Land Registry Fee Calculator (England & Wales)
Based on HM Land Registry Scale 1 (purchases) and Scale 2 (charges) electronic submission rates as of June 2026. Verify at GOV.UK. Does not include SDLT, search fees or solicitor charges.
Key facts
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- Sources: FCA, gov.uk, HMRC, Money and Pensions Service
- Last reviewed June 2026 by Chandraketu Tripathi, Finance Editor
What Is the Land Registry Fee?
The Land Registry fee is charged by HM Land Registry for registering changes to the ownership or charges on a property. Every property purchase, remortgage, transfer of equity, or change of ownership in England and Wales requires a Land Registry application, and each application attracts a fee.
Land Registry fees are set by HM Land Registry and approved by the government. They are charged on a scale based on the value of the transaction - higher value transactions pay more. The fee scale is published on the GOV.UK website and is updated periodically.
Using a land registry fee calculator before exchange helps buyers and remortgagers understand the full cost of their transaction. Solicitors typically include Land Registry fees in their completion statement, but using a land registry fee calculator in advance avoids surprises.
Land Registry Fee Calculator: How to Use It
A land registry fee calculator requires two inputs: the type of application (purchase, remortgage, transfer of equity etc.) and the value of the transaction. For a property purchase, the value is the purchase price. For a remortgage, the value is the amount being charged.
HM Land Registry provides an official fee calculator on the GOV.UK website. Third-party land registry fee calculators are also available from conveyancing firms and property websites. The official calculator is the most reliable source as it is updated when fee scales change.
A land registry fee calculator for a purchase will show the registration fee only. Total registration costs also include search fees, SDLT, and solicitor fees. The land registry fee is typically one of the smaller items in the total cost of a property transaction.
Current Land Registry Fee Scales in 2026
Land Registry fees in England and Wales are calculated on a sliding scale. For a purchase registered in the standard way, current fees (as of 2026) are: up to 80,000 pounds - 20 pounds; 80,001 to 100,000 pounds - 40 pounds; 100,001 to 200,000 pounds - 95 pounds; 200,001 to 500,000 pounds - 135 pounds; 500,001 to 1,000,000 pounds - 270 pounds; above 1,000,000 pounds - 455 pounds.
Applications submitted by postal or document format attract higher fees than those submitted electronically. The vast majority of conveyancers now submit Land Registry applications electronically through the portal, benefiting from the lower electronic rate.
A land registry fee calculator using these scales for a 300,000 pound property purchase shows a fee of 135 pounds. For a 1.5 million pound purchase, the fee is 455 pounds - relatively modest given the transaction value.
Land Registry Fees for Remortgages
A land registry fee calculator for a remortgage uses different fee scales from a purchase. Remortgage applications register a new charge (the new mortgage) and discharge the old charge. The fee is based on the amount being charged.
For a remortgage of 200,000 pounds, the Land Registry fee using the charge registration scale is 45 pounds for electronic applications. This is significantly lower than the equivalent purchase fee because the ownership of the property is not changing - only the mortgage charge.
First registrations - where a property is being registered with Land Registry for the first time - attract reduced fees. Properties with unregistered title (more common in rural areas and older properties) benefit from a 25 percent fee reduction on first registration to encourage voluntary registration.
Who Pays the Land Registry Fee?
In a property purchase, the Land Registry fee is paid by the buyer as part of the overall conveyancing costs. The buyer's solicitor includes the Land Registry fee in the completion statement alongside SDLT, search fees, and solicitor charges.
In a remortgage, the Land Registry fee is paid by the borrower - either directly or as part of the solicitor or lender's charges. Some remortgage products offered by lenders include free legal work, which covers the Land Registry fee as part of the package.
In a transfer of equity - adding or removing a person from the title - the Land Registry fee is paid by the parties to the transfer. The fee is based on the consideration (value) involved in the transfer, which may be nil for some family arrangements.
Land Registry Fee Calculator and Conveyancing Costs
The Land Registry fee is one component of the total conveyancing cost for a property transaction. Using a land registry fee calculator alongside estimates for the other costs - solicitor fees, search fees, SDLT, and any lender arrangement fees - gives a complete picture of upfront transaction costs.
For a 300,000 pound first purchase in England, total conveyancing costs excluding SDLT are typically: solicitor fees 1,000 to 2,000 pounds; search fees 300 to 500 pounds; Land Registry fee 135 pounds; electronic money transfer fee 30 to 50 pounds. The SDLT liability for a first time buyer on a 300,000 pound purchase is nil under current first time buyer relief.
Solicitors obtain a Land Registry official copy of the title register at the start of conveyancing, which has a small fee of 3 pounds per document. This is separate from the registration fee calculated by a land registry fee calculator for the completion itself. Using the official HM Land Registry fee calculator on GOV.UK before instructing a solicitor provides a reliable estimate of the registration cost. The land registry fee calculator is updated when fee scales change and should be the primary reference for current figures rather than third-party estimates.
Disclaimer: This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute financial advice. Products, eligibility criteria and regulations change frequently. Consult an FCA-authorised adviser before making any decision. Kael Tripton Ltd is not authorised or regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I use a land registry fee calculator?
Enter the transaction type (purchase, remortgage, transfer of equity) and the transaction value into the land registry fee calculator. The calculator returns the applicable registration fee from HM Land Registry's current fee scale. The official calculator is at GOV.UK.
How much is the Land Registry fee for a house purchase?
For a property purchased at 300,000 pounds, the Land Registry fee is 135 pounds for electronic registration. For a 500,000 pound purchase the fee is also 135 pounds. Fees above 500,000 pounds rise to 270 pounds, and above 1,000,000 pounds to 455 pounds.
Is the Land Registry fee the same as stamp duty?
No. The Land Registry fee covers registration of the ownership change or new mortgage charge at HM Land Registry. Stamp duty land tax (SDLT) is a separate government tax on the property purchase. Both are payable on a purchase but are distinct charges.
Who pays the Land Registry fee in a remortgage?
The borrower pays the Land Registry fee in a remortgage, typically through the solicitor or lender handling the transaction. Some remortgage packages include free legal work which covers the Land Registry fee. For electronic submissions, the remortgage registration fee is 45 pounds for a 200,000 pound charge.
Are Land Registry fees the same in Scotland?
No. Scotland has its own land register administered by Registers of Scotland. Registration fees in Scotland use a different scale from HM Land Registry in England and Wales. Revenue Scotland's website provides the current Scottish registration fees.
Sources
Last reviewed June 2026 by Chandraketu Tripathi, Finance Editor, Kaeltripton.com