Summary
- Our data shows that shared ownership solicitor fees are usually around £1,490, plus a £330 shared ownership supplement and, if relevant, a £360 new build supplement.
- With conveyancing disbursements added, typical legal and conveyancing costs come to around £2,228, or £2,588 for a new build.
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), mortgage fees, survey costs, rent, and service charges are separate costs to budget for.
- Selling can bring extra fees too, including a £350 marketing fee, a £240 to £500 valuation fee, £450 to £500 in legal fees, a £210 leasehold information pack, and an assignment fee of 1% plus VAT.
If you’re a first-time buyer considering shared ownership, or you’re already comparing homes and trying to work out the real upfront cost, this is usually where things start to get less clear.
Shared ownership can look more affordable at first because the share price is lower and the deposit is smaller. But once solicitor fees, leasehold work, housing association paperwork, and other extra charges start to appear, it becomes much harder to tell what the purchase will actually cost and whether it still feels affordable.
For most buyers, that is where things get more difficult. It is not just about finding an average fee. It is about understanding what a shared ownership solicitor quote is likely to include, what can push the cost up, and what you need to budget for before you commit.
This guide breaks down shared ownership solicitor fees, explains what they cover, and highlights the other costs worth checking so you can compare quotes properly, avoid being caught out later, and make a more confident decision.
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How Much Are Shared Ownership Solicitor Fees?
Shared ownership solicitor fees usually mean the solicitor’s base legal fee, plus any extra charges for shared ownership or new build work.
The average solicitor fee when buying a property in the UK is £1,490, based on the average property price of £295,903. That gives you a useful benchmark for solicitor fees for buying a house, before you factor in the extra work that often comes with shared ownership:
- £330 for a shared ownership supplement
- £360 for a new build supplement, if the property is a new build
1. Shared ownership supplement fee
The average shared ownership supplement is £330.
This fee covers some of the extra work that often comes with shared ownership and leasehold purchases, such as reviewing the lease, checking housing association requirements, and raising enquiries.
2. New build supplement
If you’re buying a new build shared ownership property, you may also need to pay a £360 new build supplement.
New builds often involve tighter deadlines and more paperwork, which is why many firms charge extra.
What Other Conveyancing Costs Do I Need to Budget For?
Once searches, Land Registry fees, and a bank transfer fee are added, the total conveyancing cost can be noticeably higher than the solicitor’s base legal fee alone.
1. Conveyancing disbursements
Conveyancing disbursements are the third-party costs your solicitor pays on your behalf during the transaction.
The main ones to budget for are searches, Land Registry fees, and bank transfer fees. A good quote should separate legal fees from conveyancing disbursements so you can compare firms properly.
2. Conveyancing searches
Conveyancing searches cost £290 on average, although they usually range from £250 to £450 depending on the property’s location.
These searches normally include:
- Local Authority searches
- Environmental searches
- Water and Drainage searches
3. Land Registry registration fee
The average Land Registry registration fee is £438. The cost can vary from £20 to £910 depending on the property and its registration status.
4. Bank transfer fee
The average bank transfer fee is £40.
This is usually charged when your solicitor transfers large sums of money on completion.
How Much Deposit Do I Need for Shared Ownership?
Your deposit is usually based on the share you’re buying, not the full market value of the property.
A shared ownership deposit will usually cost at least 5% of your equity share, although the exact amount will depend on the lender and your circumstances.
For example, if you’re purchasing a £200,000 property and buying 25% of it, your share is worth £50,000. If you put down a 10% deposit, you would pay £5,000 and take out a mortgage of £45,000.
That makes the deposit more manageable than buying outright, but it does not mean every other cost will be lower too.
If you are using a Lifetime ISA, it is also worth remembering that the price limit applies to the full value of the property, not just the share you are buying.
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How Much of a Share Can I Buy?
A 25% to 75% share is typically what people buy, although some schemes allow you to buy a 10% share.
If you buy a smaller share first, you may be able to increase it later through staircasing. This means buying an extra 10% or more of the property in the future, and it is worth understanding the likely staircasing solicitor fees before you decide to do that.
Some schemes will also accept 5% and 1% purchases depending on when the home was bought. Most schemes will allow you to own 100% of the property eventually, although older schemes can be capped at 75%.
Other Costs to Budget For
1. Stamp Duty Land Tax
The average stamp duty cost is £4,600 based on the average property price of £292,000. Our stamp duty calculator can give you a clearer idea of what you are likely to pay for your own purchase.
Stamp Duty will vary depending on the type of property you are buying and how much you need to pay. If you are buying through shared ownership, there are two ways to pay: you can pay the upfront stamp duty for the entire property or pay it in stages.
It is worth understanding this early, because the option you choose can affect your costs later if you staircase.
If you are purchasing a property under £120,000, you will not need to pay stamp duty. If you are a first-time buyer, you are not required to pay Stamp Duty on properties up to £300,000.
