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
Legal status
Binding after exchange
Main payment
Exchange deposit
Final control document
Completion statement
Practical booking
Removals
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 and applicable registration charges funded through the completion process
- contractual sums confirmed by the conveyancer
Estimate-led items
- buildings and contents insurance
- removals, storage and moving-day extras
- additional lender or legal administration where applicable
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 Costs payable before completion, First-month costs after buying a house, Moving costs in the UK and Insurance costs for home buyers in the UK.
After-exchange cost timeline
The table below shows typical sequence; the contract and conveyancer's instructions control your transaction, with columns for Stage, Possible payment or action, and Basis.
| Stage | Possible payment or action | Basis |
|---|---|---|
| At exchange | Exchange deposit; buildings insurance where the contract or lender requires it | Confirmed contractual amount / provider quote |
| Between exchange and completion | Final searches or legal disbursements; removals booking; mortgage conditions | Transaction-specific charges and planning estimates |
| Before funds are sent | Conveyancer's completion statement and completion balance | Confirmed statement, including tax and registration funding where applicable |
| Completion day | Removal balance, key collection and moving-day extras | Provider quote and optional planning allowance |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Exchange deposit and completion balance
The exchange deposit is the contractual deposit paid or committed when contracts are exchanged. It is not automatically identical to the mortgage deposit percentage used in an affordability illustration.
Before completion, the conveyancer issues a completion statement. This reconciles the purchase price, deposit already held, mortgage funds, tax, registration, legal bill and other items, producing the balance you must send as cleared funds.
Practical note
Buildings insurance timing
In many England and Wales transactions, the buyer may need buildings insurance from exchange because risk can pass under the contract before the keys are collected. The contract, tenure and lender requirements determine the actual date.
Scotland and Northern Ireland follow different legal processes and terminology. Ask the solicitor and insurer to confirm when cover must begin rather than applying an England-only rule.
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 calculatorFinal legal and mortgage checks
- Confirm every mortgage offer condition is satisfied and the offer remains valid through completion.
- Check whether the lender has a completion, transfer or administration charge.
- Read the final search and legal-disbursement lines on the completion statement.
- Confirm when cleared buyer funds must reach the client account.
- Verify bank details safely; payment-redirection fraud is a serious completion risk.
- Keep the solicitor informed if the source or route of funds changes.
Practical buyer checklist
- Book removals with terms that match the agreed completion date.
- Arrange buildings insurance from the date the contract and lender require.
- Keep accessible cash for storage, parking, cleaning, food, pets and travel.
- Take final meter readings and prepare first-month account changes.
- Do not order irreversible work or deliveries before the legal position is confirmed.
- Retain an emergency buffer after sending the completion balance.
Check the cash left after exchange
Use the calculator for the complete purchase budget, then reconcile its planning lines against the conveyancer's completion statement and your confirmed provider quotes.
Go to the calculatorContent 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 costs do you pay after exchange?
Common items are the exchange deposit, buildings insurance where required, final legal disbursements, the completion balance and removals. What remains depends on what you paid earlier and the completion statement.
Is exchange of contracts legally binding?
In the usual England and Wales process, exchange creates a binding contract. Other UK jurisdictions use different processes and terminology, so follow the advice for the property's location.
When do I receive the completion statement?
Your conveyancer normally sends it before completion once the figures can be reconciled. Ask when to expect it and the deadline for cleared funds, especially if money is coming from several accounts.
Related guides
Read next
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.
First-month costs after buying a house
Plan the first month after buying a UK home, including the first mortgage payment, council tax, utilities, insurance, repairs, furniture and moving-day extras.
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.
Insurance costs for home buyers in the UK
A guide to insurance costs for home buyers in the UK, including buildings insurance, life insurance, mortgage protection and landlord insurance for buy-to-let buyers.
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.
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.