCosts research team.
Our guides are built from official UK tax sources, public cost information and typical market price ranges. We separate fixed official charges from variable market estimates so buyers can see which figures are certain and which may change.
Last reviewed: 25 July 2026
Calculator data version: 2026.07.1
This content is for general guidance only and is not financial advice. For more detail, read how our estimates work or learn more about TrueHomeCosts.
FAQ
Questions buyers usually ask
What does it cost to buy and sell a house at the same time?
Add selling costs—estate agent, sale conveyancing, EPC and mortgage redemption charges—to the full purchase budget of deposit, tax, buying conveyancing, searches, survey, mortgage fees, registration and moving.
Can sale proceeds fund the purchase deposit?
Often they can, but the contractual exchange deposit and timing need to be coordinated through the chain. Give the conveyancer a full source-of-funds picture early and do not assume proceeds will be accessible outside the legal process.
Should I use bridging finance if dates do not align?
That is a high-impact financial decision, not a routine moving-cost line. Short-term funding can be expensive and secured; obtain regulated financial and independent legal advice based on the actual transaction.
Related guides
Read next
Moving costs in the UK
Budget for moving costs in the UK, including removal company prices, packing services, storage, mail redirection, locksmith work, cleaning, broadband and utility connection fees.
UK conveyancing costs and solicitor fees
Plan UK conveyancing costs, understand solicitor legal fees, searches and disbursements, and see why leasehold, new-build or complex work can increase a quote.
Costs payable before completion
Plan what UK home buyers may pay before completion, from reservations, mortgage and survey costs to searches, exchange deposit, tax and the completion balance.
Ongoing Costs of Owning a Home in the UK
See the monthly cost of owning a home in the UK, including council tax, energy, water, insurance, maintenance and leasehold charges, with a worked 2026 budget.
Stamp duty explained: UK property tax in plain English
Stamp duty explained UK in plain English, including SDLT, LBTT, LTT, first-time buyer treatment, second-home costs and the main 2026 differences by nation.
Sources and checks
These are the main public sources used for official-rate items and checks on this page. Estimate-led costs remain planning ranges rather than government charges.