South West -- Property Law
Conveyancing Solicitors in Plymouth: £650 to £1,550
Updated July 2026. Typical conveyancing solicitor fees in Plymouth 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth
The legal fee rises with the property price and complexity. These worked totals use Plymouth 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 | £828 | £300 | £100 | £1,288 |
| £400,000 | £1,200 | £300 | £150 | £1,710 |
| £750,000 | £1,860 | £300 | £295 | £2,515 |
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 Plymouth
| 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 |
Plymouth's legal market is largely high-street with regional offices of South West firms (Wolferstans, Foot Anstey). Conveyancing volumes are high, particularly for retirement and coastal property, which keeps competitive fee pressure on the local market.
Plymouth 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 Plymouth high street firm. Where a local Plymouth 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 Plymouth
The SRA register lists 39 authorised firms with a practising office in Plymouth, of which 19 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 (PL1 2AA) are below, ordered by straight-line distance; there is no ranking, rating or sponsorship.
| Firm | Office | Distance | Authorised | Prices |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ashfords LLP ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Plymouth PL1 2EX Branch · Plymouth | 100 m | Recognised body since 2020 | Price page ashfords.co.uk |
| Beers LLP Residential propertyWills and trustsProbate | Plymouth PL1 2EX Branch · Plymouth | 100 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page beersllp.com |
| Gill Akaster LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Plymouth PL1 2QW Head office · Plymouth | 100 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website gasolicitors.com |
| Excello Law Limited Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Plymouth PL1 3AB Branch · Plymouth | 300 m | Licensed body since 2022 | Firm website 458law.co.uk |
| Bright (South West) LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Plymouth PL1 3LF Head office · Plymouth | 400 m | Licensed body since 2017 | Firm website brightllp.co.uk |
| Gard & Co ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Plymouth PL4 0BY Head office · Plymouth | 500 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page gardandco.com |
| Bartons.Co.Uk.Limited Wills and trustsProbateResidential property | Plymouth PL4 0ES Branch · Plymouth | 700 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page bartons.co.uk |
| Womble Bond Dickinson (UK) LLP Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Plymouth PL1 3AE Branch · Plymouth | 700 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Firm website womblebonddickinson.com |
| Woollcombe Yonge LLP Residential propertyProbate | Plymouth PL4 0AJ Head office · Plymouth | 700 m | Recognised body since 2017 | Firm website woollcombeyonge.co.uk |
| Foot Anstey LLP Residential propertyProbateWills and trusts | Plymouth PL4 0BN Head office · Plymouth | 800 m | Licensed body since 2014 | Firm website footanstey.com |
| Poole Alcock LLP Wills and trustsResidential propertyProbate | Plymouth PL4 0HP Branch · Plymouth | 800 m | Licensed body since 2020 | Price page poolealcock.co.uk |
| Nash & Co Solicitors LLP ProbateResidential propertyWills and trusts | Plymouth PL4 9BD Head office · Plymouth | 900 m | Recognised body since 2011 | Price page nash.co.uk |
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: Plymouth (19).
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 Plymouth?
Typically £650 to £1,550 plus VAT for a purchase, and £530 to £1,210 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 Plymouth 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 Plymouth solicitor you can phone is often worth the extra. Get three quotes and compare the full total.
How long does conveyancing take in Plymouth?
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 Plymouth?
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.