Conveyancing is the legal and administrative process that transfers property ownership from seller to buyer. Conveyancers or solicitors handle contract review, title searches, council and water searches, strata reports where relevant, settlement calculations, and lodgement of documents. All cost figures in this guide are planning ranges for 2026, not fixed quotes. Prices vary by state/territory, region, property value, title type and the work required for the individual job.
What Conveyancing Covers
A standard conveyancing service should include more than filling in a template. The practitioner reviews the contract of sale and any special conditions, checks the certificate of title, orders and interprets searches, and arranges settlement through an electronic platform such as PEXA. It also includes preparing settlement figures, dealing with adjustments for council rates and water charges, and ensuring the transfer and mortgage documents are lodged correctly.
- Contract review: Checking terms, deposit, finance, building and pest clauses, special conditions, and any unusual rights or obligations.
- Title search: Confirming the seller has the legal right to transfer the property and identifying easements, covenants, caveats or other registered interests.
- Property searches: Common searches include council, water, land tax, and environmental or planning searches depending on the state and property.
- Strata report: If the property is part of a strata scheme, the conveyancer orders and reviews records, levies, sinking fund forecasts, by-laws and insurance.
- Settlement: Preparing the statement of adjustments, attending or lodging through PEXA, and confirming registration of the transfer with the state land registry.
Fixed Fee vs Hourly Conveyancing
Most residential conveyancing in Australia is quoted as a fixed professional fee. That suits straightforward purchases and sales where the scope is predictable: an established freehold house or unit, no unusual title encumbrances, and a standard contract.
Hourly billing is less common for simple matters but may be more appropriate for complex transactions. These include off-the-plan purchases, rural properties with water rights or access issues, subdivisions, deceased estates, properties with unregistered encumbrances, or disputes over special conditions. In those cases, hourly billing means you pay for the actual time spent negotiating, investigating and amending documents.
- Fixed fee: Best for standard purchases and sales; easier to compare quotes, but always check what is excluded.
- Hourly: May suit complex title problems, extended negotiations, trust or company structures, or off-the-plan contracts with lengthy conditions.
When comparing any fee, ask whether the quote covers all attendances, review of the contract, settlement and PEXA fees, or whether extra work is charged separately.
Typical Planning Ranges for a Standard Purchase and Sale
The figures below are estimates for 2026 only. They assume a standard residential freehold property, no major title defect, and a normal settlement period. They exclude stamp duty, building and pest inspection, loan fees and moving costs. Total costs are lower in some states and higher where registration fees are scaled by property value.
| Transaction type | Professional fee planning range (AUD, estimate) | Total including standard disbursements and government charges (AUD, estimate) |
|---|---|---|
| Standard purchase, established house or unit | $1,200–$2,800 | $2,500–$5,000 |
| Standard sale, established house or unit | $1,000–$2,500 | $1,500–$3,500 |
These totals include routine searches, PEXA settlement fees and state land registration or discharge fees. They do not include stamp duty. A strata inspection report can add $250–$600, and complex negotiations can push the professional fee higher. Always obtain three written quotes and confirm which items are included.
Disbursements and Government Charges
Disbursements are out-of-pocket costs the conveyancer pays on your behalf. Government charges are separate from the professional fee and are often the most variable part of a quote. The table below separates the three categories.
| Cost category | What it includes | Planning range and notes |
|---|---|---|
| Professional fee | Contract review, negotiation, search interpretation, settlement lodgement, attendance | Standard purchase $1,200–$2,800; standard sale $1,000–$2,500. GST usually applies. |
| Disbursements | Title search, council and water searches, strata report, PEXA/electronic settlement fee, photocopy and postage if charged | Typically $300–$900 combined; strata report adds $250–$600. Some third-party search fees may include GST. |
| Government charges | Transfer or registration fee, mortgage registration or discharge fee, titles office fees, electronic lodgement fee where charged | Varies by state/territory and property value; generally GST-free. Check your state land registry or revenue office fee calculator. |
The most accurate way to estimate government charges is to visit your state or territory land registry and revenue office website. Registration fees are often scaled by property purchase price or dutiable value, so they cannot be quoted as a flat number nationally.
What Is Not Included
Conveyancing does not include every cost of buying or selling property. You will still need to budget separately for:
- Building and pest inspection: A separate licensed inspector, usually before exchange or during a due diligence period.
- Loan fees: Mortgage application, valuation, lender legal and settlement fees charged by your bank or broker.
- Stamp duty: A state and territory government tax, often the largest additional cost. It is calculated on the dutiable value of the property.
- Owner corporation or strata manager fees: Some strata certificates and inspection records may carry extra charges.
