Wales -- Property Law
Conveyancing Solicitors in Cardiff: £650 to £1,600
Updated July 2026. Typical conveyancing solicitor fees in Cardiff 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff
The legal fee rises with the property price and complexity. These worked totals use Cardiff 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 | £828 | £300 | £100 | £1,288 |
| £400,000 | £1,224 | £300 | £150 | £1,734 |
| £750,000 | £1,920 | £300 | £295 | £2,575 |
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 Cardiff
| 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 |
Cardiff is Wales's legal capital, hosting the regional offices of national firms (Hugh James, Geldards, Eversheds) and a dense high-street base in central Cardiff and the suburbs. Personal injury and clinical-negligence work is a particular Cardiff specialism.
Cardiff 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 Cardiff high street firm. Where a local Cardiff 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 Cardiff
The SRA register lists 140 authorised firms with a practising office in Cardiff, of which 64 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 (CF10 3ND) are below, ordered by straight-line distance; there is no ranking, rating or sponsorship.
| Firm | Office | Distance | Authorised | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jennifer Melly Law Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Cardiff CF10 3BA Branch · Cardiff | 200 m | Recognised body since 2015 | Price page jennifermellylaw.com |
| Dolmans ProbateResidential property | Cardiff CF10 3AG Head office · Cardiff | 300 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page dolmans.co.uk |
| Dudden Law Solicitors Limited Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Cardiff CF10 3BB Branch · Cardiff | 300 m | Recognised body since 2019 | Price page duddenlaw.co.uk |
| Rees Wood Terry Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Cardiff CF10 3DG Head office · Cardiff | 300 m | Recognised body since 2018 | Price page reeswoodterry.co.uk |
| Robertsons Legal Limited Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Cardiff CF10 3RS Head office · Cardiff | 300 m | Recognised body since 2024 | Firm website robsols.co.uk |
| Berry Smith LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Cardiff CF10 3GA Head office · Cardiff | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website berrysmith.com |
| LGWP Limited Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Cardiff CF10 3DD Head office · Cardiff | 400 m | Recognised body since 2017 | Firm website cardiff-law.co.uk |
| HCR Legal LLP ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Cardiff CF10 1DY Branch · Cardiff | 600 m | Licensed body since 2019 | Firm website hcrlaw.com |
| Martyn Prowel LTD Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Cardiff CF10 2GL Head office · Cardiff | 600 m | Recognised body since 2013 | Price page mpgsolicitors.co.uk |
| Red Kite Law LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Cardiff CF10 2HH Head office · Cardiff | 600 m | Licensed body since 2018 | Price page redkitesolicitors.co.uk |
| Burges Salmon LLP Residential propertyWills and trusts | Caerdydd CF24 0EB Branch · Cardiff | 700 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website burges-salmon.com |
| Knights Professional Services Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Cardiff CF24 0EB Branch · Cardiff | 700 m | Licensed body since 2015 | Price page knightsplc.com |
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: Cardiff (64).
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 Cardiff?
Typically £650 to £1,600 plus VAT for a purchase, and £530 to £1,250 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 Cardiff 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 Cardiff solicitor you can phone is often worth the extra. Get three quotes and compare the full total.
How long does conveyancing take in Cardiff?
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 Cardiff?
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.