South West -- Property Law
Conveyancing Solicitors in Bristol: £750 to £1,850
Updated July 2026. Typical conveyancing solicitor fees in Bristol 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 Bristol 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 Bristol
The legal fee rises with the property price and complexity. These worked totals use Bristol 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 | £960 | £300 | £100 | £1,420 |
| £400,000 | £1,416 | £300 | £150 | £1,926 |
| £750,000 | £2,220 | £300 | £295 | £2,875 |
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 Bristol
| 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 |
Bristol is the South West's largest legal market with major commercial offices (Burges Salmon, TLT, Osborne Clarke, Womble Bond Dickinson). Property prices in Bristol and the surrounding South West are some of the highest outside the South East, which lifts conveyancing solicitor fees above the lower end of the National 2 band.
Bristol 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 Bristol high street firm. Where a local Bristol 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 Bristol
The SRA register lists 150 authorised firms with a practising office in Bristol, of which 52 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 (BS1 5TR) are below, ordered by straight-line distance; there is no ranking, rating or sponsorship.
| Firm | Office | Distance | Authorised | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Watson Ramsbottom Limited Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Bristol BS1 5HX Branch · Bristol, City of | 100 m | Recognised body since 2012 | Price page watsonramsbottom.com |
| Bartons.Co.Uk.Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Bristol BS1 5EH Branch · Bristol, City of | 200 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page bartons.co.uk |
| Neath Raisbeck Golding Law Limited ProbateResidential property | Bristol BS1 5QT Head office · Bristol, City of | 200 m | Licensed body since 2013 | Price page nrglaw.co.uk |
| Temple Bright LLP Residential property | Bristol BS1 5QT Head office · Bristol, City of | 200 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website templebright.com |
| Barcan+kirby LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Bristol BS1 4PS Branch · Bristol, City of | 500 m | Recognised body since 2012 | Firm website barcankirby.co.uk |
| Humphreys & Co Residential property | Bristol BS1 4EF Head office · Bristol, City of | 500 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page humphreys.co.uk |
| Veale Wasbrough Vizards LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Bristol BS1 4QA Head office · Bristol, City of | 500 m | Licensed body since 2026 | Price page vwv.co.uk |
| Buckles Solicitors LLP Residential propertyProbate | Bristol BS1 4NH Branch · Bristol, City of | 700 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page buckles-law.co.uk |
| CLP Group Limited Wills and trustsResidential property | Bristol BS1 4NH Branch · Bristol, City of | 700 m | Licensed body since 2019 | Price page carbonlawpartners.com |
| Star Legal Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Bristol BS8 1AT Head office · Bristol, City of | 700 m | Licensed body since 2016 | Firm website star-legal.co.uk |
| Wards Solicitors LLP Residential propertyProbate | Bristol BS1 2AW Branch · Bristol, City of | 700 m | Recognised body since 2018 | Firm website wards.uk.com |
| DWF Law LLP Residential propertyWills and trusts | Bristol BS1 6HU Branch · Bristol, City of | 800 m | Licensed body since 2019 | Firm website dwfgroup.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: Bristol (52).
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 Bristol?
Typically £750 to £1,850 plus VAT for a purchase, and £620 to £1,440 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 Bristol 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 Bristol solicitor you can phone is often worth the extra. Get three quotes and compare the full total.
How long does conveyancing take in Bristol?
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 Bristol?
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.