Guide
Solicitor fees, HM Land Registry fees, and how the 25% discount really works.
Registering an unregistered property involves two separate costs: the solicitor’s legal fee for doing the work, and HM Land Registry’s fee for registering the title. The 25% discount applies only to the second.
Specialist solicitors typically offer a fixed fee for a straightforward voluntary first registration, often from around £500 + VAT. Complex cases — missing deeds, title defects, large or multiple parcels — cost more, and a specialist will quote before you commit.
HM Land Registry charges a fee to register a title, based on the property’s value. For voluntary first registration that fee is reduced by 25% compared with registering under compulsion.
| Property value | Standard Scale 1 fee (postal) | Voluntary first registration (−25%) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £80,000 | £45 | £30 |
| £80,001 – £100,000 | £95 | £70 |
| £100,001 – £200,000 | £230 | £170 |
| £200,001 – £500,000 | £330 | £250 |
| £500,001 – £1,000,000 | £655 | £495 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £1,105 | £830 |
Voluntary first registration fees are assessed on the property’s full market value. Your solicitor confirms the exact fee at the time of your application. Source: HM Land Registry.
The 25% saving is set by HM Land Registry, not by us or the solicitor — and it applies to the registration fee, not the legal fee. We’ll always describe it accurately.
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