Cost of buying a new home

The deposit is the big number, but it is not the only one. Set the price, your deposit and where you are buying, adjust the fees to the quotes you have, and see the total you need in the bank.

Reservation fee on a new build£500 to £2,000, comes off the price
ConveyancingAbout £1,000 to £2,000 plus searches
Stamp duty due14 days after completion (30 in Scotland and Wales)

Your figures

Deposit

Solicitor’s fee plus searches and Land Registry fees.

A new build needs a snagging inspection rather than a full survey.

Arrangement, valuation and broker fees. Many deals have none.

What goes into the total

Everything you pay from your own money between reservation and moving in.

Deposit
The share of the price the mortgage does not cover, usually 5% to 15% on a new build. The reservation fee you pay the developer at the start is part of it, not an extra: it comes off the price at completion. Exchange deposits are typically 10% and are due within 28 days of reserving, often long before you move in.
Stamp duty
Worked out at the rates for the nation and your situation, exactly as on the stamp duty calculator. Your conveyancer pays it from your completion money, so it has to be there on the day.
Fees
Conveyancing including searches and registration; a snagging inspection, since a new build carries a warranty and rarely needs a full survey; mortgage arrangement, valuation and broker fees; and removals. Developers sometimes pay the legal fees or the stamp duty as an incentive, which you can reflect by setting those lines to zero.
Source and rulesGOV.UK: Stamp Duty Land Tax residential rates from 1 April 2025Rule set 2025-26.1, last checked on 18 October 2026.The figures are illustrations from the inputs you give and the rules shown, not financial, tax or legal advice. Check them with a mortgage adviser or conveyancer before you rely on them. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a mortgage secured on it.

Questions people ask

Is the reservation fee an extra cost?

No. It holds the home for you (usually for 28 days to exchange) and is deducted from the price when you complete, so it is the first slice of your deposit. It is only lost if you pull out.

Do I need a survey on a new build?

A full structural survey is rare: the home is new and comes with a 10-year warranty from NHBC, LABC, Premier Guarantee or similar. A snagging survey from an independent inspector, typically £300 to £600, lists the defects for the developer to fix and is worth having before or soon after completion.

What about ongoing costs?

This page covers the one-off cash to buy. Monthly costs, including service charges and ground rent on an apartment, are on the apartment running costs calculator, and the mortgage itself is on the mortgage calculator.

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