Stamp Duty as a Separate Line
Stamp duty is not a conveyancing fee. It is collected by the state or territory revenue office and varies widely. First-home buyer concessions, off-the-plan concessions and principal place of residence rates can change the amount significantly. To verify current duty, visit your local revenue office: Revenue NSW, State Revenue Office Victoria, Queensland Revenue Office, RevenueWA, RevenueSA, Tasmanian State Revenue Office, ACT Revenue Office or Territory Revenue Office.
Why Cheap Conveyancing Can Cost More
A low fixed fee can be attractive, but it may not include the time needed to investigate unusual title issues. Missed easements, restrictive covenants, special conditions, or unregistered encumbrances can become expensive after settlement. For example, a right of way or drainage easement may limit your planned renovation, or a special condition may require you to pay the seller’s outstanding council rates.
Cheap providers may rely on automated checklists and review fewer searches. They may also charge for every phone call, extra review or amendment. If you choose based on price alone, confirm the fee includes all standard searches, contract review and settlement attendance. Ask the practitioner to explain what they check in the title search and what additional items would cost extra.
To verify a practitioner’s credentials, check your state regulator, such as the local fair trading office or business licensing authority. A registered conveyancer or solicitor must hold a current licence or practising certificate.
The DIY and Online Conveyancing Option
Some buyers and sellers use DIY kits or low-cost online platforms to handle conveyance themselves. This can work for a simple sale where the title is clean and the parties are cooperative, but the risks are real. You are responsible for reading the contract, ordering searches, interpreting easements and covenants, and lodging settlement correctly.
Online platforms may still use a licensed practitioner, but the level of legal advice can be limited. If the contract has special conditions, off-the-plan clauses, tenancy issues or a complex strata history, you may miss a problem that a full-service conveyancer or solicitor would identify. Before using DIY or online conveyancing, read every document, obtain the title search early, and consider independent legal advice before signing.
GST Treatment
Conveyancing professional fees are generally subject to GST. A quote should state whether GST is included or will be added. Government charges such as stamp duty and land registration fees are generally GST-free. Third-party disbursements vary: some search or strata report providers include GST on their invoices, while pure government fees do not. Ask your conveyancer for a written breakdown that separates GST-free and GST-inclusive items.
How to Compare Two Conveyancing Quotes Properly
Do not compare only the headline fee. Use a standard checklist and ask for three written quotes. For each quote, confirm:
- Whether the professional fee is fixed or hourly, and what activities it includes.
- The number of contract reviews, search orders and settlement attendances covered.
- Which searches are included and which are optional, such as strata or environmental searches.
- Whether GST is included.
- Whether PEXA or electronic settlement fees are included or passed on separately.
- Whether government registration and discharge fees are itemised and estimated correctly.
- What extra work would trigger additional charges, such as special conditions, auction contracts, trust ownership or off-the-plan review.
Ask for a written cost estimate for your specific property and settlement. Check the practitioner’s licence with the state regulator before engaging. If one quote is much lower, ask why. A genuine fixed fee that includes standard searches is different from a low base fee that adds disbursements, GST and settlement fees later.
FAQ
What is a reasonable total conveyancing cost in 2026?
For a standard freehold purchase, budget roughly $2,500–$5,000 including professional fee, routine searches, PEXA and registration, excluding stamp duty. For a standard sale, budget $1,500–$3,500. These are planning estimates only. State charges, strata reports and title complexity can move the total, so obtain three written quotes.
What does a conveyancer’s fixed fee usually exclude?
It usually excludes government charges, stamp duty, building and pest inspections, loan fees and third-party reports such as strata inspections. Some fixed fees include basic searches but not specialised reports. Ask whether the fee covers all attendances, settlement and PEXA fees, or whether extra work is billed separately.
Is online conveyancing safe for a standard purchase?
It can be, if the platform uses a licensed practitioner and the title is simple. Risks include automated checklists missing special conditions, easements or unregistered encumbrances. If you use DIY or online services, review the contract carefully, order searches early and consider independent legal advice before signing.
Do I need a solicitor instead of a licensed conveyancer?
No, a licensed conveyancer can manage most standard residential sales and purchases. If the transaction involves trusts, complex easements, off-the-plan, disputes or unusual conditions, a solicitor may be better suited to provide legal advice. Check licensing with your state regulator and compare both before engaging.
Disclaimer: The figures in this article are general planning estimates for 2026 only. They do not constitute legal, financial or conveyancing advice. Costs vary by state/territory, region, property type, transaction complexity and the individual practitioner. Always obtain current written quotes and verify government charges with your state land registry, revenue office or a licensed conveyancer.