HM Land Registry Fees
Scale 1 and Scale 2 tables for England and Wales, by post and through the portal
Which scale applies to you
HM Land Registry charges by the value of the transaction, using one of two scales. Most people buying a home pay Scale 1 on the price they paid.
| Application | Scale | Fee is based on |
|---|---|---|
| Buying a property (transfer for money) | Scale 1 | The price paid, including VAT where VAT is charged on the price |
| First registration of unregistered land | Scale 1 | The price if sold on the open market within a year; otherwise the open market value. Voluntary first registrations pay a reduced fee |
| Registering a new lease | Scale 1 | Premium plus the highest quantifiable rent in the first five years |
| Gift, assent or transfer of equity (no money paid) | Scale 2 | The property value, less any mortgage still outstanding or newly taken out |
| Registering a mortgage (charge) after the purchase has completed | Scale 2 | The amount the charge secures |
On a typical house purchase the mortgage is registered with the transfer, so the only fee payable is on the transfer. Work out the tax side of the purchase with the stamp duty calculator.
Scale 1 fees: purchases, first registrations and leases
| Value or amount | By post | Portal: transfer of whole | Portal: part or lease | Voluntary first registration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| £0 to £80,000 | £45 | £20 | £45 | £30 |
| £80,001 to £100,000 | £95 | £40 | £95 | £70 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £230 | £100 | £230 | £170 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £330 | £150 | £330 | £250 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £655 | £295 | £655 | £495 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £1,105 | £500 | £1,105 | £830 |
Scale 1 is assessed on the VAT-inclusive price or rent. "Portal" means the Land Registry portal or Business Gateway.
Scale 2 fees: gifts, transfers of equity and mortgages
| Value or amount | By post | Portal: whole title | Portal: part or other |
|---|---|---|---|
| £0 to £100,000 | £45 | £20 | £45 |
| £100,001 to £200,000 | £70 | £30 | £70 |
| £200,001 to £500,000 | £100 | £45 | £100 |
| £500,001 to £1,000,000 | £145 | £65 | £145 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £305 | £140 | £305 |
For a gift or assent, the fee is assessed on the value of the property minus the amount outstanding on any continuing mortgage and, under HM Land Registry's guidance, any new mortgage whose registration is lodged with the transfer and completes at the same time. The Fee Order itself deducts only the amount secured by an existing charge. For a mortgage registered on its own, it is assessed on the amount the charge secures. The portal rate applies to transfers and assents of the whole of a title, charges of the whole and transfers of charges; there is no reduction for transfers of part.
Reductions and extras
- Portal or Business Gateway transfers and surrenders of the whole of a registered title cost 55% less than postal Scale 1 applications. Transfers of part and lease registrations get no portal reduction.
- Voluntary first registrations get a minimum 25% reduction on the Scale 1 fee.
- If HM Land Registry decides a first-registration property must be inspected, an extra £40 is payable (refunded if no inspection takes place).
- A new lease is charged on the premium plus the rent, or the lease value where neither can be quantified, with a minimum fee of £45.
- Applications covering 20 or more registered titles or land units are large scale and follow a separate calculation set out in HM Land Registry's guidance.
Selected fixed fees
Some applications carry a fixed fee rather than a scale fee. A selection from HM Land Registry's fixed fee table:
| Application | Portal | Post or in person |
|---|---|---|
| Non-standard form restriction | £45 per title | £90 per title |
| Alteration of the register | £20 per application | £40 per application |
| Determination of a boundary | £90 per application | £90 per application |
| Adverse possession of a registered estate (including site inspection fee) | £130 per title | £130 per title |
The full list of fixed fees and exempt applications is on the GOV.UK page linked under Sources.
Land Registry fees and the cost of buying
The Land Registry fee is one of several completion costs. The tax on the purchase is separate: use the stamp duty calculator, the first-time buyer stamp duty calculator or the buy-to-let stamp duty calculator, and the mortgage calculator for the loan itself. This page covers England and Wales only.
Frequently asked questions
How much are HM Land Registry fees?
Do I pay a separate Land Registry fee for my mortgage when I buy?
Is VAT charged on Land Registry fees?
Why is the portal fee lower than the postal fee?
Is the Land Registry fee the same as stamp duty?
What is a voluntary first registration?
Do these fees apply in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
When did these fees start?
Sources
Related Calculators
Stamp Duty Calculator
England + NI SDLT bands, first-time-buyer relief, 5% additional-dwelling surcharge — plus Scottish LBTT and Welsh LTT.
First-Time Buyer Stamp Duty
England £0–£300k FTB relief with £500k cliff, Scotland £175k uncapped, Wales no relief
UK Mortgage Calculator
Calculate monthly repayments, total interest, and see a full year-by-year amortization schedule. Includes affordability check.
Buy-to-Let & Second Home Stamp Duty
Additional-property surcharge: 5% England (Oct 2024), 8% Scotland ADS (Dec 2024), 5% Wales