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 HMRC SDLT residential property rates.
At a glance
Key facts buyers should know first
Early checks
Mortgage, legal, survey
Contract stage
Exchange deposit
Final figure
Completion statement
Tax timing
Jurisdiction-specific
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
- SDLT, LBTT or LTT calculated under the applicable rules
- registration charges under the applicable official scale
Estimate-led items
- reservation, mortgage, survey, legal and search charges
- removals, storage and insurance
- optional snagging, specialist reports and planning allowances
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 after exchange of contracts, UK conveyancing costs and solicitor fees, Property survey costs by survey level and Stamp duty explained: UK property tax in plain English.
Before-completion payment timeline
The table below shows a planning sequence; actual requests and refund terms vary, with columns for Stage and Possible costs.
| Stage | Possible costs |
|---|---|
| Reservation / application | Reservation fee on some new builds; mortgage booking, valuation or broker fee where charged |
| Legal work begins | Conveyancing payment on account and search pack |
| Property checks | Buyer survey or snagging inspection |
| Exchange | Exchange deposit, less any deposit already held under the agreed contract process |
| Immediately before completion | Completion balance shown on the conveyancer's statement, plus tax and registration money handled through the legal process |
| Moving arrangements | Removal deposit or balance, storage and insurance where needed |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Reservation and mortgage costs
A new-build developer may request a reservation fee and impose a reservation deadline. Read what is refundable, what is deducted from the price and what happens if the mortgage or legal work takes longer.
A lender or broker may charge for a product, booking, valuation, advice or administration. Some charges are paid at application, some are added to the loan and others are payable only at completion. Adding a fee to the mortgage can increase the amount on which interest is charged.
Survey, searches and legal money on account
A surveyor may require payment before inspection. A conveyancer commonly asks for money on account so searches and other early disbursements can be ordered.
For an England purchase, the central search allowance is £260–£430; for a £300,000 property, the central survey points run from £450 to £1,050. These are planning figures, not quotes.
If the transaction falls through, work already completed and third-party disbursements may still be payable. Ask about abortive-fee terms before instructing.
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 calculatorExchange deposit and completion balance
The contractual exchange deposit is due at the contract stage used for the transaction. A gifted deposit, related sale or reduced exchange deposit needs to be discussed early with the lender and conveyancer.
The completion statement then shows the remaining purchase money and reconciles mortgage funds, tax, registration, legal costs and earlier payments. Send only the verified figure by the stated deadline.
Practical note
When property tax is paid
The table below shows tax regimes and practical funding, with columns for Property location, Tax, and Practical point.
| Property location | Tax | Practical point |
|---|---|---|
| England or Northern Ireland | SDLT | The conveyancer normally collects the amount needed for filing and payment after completion |
| Scotland | LBTT | Funds are normally dealt with through the solicitor as part of settlement and return arrangements |
| Wales | LTT | The conveyancer normally handles the return and payment funding |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Legal deadlines and filing processes differ. Treat the money as part of the completion funding requirement even where the statutory payment occurs after the completion date.
Before completion versus after completion
The table below shows keep transaction and ownership budgets separate, with columns for Budget, Examples, and Why separate it.
| Budget | Examples | Why separate it |
|---|---|---|
| Before / on completion | Survey, searches, legal work, exchange deposit, completion balance, tax, registration, removals | Required to reach completion |
| After completion | First mortgage payment, council tax, utilities, repairs, furniture and setup | Ownership starts with cash needs of its own |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Map every payment to a date
Use the calculator to build the total, then add the payment date, refund terms and confirmed quote beside each line in your own transaction plan.
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 do I pay before completion when buying a house?
Possible payments include mortgage or reservation fees, a legal payment on account, searches, survey, exchange deposit and the completion balance. The exact sequence depends on the transaction and jurisdiction.
Are stamp duty, LBTT or LTT paid before completion?
The tax return and statutory payment timing differ by jurisdiction, but the conveyancer normally needs the tax funds as part of the money reconciled for completion. Follow the completion statement and legal advice for the transaction.
What happens to survey and search costs if the purchase fails?
Money already spent on a completed survey, searches or legal work may not be refundable. Check each provider's abortive and refund terms before paying.
Related guides
Read next
Costs after exchange of contracts
See what UK home buyers may pay after exchange and before completion, including the exchange deposit, insurance, completion statement, legal items and removals.
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.
Property survey costs by survey level
Compare UK property survey costs and RICS-style survey levels, understand Level 2 versus Level 3, and separate a buyer survey from a mortgage valuation.
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.
Hidden Costs of Buying a New Build Home in the UK
Explain the hidden costs of buying a new build home in the UK, including reservation fees, upgrades, snagging surveys, estate charges, service charges and first-year costs.
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.