HMLR Fee Calculator
Calculate your Land Registry fees instantly with our advanced calculator
Your Total Registration Fee
£0
Transaction
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Method
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Property Value
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Fee Scale
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Fee Breakdown
Money Saving Tip
Electronic applications save up to 55% compared to postal submissions and are processed much faster.
Processing Time
Electronic: 2-5 working days. Postal: 4-6 weeks depending on complexity.
Introduction
Buying a house or land? Brain doing flip-flops with the fees and forms. Feels familiar. The big name here in England and Wales is HM Land Registry (HMLR). They keep records of who owns what. Houses. Flats. Land. And yes, they charge fees to update those records. That’s normal.
This is where a fees calculator helps. It gives a solid estimate. No heavy reading. No stress. Well, less stress.
Let’s break it down. Slowly. Nicely. Not scary.
What Even Are HMLR Fees?
Short answer. Fees paid to HMLR when the register needs an update. When ownership changes. When a mortgage is added. When a lease is created. It’s like paying the office that guards the official record of property. Makes sense.
Common reasons these fees appear:
- First registration. If a place was never registered before. Rare now, but not zero.
- Transfer of ownership. The usual one when buying or selling.
- Creating a long lease. Often 7+ years.
- Registering a mortgage (a “charge”). Lenders want their interest protected.
- Removing a mortgage. When it’s fully paid off. Nice.
- Name changes. Marriage. Divorce. Deed poll.
So, lots of triggers. Knowing the fee helps plan. No bad surprises. Good.
Why Bother With a Calculator?
Could read the full fee tables. Sure. But they’re dry. And a bit confusing, sometimes.
A calculator gives:
- Quick estimates in seconds.
- Usually up-to-date bands.
- Better budgeting and planning.
- Less worry. Big win.
- Time saved. No table guessing.
Feels like a small helper in the pocket. It’s neat.
How Do HMLR Fees Work? The Simple Version
There isn’t one flat fee for everything. Fees depend on a few things:
- Property value (or rent for leases). Higher value, higher fee. Tiered bands.
- Type of application. First registration, transfer of whole, transfer of part, lease, charges, etc.
- Method of sending. Electronic (via a conveyancer) often cheaper for full titles. Postal tends to be more.
They want digital. It’s faster for them. And all of us.
A Simple Example Fee Pattern
This is just an example structure to show the pattern. Not actual current numbers. Always check the latest figures or use a calculator.
Property value (up to) | Electronic fee | Postal fee
- £100,000 | lower | higher
- £200,000 | lower | higher
- £500,000 | lower | higher
- £1,000,000 | lower | higher
- Over £1,000,000 | lower | higher
The pattern is clear. Electronic saves money for many “whole of title” cases. Not every case, but many.
Where To Find An HMLR Fees Calculator
Plenty of places:
- Many conveyancing firms have them on their sites.
- Property info hubs and blogs sometimes include them.
- A quick search brings up options.
What they ask for:
- Property value (or rent for leases).
- Type of deal. Buying? Lease? Mortgage?
- Is it first registration? Transfer of whole? Part?
Then it shows the estimate. Nice and fast.
A Quick Word of Caution
Treat calculator results as estimates only. Why?
- Fees can change. Sometimes tools lag behind a bit.
- Complex or unusual cases may not fit the basic logic.
- Don’t forget other costs: Stamp Duty (SDLT or LTT/LBTT), solicitor fees, valuation, mortgage fees, surveys, moving costs, insurance, and more.
Best plan. Use the calculator for a ballpark. Then rely on the conveyancer for the final, exact figure.
The Main Application Types (Plain English)
First Registration (FR)
Used when a property or land is registered for the very first time. Triggers include sales or long leases. Fee is based on value. Digital may help but depends on the case. Your solicitor handles it. It’s paperwork heavy.
Transfer of Whole (TO)
The normal purchase. The whole title moves from seller to buyer. Fee based on the purchase price. Electronic can be cheaper for whole of title. This is the most common scenario. Most calculators focus on this.
Transfer of Part (TP)
Only part of a title is sold. Like splitting a garden plot. More complex. New title plans usually needed. Fees still based on the value of the part. Electronic discounts usually don’t apply here. It’s fiddly. Your solicitor earns their tea here.
Charges (Mortgages)
When a mortgage is taken, the lender registers a “charge.” It’s a legal interest until the loan is paid. This has its own fee. If buying with a mortgage, the transfer fee and the charge fee are both due. Two things. One completion statement.
Leases
Long leases (usually over 7 years) need registration. Fees depend on premium and/or rent. The rules for leases are special. Premium + highest annual rent in the first five years that can be measured. Or rent only, if no premium. If rent isn’t measurable, there’s a method for that too. Often no electronic discount for lease registrations. A common trip-up.