The process is different in Scotland and Wales. Instead of stamp duty, you will pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax in Scotland and Land Transaction Tax in Wales. For properties under £175,000 in Scotland, you will not need to pay Land and Buildings Transaction Tax. In Wales, the threshold is £225,000.
2. Mortgage Fees
You will need to pay mortgage fees to your lender when purchasing shared ownership. Typical costs include:
- Arrangement Fee: £0 to £2,000
- Booking Fee: £99 to £250
- Valuation Fee: £150 to £1,500
- Telephonic Transfer Fee: £25 to £50
These costs sit outside your solicitor fees, but they still affect the total upfront cost of buying through shared ownership. They are worth factoring in early, especially if you are trying to judge whether the purchase still feels affordable once the extra costs are added.
3. Survey Fees
Survey costs usually range from £250 to £600, depending on the type of survey you choose.
When purchasing a shared ownership property, it is still worth understanding the condition of the home before you commit. That is especially important if you are already balancing solicitor fees, deposit costs, and other upfront charges.
The survey you choose will depend on the property. For example, a RICS Home Survey Level 2 is often best suited to newer homes, while a Level 3 survey is more detailed and more suitable for older properties.
4. Rent
When you buy a shared ownership property, you still pay rent on the share you do not own.
If you staircase later and buy a larger share, this rent should reduce.
5. Service charge
Service charges cover the maintenance of communal areas such as hallways, gardens, lifts, and reception spaces.
These charges vary depending on the property and landlord, so it is worth checking them early before you commit.
6. Leasehold fees
Shared ownership properties are usually leasehold, so leasehold costs matter. These can include service charges, administration fees, and future lease-related costs.
7. Lease extension fees
Lease extensions can cost anywhere from £7,000 to £10,000, plus associated admin costs.
This may not be an immediate issue if the lease is long, but it is still worth checking how many years are left.
Why Can Shared Ownership Conveyancing Cost More?
Shared ownership conveyancing is often more expensive because it involves more than a standard purchase.
You are not just buying a property. You are usually buying a leasehold share, dealing with a housing association, and working within a structure that can include extra rules around rent, repairs, staircasing, and future sale.
That usually means:
- More paperwork
- More lease detail to review
- More enquiries to raise
- More lender requirements to satisfy
If the property is a new build, there may also be tighter deadlines and additional legal work.
For buyers, the practical takeaway is simple. A quote that looks cheap at first is not always the better option if it leaves out the work most shared ownership purchases actually involve.
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Shared Ownership Fees for Selling
If you later sell a shared ownership property, there are extra costs to budget for. These commonly include:
- Marketing fee: £350
- Valuation fee: £240 to £500
- Legal fees: £450 to £500
- EPC: £50 to £100
- Leasehold information pack: £210
- Assignment fee: 1% of the total value of the home, plus VAT
These costs matter even if you are only thinking about buying right now. Shared ownership is often marketed as a stepping stone, so it is worth understanding early what selling could involve later.
Selling a shared ownership property can be more complicated than a standard sale because of the housing association’s involvement and any nomination or resale rules.
How Long Does It Take to Buy a Shared Ownership Property?
It can take up to 6 months on average to buy a shared ownership property.
This will depend on the conveyancing, the survey, the lease, and the property itself. Because shared ownership and leasehold purchases involve extra steps and paperwork, they can take longer than a more straightforward purchase.
FAQs
Do You Need a Solicitor For Shared Ownership?
Yes. When you buy a shared ownership home, you will need either a solicitor or a conveyancer to deal with the legal side of the purchase.
This is especially important because shared ownership is usually leasehold and often involves extra housing association paperwork. A solicitor will deal with the contract, the lease, the lender, the searches, and completion.
If possible, it helps to choose a conveyancing solicitor for shared ownership rather than a firm that only handles standard purchases, as they will usually be more familiar with leasehold terms, housing association requirements, and lender expectations.
Are Shared Ownership Solicitors Fees Higher?
Often, yes. The average solicitor fee is £1,490, and many buyers will also pay a £330 shared ownership supplement and, if relevant, a £360 new build supplement. Shared ownership conveyancing usually involves extra work, which is why fees are often higher than standard conveyancing.
What Are the Hidden Costs of Shared Ownership?
Most costs are not truly hidden, but they are easy to underestimate. The ones that catch buyers out most often are rent, service charges, admin fees, future staircasing or selling costs, and the wider monthly cost once everything is added together. It is worth checking early how rent is reviewed, what the service charge covers, and whether there are any lease restrictions or extra admin fees.
Is Shared Ownership Harder to Sell?
It can be, depending on your lease and your housing association’s process. The main difference is that selling can involve extra steps, like valuations, nomination periods, eligibility checks, and time needed to get the right paperwork together.
If you’re buying with a “stepping stone” plan, ask early how resales work for that specific home. It’s one of the most practical questions you can ask before you’re emotionally attached to a property.
