The latest ONS UK House Price Index, released on 16 September 2026, puts the average UK property price at £273,000 in July 2026, up 1.4% year on year. That means if you’re looking to sell your house, you might get a little more bang for your buck.
But we all know that it can’t all be sunshine, and selling costs come as part and parcel of the privilege of moving home.
Below, we’ll look at what those costs can be so you know you have the funds available before you make the big move. We’ve pulled information and data from MoneyHelper, the UK’s government-backed financial guidance platform, to give you the best information.
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Estate Agent Commission
Estate agents typically charge between 1% and 3% of the final sale price, plus 20% VAT. So if your house sells for £200,000, for example, that will look something like the following:
- 1% fee: £2,000 + £400 VAT = £2,400
- 2% fee: £4,000 + £800 VAT = £4,800
- 3% fee: £6,000 + £1,200 VAT = £7,200
Some estate agents also charge hidden fees. Search for ‘sell my home‘ online, and you’ll see that not all of them disclose that they also apply additional fees. They also don’t tell you what those fees are, hence why they’re ‘hidden’.
Conveyancing and Legal Fees
Conveyancing is the legal and administrative process of transferring property ownership or land title from a seller to a buyer. They’ll cover everything from title documentation to answering the buyer’s solicitor’s enquiries.
If you don’t use a conveyancer, you’ll likely hire a property solicitor.
MoneyHelper currently estimates legal fees at about £2,000, including 20% VAT. The price depends on the location and the conveyancer or solicitor you use, but that’s a good ballpark figure.
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC)
In England and Wales, you usually need an EPC before you can sell your home, and you must have it before you put it on the market. It’s that little energy-efficiency grade from A to G you see when you’re looking at properties, which gives people information on energy use and typical energy costs.
Current consumer guidance from Checkatrade puts the usual cost at around £65 to £120. An EPC is generally valid for 10 years in England and Wales, so you might not automatically need to pay for another one. Check the official EPC register on the GOV.uk website first to see whether the property already has a valid certificate.
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Mortgage Exit Fees and Early Repayment Charge
A mortgage exit fee is an administrative charge a lender may impose when you close or redeem the mortgage.
This fee isn’t usually expensive, but it’s worth considering. Prices can vary a lot, depending on your lender and mortgage product. Some lenders don’t charge one; others only charge a small fee.
An early repayment charge can be far more expensive. It can apply when you repay a mortgage before the current mortgage deal/product period ends, such as when selling while still inside a fixed-rate period. MoneyHelper says ERCs are commonly around 1%–5% of the outstanding mortgage balance.
On average, you’re looking at paying over £5,000 in fees. The actual total depends on your unique circumstances. Then consider moving and buying fees on top of that. Moving home isn’t cheap, but hopefully it’s worth it.
