What this page is based on
Trust and data notes
- ReviewedFigures and official sources were substantively reviewed on 19 July 2026. Numerical examples use calculator data version 2026.07.1.
- 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 HMRC SDLT residential property rates and Revenue Scotland LBTT residential rates and bands.
At a glance
Key facts buyers should know first
Purchase completion
Deposit, tax and core transaction costs
Moving and setup
Moving, insurance and optional furnishing remain separate
Ongoing ownership
Mortgage, council tax, utilities, maintenance and service charges where relevant
Optional improvements
Separate project budget, not a purchase-completion cost
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 bands
- published registration-style fees where applicable
- council tax bands
Estimate-led items
- legal fees
- mortgage fees
- survey costs
- moving costs
- furnishing
- insurance
- utilities and maintenance
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 Hidden costs of buying a house in the UK, How much money do I need to buy a house in the UK?, Stamp duty explained: UK property tax in plain English and Mortgage fees and costs in the UK.
Where parents are contributing upfront, review the rules on help from parents towards a house deposit and keep enough cash back for first-year costs.
Four first-year cost scopes
The table below shows how to separate first-year home costs, with columns for Scope, Examples, and Calculator treatment.
| Scope | Examples | Calculator treatment |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase completion | Deposit, property tax, legal, searches, survey, mortgage and registration | Included in upfront cash |
| Moving and setup | Moving, insurance and furnishing | Separate selectable allowances |
| Ongoing ownership | Mortgage repayments, council tax, utilities, maintenance and service charges | Not included in upfront buying-cost total |
| Optional improvements | Decoration, renovation and upgrades | Not included; budget separately |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
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Safestore can help when moving dates, renovations or belongings need more flexibility.
Check Safestore storage optionsCalculator-derived completion example
Scenario: £300,000, England, home mover, 10% deposit, average assumptions, moving and insurance included, furnishing excluded and 10% contingency.
The table below shows upfront cash before ongoing ownership bills, with columns for Measure, Amount, and Scope.
| Measure | Amount | Scope |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | £30,000 | User-entered |
| Property tax | £5,000 | Official calculation |
| Total upfront cash | £40,320 | Purchase and selected move-in costs |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Build ongoing ownership costs from evidence
Use the mortgage illustration, council tax band, utility information, insurance quotation and property-specific maintenance needs. A universal fixed total would be misleading.
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 calculatorKeep improvements optional
Decoration and renovation can be important, but they are not completion charges. Keep them in a separate project budget so the buying-cost total stays comparable.
Estimate the full first-year picture
Use the home buying cost calculator for the buying total, then add first-year ownership, moving and setup costs so the deposit does not hide the wider cash requirement.
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: 19 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
Does the upfront calculator include mortgage repayments?
No. It covers upfront purchase and selected move-in costs.
Are furnishing and moving one cost?
No. They are separate categories.
Should renovations be included in buying costs?
Treat optional improvements as a separate project budget.
Related guides
Read next
Hidden costs of buying a house in the UK
A detailed guide to the hidden costs of buying a house in the UK, including solicitor fees, conveyancing disbursements, searches, surveys, transfer fees, indemnity policies and the practical extras buyers often miss.
How much money do I need to buy a house in the UK?
Work out how much money you need to buy a house in the UK, including the deposit, upfront fees, property tax, legal costs, surveys, mortgage charges, moving costs and a practical buffer.
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.
Mortgage fees and costs in the UK
A practical guide to mortgage fees and costs in the UK, including broker fees, advice charges, booking fees, arrangement fees, valuation costs, ERCs and exit fees.
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.
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.