How Much Does It Cost to Move House in the UK?
The cost of moving house can add up surprisingly quickly. As well as the price of your new home, you may need to budget for conveyancing, surveys, removals, property taxes, estate agent fees, storage and a number of smaller moving expenses.
The total varies enormously depending on whether you’re buying, selling or doing both, where in the UK you’re moving and the value of the property. This guide breaks down the main costs so you can build a realistic moving budget.
Move Without Mayhem Tip: Keep your moving costs separate from your house deposit. Legal fees, removals, surveys and other expenses can require cash at different stages of the move.
Moving House Costs at a Glance
What Is the Average Cost cost to move house
There isn’t one meaningful figure that applies to every UK move. The cost depends heavily on the property price, whether you’re buying and selling, and which part of the UK you’re moving in.
Recent moving-industry research based on thousands of quotes estimated that someone selling and buying a home in England could face around £17,800 in upfront moving costs. A large proportion of that figure can be property tax and estate agent fees, so your own total could be substantially lower or higher.
First-time buyers normally avoid selling costs and may also qualify for different property-tax treatment, so their moving expenses can be much lower.
Don’t Treat an Average as Your Budget
Two households buying similarly priced properties can have very different moving costs. Your property value, location, mortgage, survey, estate agent, solicitor, amount of furniture and moving distance can all change the final figure. Build your budget using actual quotes wherever possible.
Typical Moving House Costs
These are some of the main expenses you may need to allow for. They are planning figures rather than quotes, and not every cost applies to every move.
| Moving Cost | Typical Guide | Who May Pay It? |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyancing | Around £800–£2,000+ | Buyers and sellers |
| Property survey | Around £400–£1,500+ | Buyers |
| Removal company | Often £400–£1,000+ | Anyone using professional removals |
| Estate agent | Usually based on the sale price and agreed fee | Sellers |
| Property tax | Depends on property value, circumstances and UK nation | Qualifying buyers |
| Storage | Varies by unit size and location | If temporary storage is required |
| Packing materials | Depends on home size and what you already have | Most movers |
These figures are broad planning guides. Always obtain current quotes for your own circumstances.
Conveyancing and Solicitor Fees
You’ll normally need a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to handle the legal work involved in buying or selling your home.
As a broad guide, conveyancing can cost around £800 to £2,000 or more. The amount can increase for more complicated transactions, leasehold properties or when you’re both selling and buying.
When comparing quotes, check whether searches, bank-transfer charges, Land Registry costs and other disbursements are included rather than comparing the solicitor’s basic fee alone.
How Much Does a House Survey Cost?
A survey can help identify problems with a property before you commit to the purchase. The price depends on the type of survey, property size, value and location.
A useful planning range is around £400 to £1,500+. More detailed building surveys generally cost more than simpler reports, but may be appropriate for older, unusual or visibly problematic properties.
Stamp Duty and Other UK Property Taxes
Property transaction taxes can be one of the largest costs of buying a home, but the system depends on where the property is located.
England & Northern Ireland
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) may be payable depending on the purchase and your circumstances.
Scotland
Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) rather than SDLT.
Wales
Wales uses Land Transaction Tax (LTT) rather than SDLT.
The amount can depend on the property price, whether you’re a first-time buyer, whether you already own another property and other circumstances. Check the current official rules when working out your budget because tax rates and thresholds can change.
Removal Company Costs
Professional removals can range from a few hundred pounds for a straightforward local move to considerably more for larger homes, long distances or moves that include packing services.
The size of your home, number of belongings, access, distance, moving date and additional services all affect the quote.
See Our UK Removal Cost Guide →Estate Agent Fees
If you’re selling your existing home through an estate agent, their fee can be one of your largest moving expenses.
Fees vary between agents and may be a percentage of the final sale price or a fixed amount. Check whether VAT is included in the quoted fee and understand exactly when the fee becomes payable before signing the agreement.
Will You Need Self Storage?
Storage isn’t necessary for every move, but it can become another significant expense if your moving dates don’t line up, you’re downsizing or you’re renovating before moving everything into the new property.
See Our UK Self Storage Cost Guide →Keep a Moving-Day Contingency Fund
However carefully you plan, unexpected costs can appear. Keeping some money aside for last-minute packing materials, additional removal time, cleaning, travel or something needed immediately in the new home can make moving day much less stressful.
How to Reduce the Cost of Moving House
2. Declutter before moving. Moving belongings you no longer want wastes packing materials, removal space and potentially storage space.
3. Pack yourself where practical. Professional packing is convenient but increases your removal bill.
4. Avoid paying for unnecessary storage. Coordinate moving dates where possible and choose the smallest suitable storage unit if you need one.
5. Check exactly what’s included. A cheap headline quote can become expensive once compulsory extras are added.
6. Plan early. Leaving removals, broadband, insurance and other arrangements until the last minute can reduce your choices.
7. Keep a moving budget. Record every expected cost and update it as actual quotes and bills arrive.
A Simple Moving House Budget
| Expense | Estimated Cost | Actual Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Conveyancing | £______ | £______ |
| Survey | £______ | £______ |
| Property tax | £______ | £______ |
| Estate agent | £______ | £______ |
| Removals | £______ | £______ |
| Storage | £______ | £______ |
| Packing | £______ | £______ |
| Other costs | £______ | £______ |
Moving House Cost FAQs
How much money should I put aside for moving house?
Work out the costs that apply specifically to your move rather than relying on a single national average. Include legal fees, surveys, removals, applicable property taxes, selling costs and a contingency for unexpected expenses.
What is the biggest cost when moving house?
For some buyers, property transaction tax can be the largest individual expense. For sellers, estate agent fees can also be significant. The biggest cost will depend on the property value and your circumstances.
Do first-time buyers have lower moving costs?
Often, yes. First-time buyers don’t have estate agent and legal costs associated with selling an existing property, although they still need to budget for buying costs and may have other expenses when setting up their first home.
How much do removals cost?
A professional removal can cost from a few hundred pounds to well over £1,000 depending on the size and complexity of the move. Larger homes, longer distances, difficult access and packing services generally increase the cost.
What moving costs are easiest to forget?
Packing materials, storage, mail redirection, cleaning, parking arrangements, broadband setup, pet care, food and small purchases for the new home are easy to overlook.
Plan the Rest of Your Move
Use our other moving guides to organise each stage:
→ Complete UK Moving House Checklist
→ UK Removal Company Costs
→ UK Self Storage Costs
→ Moving House Packing Checklist
→ Moving House Utilities Checklist
→ Who to Notify When Moving House
Complete Moving House Toolkit
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