MRT1 LO8: Fees and charges, including SDLT, LBTT and LTT
1,690 words · checked 2026-10-30 · Pro
Buying a home costs far more than the deposit. LO8 of the CeMAP® MRT1 unit groups the costs into three sets: costs of buying the property (including tax), costs of getting the mortgage, and costs of advice and leaving the mortgage. Rates below are those in force on 30 October 2026 (tax year 2026/27). If your exam's tax table shows different figures, use the table.
1. Costs of buying the property (AC8.1)
| Cost | What it pays for |
|---|---|
| Legal or conveyancing fees | The buyer's solicitor or conveyancer checks title, raises enquiries, handles the contract, transfer and registration. VAT is added to professional fees. Often the same firm acts for the lender. |
| Local authority searches | A local land charges search and standard enquiries of the council: planning decisions, road schemes, enforcement notices, building control |
| Drainage and water search | Whether the property is connected to the public sewer and water supply, and where public sewers run |
| Environmental searches | Contamination, flood risk and ground stability. Mining searches (for example a coal mining report in former coalfield areas) where mining may have taken place. |
| Land Registry fees | Registering the buyer's title and the lender's charge (see table below) |
| Bankruptcy search | A search against each buyer's name, required by lenders, to check the borrower is not bankrupt |
| Money transfer costs | Fees for sending funds by same-day bank transfer (CHAPS) on completion |
| Survey fees | An RICS Home Survey (Level 1, 2 or 3) commissioned by the buyer, separate from the lender's valuation |
| Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) | Needed when a home is sold or let; usually arranged by the seller; valid for 10 years |
| Specialist reports | Structural engineer, timber and damp, Japanese knotweed, drains, electrics |
| Title indemnity insurance | Covers a known title problem, such as a missing building regulations certificate or a breach of an old restrictive covenant, where it would be costly or impossible to cure |
| Purchase tax | SDLT, LBTT or LTT, paid by the buyer |
HM Land Registry Scale 1 fees (transfer of a whole registered title)
| Price or value | Portal | Postal |
|---|---|---|
| Up to £80,000 | £20 | £45 |
| £80,001 to £100,000 | £40 | £95 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £100 | £230 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £150 | £330 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £295 | £655 |
| Over £1,000,000 | £500 | £1,105 |
Example: a £295,000 purchase registered through the portal costs £150.
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