South East -- Property Law
Conveyancing Solicitors in Southampton: £800 to £2,100
Updated July 2026. Typical conveyancing solicitor fees in Southampton 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 Southampton 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 Southampton
The legal fee rises with the property price and complexity. These worked totals use Southampton 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 | £1,032 | £300 | £100 | £1,492 |
| £400,000 | £1,572 | £300 | £150 | £2,082 |
| £750,000 | £2,520 | £300 | £295 | £3,175 |
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 Southampton
| 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 |
Southampton hosts major regional firms (Blake Morgan, Paris Smith, Trethowans) and the regional offices of national firms. Shipping and marine law is a city specialism. Conveyancing rates sit mid-band for National 1.
Southampton 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 Southampton high street firm. Where a local Southampton 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 Southampton
The SRA register lists 56 authorised firms with a practising office in Southampton, of which 26 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 (SO14 7LY) are below, ordered by straight-line distance; there is no ranking, rating or sponsorship.
| Firm | Office | Distance | Authorised | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Abels Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Southampton SO15 2BG Head office · Southampton | 300 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website abels-solicitors.co.uk |
| Broadfield Law UK LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Southampton SO15 2BE Branch · Southampton | 300 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website broadfield-law.com |
| Foot Anstey LLP Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Southampton SO15 2NP Branch · Southampton | 300 m | Licensed body since 2014 | Firm website footanstey.com |
| HF Limited Residential property | Southampton SO15 2NP Branch · Southampton | 300 m | Licensed body since 2021 | Firm website h-f.co.uk |
| Poole Alcock LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Southampton SO15 2BG Branch · Southampton | 300 m | Licensed body since 2020 | Price page poolealcock.co.uk |
| Idiculla Solicitors Residential propertyWills and trusts | Southampton SO15 2AE Head office · Southampton | 400 m | Recognised sole practice since 2015 | Firm website idiculla.co.uk |
| Lawdit Solicitors Limited Residential property | Southampton SO15 2AN Head office · Southampton | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website lawdit.co.uk |
| Lester Aldridge LLP ProbateWills and trustsResidential property | Southampton SO15 2JU Branch · Southampton | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page lesteraldridge.com |
| Paris Smith LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Southampton SO15 2AE Head office · Southampton | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website parissmith.co.uk |
| Russell - Cooke LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Southampton SO15 2JU Branch · Southampton | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website russell-cooke.co.uk |
| Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Southampton SO15 1GA Branch · Southampton | 400 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website womblebonddickinson.com |
| Clyde & Co LLP Residential property | Southampton SO14 0TB Branch · Southampton | 500 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website clydeco.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: Southampton (26).
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 Southampton?
Typically £800 to £2,100 plus VAT for a purchase, and £660 to £1,640 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 Southampton 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 Southampton solicitor you can phone is often worth the extra. Get three quotes and compare the full total.
How long does conveyancing take in Southampton?
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 Southampton?
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.