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
Deposit
User-entered cash contribution
Property tax
Official calculation for jurisdiction and buyer type
Core transaction costs
Property tax, solicitor/conveyancing, searches, survey and valuation, mortgage fees, registration and bank transfer fee. Moving costs are excluded.
Optional planning lines
Moving, insurance, furnishing and contingency remain separate
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
- published registration fees where relevant
Estimate-led items
- legal quotes
- survey costs
- search fees
- mortgage charges
- moving and furnishing budgets
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 First Year Cost of Buying a House in the UK, Hidden costs of buying a house in the UK, Stamp duty explained: UK property tax in plain English and First-time buyer costs in the UK.
Your savings target can include family help, but read how using a family gift for your deposit changes the lender and conveyancer checks.
What total upfront cash includes
The table below shows complete upfront-cash taxonomy, with columns for Part of the budget, Treatment, and Planning point.
| Part of the budget | Treatment | Planning point |
|---|---|---|
| Core non-tax transaction costs | £2,235 to £4,935 | Solicitor/conveyancing, searches, survey and valuation, mortgage fees, registration and bank transfer fee. Deposit, property tax, moving, insurance, furnishing and contingency are excluded. |
| Wider moving and insurance | £730 to £2,320 | Moving costs and insurance only. Furnishing and setup are excluded. |
| Optional furnishing and setup | £1,000 to £5,500 | The optional furnishing and setup allowance only. |
| Property tax | Calculated separately | Official calculation for the selected jurisdiction and buyer type |
| Deposit | User entered | Kept outside hidden-cost ranges and included only in total upfront cash |
| Contingency | Adjustable | The selected contingency percentage applied to estimate-led costs. |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Worked cash requirements
Each scenario uses average assumptions, a 10% deposit, moving and insurance included, furnishing excluded and a 10% contingency.
The table below shows calculator-derived total cash examples, with columns for Scenario, Deposit, Property tax, and Total upfront cash.
| Scenario | Deposit | Property tax | Total upfront cash |
|---|---|---|---|
| £200,000 england first-time-buyer | £20,000 | £0 | £24,555 |
| £300,000 england home-mover | £30,000 | £5,000 | £40,320 |
| £400,000 scotland home-mover | £40,000 | £13,350 | £59,763 |
On smaller screens, scroll sideways to view every column clearly.
Mortgage affordability is a different question
Upfront cash answers whether the buyer can fund the purchase and move. Mortgage affordability concerns income, committed spending, lending policy and future repayments.
Do not use an upfront-cost estimate as evidence that a mortgage is affordable or available.
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 calculatorHow to turn the estimate into a working savings target
- Set the deposit amount or percentage
- Choose the correct jurisdiction and buyer type
- Replace market estimates with quotations
- Include moving, insurance and furnishing only when relevant
- Choose a contingency deliberately
Turn a rough target into a real figure
Use the calculator to estimate the full cash needed for your purchase price, location and buyer type in one place.
Once you have worked out the upfront cost of buying, the next step is planning how the mortgage might feel after completion, including whether future overpayments could help reduce the balance faster.
Go to the calculatorPopular buying-cost examples
See how the deposit and extra costs change at common UK property prices.
Reference 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
Is the deposit the same as total cash needed?
No. The deposit is only one line in total upfront cash.
Does total cash needed include mortgage repayments?
No. It covers upfront purchase and selected move-in costs, not ongoing mortgage repayments.
Can one UK-wide total apply to every buyer?
No. Jurisdiction, buyer type, property price and quotations change the result.
Related guides
Read next
First Year Cost of Buying a House in the UK
See the first year cost of buying a house in the UK, including upfront fees, completion-day costs, moving costs, furnishing, insurance and ongoing ownership costs.
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.
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.
First-time buyer costs in the UK
A step-by-step guide to first-time buyer costs in the UK, covering deposits, forgotten fees, Lifetime ISA rules, common mistakes and the real cost of buying a first home.
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.
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.