South East -- Property Law
Conveyancing Solicitors in Brighton: £850 to £2,150
Updated July 2026. Typical conveyancing solicitor fees in Brighton for buying and selling a home in 2026, with worked cost examples by property price, the disbursements you pay on top, and how to find a regulated local conveyancer.
A conveyancing solicitor in Brighton handles the legal transfer of a property: checking the title, running searches, raising and answering enquiries, exchanging contracts, and registering the sale with the Land Registry. Your bill has two parts: the solicitor's legal fee (plus 20 per cent VAT) and disbursements (third-party costs the solicitor pays on your behalf and recharges). Buyers also pay Stamp Duty Land Tax separately.
Worked cost examples in Brighton
The legal fee rises with the property price and complexity. These worked totals use Brighton rates for a standard freehold purchase, including VAT, searches, and the Land Registry fee. Leasehold, new-build, and shared-ownership purchases add supplements.
| Purchase price | Legal fee (inc VAT) | Searches | Land Registry | Typical total |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £200,000 | £1,092 | £300 | £100 | £1,552 |
| £400,000 | £1,632 | £300 | £150 | £2,142 |
| £750,000 | £2,580 | £300 | £295 | £3,235 |
Totals exclude Stamp Duty Land Tax, which buyers pay separately to HMRC. Selling costs less as there are fewer searches and no SDLT.
Disbursements you pay on top in Brighton
| Disbursement | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Local authority searches | £200-£350 | Set by the local council, not the solicitor |
| Land Registry fee | £20-£500 | Tiered by property value |
| Environmental + drainage searches | £90-£160 | Flood, contamination, water and sewerage |
| Bankruptcy + ID checks | £10-£25 | Anti-money-laundering and insolvency |
| Telegraphic transfer fee | £30-£50 | Sending completion funds |
| Leasehold supplement | £150-£300 | Leasehold flats only |
Brighton's legal market is mid-sized with strong family, immigration, and creative-industries commercial practices reflecting the city's demographic. Conveyancing fees are pulled up by high local property values, particularly in Hove and the Lanes.
Brighton solicitor vs online conveyancer
For a straightforward chain-free freehold purchase, a national online conveyancer regulated by the SRA or CLC is often 30 to 40 per cent cheaper than a Brighton high street firm. Where a local Brighton solicitor earns their higher fee is on complex or time-critical work: leasehold flats with short leases, new-builds with developer deadlines, fragile chains, or any local title quirk where a name you can phone beats an online portal. Compare the full quoted total for your specific transaction, not the advertised starting price. See our online vs high street comparison for the full trade-offs.
SRA-regulated conveyancing firms in Brighton
The SRA register lists 73 authorised firms with a practising office in Brighton, of which 34 told the SRA in their last annual return that they deliver residential property work. Under the SRA Transparency Rules each of them must publish its conveyancing prices on its own website. The 12 nearest to the city centre (BN1 1JA) are below, ordered by straight-line distance; there is no ranking, rating or sponsorship.
| Firm | Office | Distance | Authorised | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coole Bevis LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Brighton BN1 1HY Head office · Brighton and Hove | 100 m | Licensed body since 2025 | Price page coolebevis.com |
| So Legal Limited ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Brighton BN1 1HE Branch · Brighton and Hove | 100 m | Licensed body since 2024 | Price page solegal.co.uk |
| Burt Brill & Cardens Limited ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Brighton BN1 1FL Head office · Brighton and Hove | 300 m | Licensed body since 2014 | Firm website bbc-law.co.uk |
| Cunningtons LLP Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Brighton BN1 1AG Branch · Brighton and Hove | 300 m | Recognised body since 2015 | Price page cunningtons.co.uk |
| Edward Harte (Brighton) Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Brighton BN2 1RA Head office · Brighton and Hove | 300 m | Licensed body since 2022 | Price page edward-harte.co.uk |
| Healys LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Brighton BN1 1EJ Branch · Brighton and Hove | 300 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website healys.com |
| Odt Professional Limited Wills and trustsResidential property | Brighton BN1 1UF Head office · Brighton and Hove | 300 m | Licensed body since 2017 | Firm website odt.co.uk |
| Thompson Allen LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Brighton BN1 1RH Head office · Brighton and Hove | 300 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website thompsonallen.co.uk |
| DMH Stallard LLP ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Brighton BN1 1RB Head office · Brighton and Hove | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website dmhstallard.com |
| Bate & Albon Limited Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Brighton BN1 1UB Head office · Brighton and Hove | 500 m | Recognised body since 2015 | Price page batealbonsolicitors.co.uk |
| Skyline Law LLP Wills and trustsResidential property | Brighton BN2 1TS Head office · Brighton and Hove | 500 m | Recognised body since 2025 | on request |
| Elite Law Solicitors Limited ProbateWills and trustsResidential property | Brighton BN1 3XF Branch · Brighton and Hove | 600 m | Recognised body since 2015 | Price page elitelawsolicitors.co.uk |
Distances are straight-line from the city centre postcode to the firm's nearest office. "Since" is the SRA authorisation year. Areas of law are those each firm reported to the SRA in its annual return.
Full lists by district: Brighton and Hove (34).
All SRA-regulated firms by town ->
solicitorcost.com includes data supplied by the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
FAQ
How much does a conveyancing solicitor cost in Brighton?
Typically £850 to £2,150 plus VAT for a purchase, and £700 to £1,680 plus VAT for a sale, plus disbursements: searches (£200 to £350), Land Registry (£20 to £500), and ID and bankruptcy checks (around £20). Buyers pay Stamp Duty Land Tax separately.
Can I use an online conveyancer instead of a Brighton solicitor?
Yes. For a standard chain-free freehold purchase an SRA or CLC regulated online conveyancer is usually 30 to 40 per cent cheaper. For leasehold, new-build, or a complication, a local Brighton solicitor you can phone is often worth the extra. Get three quotes and compare the full total.
How long does conveyancing take in Brighton?
Around 8 to 12 weeks with no chain, or 12 to 16 weeks in a chain, the same as the rest of England and Wales. The pace is set by searches, the other side's responsiveness, and the chain, not by the city. See our conveyancing timeline.
How do I find a conveyancing solicitor in Brighton?
Start with the SRA-regulated firms listed above, each linked to the conveyancing prices it must publish, or browse every SRA-authorised firm by town. Check the firm on the SRA register, get three written quotes, and confirm each is a fixed fee listing every disbursement.