Other Updates
- Change of name on the title.
- Correcting errors.
- Adding a restriction (like trust notes).
- Getting official copies (small fee or sometimes free, depends).
These are usually lower-cost admin. Still matters for clean records.
How Your Conveyancer Helps
They do more than legal wording:
- Calculates exact HMLR fees using official guidance.
- Uses electronic methods where it saves cost/time.
- Collects the fee along with Stamp Duty and their own charges.
- Submits the application correctly. With the right documents.
- Updates you. Tells you what was paid and why.
In short, they own the process. Which is nice.
The Bigger Picture: Other Costs To Budget
HMLR fees are one slice. There’s more:
- Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), or LBTT (Scotland) or LTT (Wales). Often big.
- Conveyancing fees (the solicitor’s fees + VAT).
- Mortgage product fee, valuation fee, broker fee (if any).
- Survey costs. Please don’t skip a survey.
- Removal and moving costs.
- Furniture and decorating.
- Utilities and setup.
- Insurance (buildings, often required by lender; contents is smart).
All of it counts. Add a buffer. It helps.
FAQ: Quick Answers
- Are HMLR fees the same as Stamp Duty? No. Totally different. One is admin registration fees. One is tax.
- Can someone pay HMLR fees themselves? In theory yes. In practice, your conveyancer handles it. Easier. More accurate.
- Do HMLR fees have VAT? The Land Registry fee itself is usually treated as a disbursement. Your solicitor’s own fees have VAT.
- What if fees change mid-way? The fee is based on when the application is submitted. Your solicitor will align it.
- How long does HMLR take? It varies. Days to weeks for simple. Months for complex (first registrations, transfers of part). Your application still protects your position once lodged.
- First-time buyer discounts on HMLR fees? Not as a rule. Discounts often relate to stamp duty, not HMLR.
- Only getting a mortgage, not buying? There’s still usually a fee to register the charge.
- Transfer for £0 (gift)? The fee may still look at market value, not just the price paid. Your solicitor will guide.
The Core Ideas, Summed Up
- Sale for money? Usually Scale 1.
- Gift, assent, charges, and many non-sale updates? Usually Scale 2.
- Leases have special rules (premium + rent logic).
- Electronic can be cheaper for “whole of title.”
- Transfers of part and leases usually don’t get the electronic discount.
- Voluntary first registration often has a reduced fee. But some asset types don’t qualify.
Handy Table: What Usually Applies
Situation | Likely scale or rule | Electronic discount?
- Purchase (transfer of whole) | Scale 1 | Often yes
- Transfer of equity, no money | Scale 2 | Often yes when whole
- New charge (mortgage) | Scale 2 | Often yes when whole
- Transfer of charge | Scale 2 | Often yes when whole
- Transfer of part | Scale 1 or 2 (depends) | Usually no
- Lease registration | Lease rules | Usually no
- Voluntary first registration | Reduced vs standard Scale 1 | Rule-based reduction
Note: “Often yes” means typical. There are exceptions. Always check.
A Few Quick Examples
- Buying at £200,000. Transfer of the whole. Electronic submission via a conveyancer. Expect the lower band for that value in the “electronic” column.
- Transfer of equity. No money paid. Scale 2. If whole of title and sent electronically, it’s often cheaper than post.
- New mortgage (remortgage). Registering a charge. Scale 2. Electronic “charge of whole” usually cheaper.
- Lease with £150,000 premium and a rent that reaches £125 by year 5. Fee assessment uses premium + highest annual rent in first five years that can be measured. So £150,000 + £125 for banding.
- Voluntary first registration. Often a reduced fee vs standard Scale 1. But not everything counts as voluntary for fee purposes.
Short Checklist Before You Submit
- Pick the right application type.
- Use VAT-inclusive price for Scale 1 (if VAT applies).
- If lease, note the rent for the first five years.
- Confirm if it’s whole or part of the title.
- Choose electronic if eligible. Saves money.
- Check if voluntary first registration applies.
- Keep all names, plans, and details clean to avoid delays.
Final Wrap-Up
So. Not so scary now. The HMLR Fees Calculator helps pin down a solid estimate. Use it early for budgeting. Use it again before submission. Watch three big items: Scale 1 vs Scale 2, whole vs part, and lease rent logic. Those move the fee most.
And lean on the conveyancer. This is what they do, day in and day out. With the right numbers and the right method, the application sails through smoother. Less hassle. More peace.
Good luck with the move. Or the remortgage. Or the tidy-up on the title. Big steps feel smaller when the money side makes sense.