How much are HM Land Registry fees?
HM Land Registry charges fixed fees in bands based on the property's value, not a percentage. Scale 1 applies to registrations for value, most commonly buying a property; Scale 2 applies to registrations not for value, most commonly a remortgage or a transfer. There is no separate first-time buyer discount on the fee itself.
Applying electronically costs substantially less than applying by post at every value. For a £200,001 to £500,000 purchase that is £150 electronically against £330 by post on Scale 1, a saving of £180. Almost all conveyancers submit electronically as standard. Enter your property value above for the exact fee.
Scale 1 or Scale 2: which applies to you
HM Land Registry charges two different fee scales, depending on what kind of registration you're making.
Scale 1 applies to registrations for value, most commonly buying a property. A first-time buyer and a home mover purchasing a property of the same value normally fall under the same Scale 1 fee - there's no separate first-time buyer discount on the Land Registry fee itself.
Scale 2 applies to registrations not for value, most commonly a straightforward remortgage or a transfer of equity where no money changes hands for the property itself (for example, adding or removing a name from the title). Scale 2 is generally lower than Scale 1 at the same property value, because no purchase is taking place.
Your solicitor or conveyancer will tell you which scale applies to your specific transaction; the distinction above covers common cases, not every scenario. Not every remortgage or transfer of equity automatically falls under Scale 2.
Scale 1 fees (registrations for value)
These are fixed fee bands based on the property's value, not a percentage calculation. At each threshold, the fee switches to the next fixed amount.
| Property value | Postal application | Electronic application (whole title) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £80,000 | £45 | £20 |
| £80,001 to £100,000 | £95 | £40 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £230 | £100 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £330 | £150 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £655 | £295 |
| £1,000,000 and above | £1,105 | £500 |
Scale 2 fees (registrations not for value)
Again, these are fixed fee bands, not a marginal or percentage-based calculation.
| Property value | Postal application | Electronic application (whole title) |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £100,000 | £45 | £20 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £70 | £30 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £100 | £45 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £145 | £65 |
| £1,000,000 and above | £305 | £140 |
Electronic versus postal applications: how much you save
Applying electronically, through a solicitor's portal or HMLR's Business Gateway, costs substantially less than a postal application at every property value on both scales. For a typical £200,001-£500,000 purchase, that's £150 electronically against £330 by post on Scale 1, a saving of £180. For a remortgage in the same value band, it's £45 electronically against £100 by post on Scale 2, a saving of £55.
In practice, this isn't usually a choice you make yourself: almost all conveyancing solicitors and licensed conveyancers submit registrations electronically as standard, so most buyers and remortgagers already get the lower electronic rate without asking for it. Postal rates mainly arise where a registration is submitted by post, or by a party not using the electronic system, or where an application can't use the normal electronic process. The electronic rate shown above applies to whole-title applications; a part-title application doesn't get the same reduction.
Who pays, and when
On a purchase, the buyer normally pays the Land Registry fee, commonly collected by their solicitor or conveyancer as part of the completion funds and paid to HMLR alongside the application to register the new ownership. For a remortgage or other registration, the person making the registration - typically the borrower, via their solicitor - generally bears the relevant fee. This applies equally to buy-to-let remortgages.
You don't normally pay a Land Registry fee simply because you sell your house. The fee relates to registering a new owner or a new charge/change on the register, which is the responsibility of the buyer or the party making that registration, not the seller.
Land Registry fees vs. stamp duty
These are two completely separate charges, and you may pay both on the same purchase. The Land Registry fee is a fixed registration/ administrative fee paid to HM Land Registry to record the change of ownership on the register. Stamp duty (or property transaction tax) is a tax on the transaction itself, charged as a percentage of the purchase price: Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) in England and Northern Ireland, Land Transaction Tax (LTT) in Wales, or Land and Buildings Transaction Tax (LBTT) in Scotland. Use the stamp duty calculator to work out that separate cost.
Registration fee examples
These examples compare application values, transaction types and submission methods to show how the Land Registry fee changes.
Purchase, electronic application
£320,000 · Scale 1 · Electronic
£320,000 falls in the £200,001 to £500,000 Scale 1 band.
Fee: £150
Same purchase, postal application
£320,000 · Scale 1 · Postal
£180 more than the electronic fee for the identical transaction.
Fee: £330
Remortgage, electronic application
£320,000 · Scale 2 · Electronic
A Scale 2 registration, not for value - the same value falls in the £200,001 to £500,000 Scale 2 band.
Fee: £45
Frequently asked questions
01Who pays the land registry fee when buying a house?
The buyer normally pays it, usually collected by their solicitor or conveyancer as part of the completion funds and paid to HM Land Registry alongside the application to register the change of ownership.
02What is the difference between Scale 1 and Scale 2 land registry fees?
Scale 1 applies to registrations for value, such as buying a property or being granted a new lease for a premium. Scale 2 applies to registrations not for value, such as many remortgages or certain transfers of equity where no money changes hands for the property itself. Scale 2 is generally lower than Scale 1 at the same property value, but your solicitor will confirm which scale applies to your specific transaction.
03Is it cheaper to apply for land registry registration electronically or by post?
Yes. For a £200,001-£500,000 Scale 1 purchase, the electronic fee is £150 against £330 by post, a saving of £180 for an identical transaction. Almost all solicitors and conveyancers submit registrations electronically as standard, so most buyers get this lower rate without needing to ask; postal fees mainly apply where a registration is submitted by post or can't use the normal electronic process.
04Do I pay land registry fees when selling a house?
Not simply because you're selling. The registration fee relates to registering a new owner, a new charge, or another registrable change, which is the responsibility of the buyer or the person making that registration, not the seller.
05Is the land registry fee different from stamp duty?
Yes. The Land Registry fee is a fixed administrative charge paid to HM Land Registry to register the change of ownership. Stamp duty (SDLT in England and Northern Ireland, LTT in Wales, LBTT in Scotland) is a separate tax on the property transaction itself, calculated on the purchase price. You'll normally pay both on a purchase; use our stamp duty calculator to work out the tax side separately.
06What are land registry fees for a leasehold versus freehold registration?
The Scale 1 and Scale 2 fee structure above is based on value and registration type, and applies to both leasehold and freehold registrations in the same way; there isn't a separate fee scale for leasehold. Some lease-specific registrations, such as the grant of a new lease, can involve additional considerations beyond a straightforward Scale 1 or Scale 2 fee, which your solicitor will confirm if relevant to your transaction.
Methodology and sources
This page is written and reviewed by Eman Munir, ACCA.
Scale 1 and Scale 2 fees above are taken directly from HM Land Registry's Registration Services fees guidance on GOV.UK, reflecting the fee scale set out in the Land Registration Fee Order 2024 (SI 2024/931), which remains the current governing fee order. Figures were verified on 22 August 2026. This page will be reviewed if HM Land Registry publishes a new fee order.
This calculator covers a standard whole-title application for England and Wales only. It doesn't include the reduced rate for voluntary first registration of previously unregistered land (check GOV.UK for the current figure), or the different rules for part-title transfers. Scotland (Registers of Scotland) and Northern Ireland (Land and Property Services) charge different fees under entirely separate systems, not covered here. All figures are rounded to the nearest penny.