First Time Buyer Costs Calculator
Work out the total upfront cost of buying your first home in the UK — deposit, stamp duty, legal fees, survey costs, and moving costs, all in one place.
Calculate Your Total Upfront Cost
Enter your property price and deposit to get a realistic, itemised estimate of everything you’ll need to pay before you get the keys.
Purchase Details
Enter your property and budget information
Cost Breakdown
Estimated total upfront cash needed
Typical First-Time Buyer Costs
Rough national averages for each cost involved in buying a first home in England and Northern Ireland. Actual costs vary by lender, solicitor, and location.
| Cost | Typical Range |
|---|---|
| Deposit | 5% – 20% of price |
| Stamp Duty (first-time buyer relief) | £0 up to £300,000 |
| Legal / Conveyancing Fees | £900 – £1,800 |
| Property Survey | £300 – £800+ |
| Mortgage Arrangement Fee | £0 – £1,500 |
| Local Searches & Land Registry Fee | £250 – £450 |
| Removals & Moving Costs | £300 – £1,200 |
First Time Buyer Costs FAQ
Answers to the most frequently asked questions about budgeting for your first home purchase in the UK.
First-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland pay no Stamp Duty Land Tax on the first £300,000 of a property’s price, and 5% on the portion between £300,001 and £500,000. If the property costs more than £500,000, the relief no longer applies and standard rates are charged on the full price.
Beyond your deposit, expect to pay for a solicitor or conveyancer, a property survey, a mortgage arrangement fee, local authority searches, a Land Registry fee, and removal costs. Together these typically add several thousand pounds on top of the deposit and any stamp duty owed.
Conveyancing solicitor fees for a first-time buyer typically range from around £900 to £1,800 depending on region and property price, while a survey ranges from roughly £300 for a basic condition report to £800 or more for a full structural survey on an older property.
The stamp duty figures shown are for England and Northern Ireland only. Scotland charges Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Wales charges Land Transaction Tax, both with different first-time buyer thresholds and rates, so buyers there should check the relevant devolved tax calculator.