What do I need on top of the deposit?
The deposit, plus some fees. That's how it's usually described.
Solicitor, searches, survey, stamp duty, moving. It's the number that quietly decides whether your deposit is actually enough.
The fees add up to more than people expect, and most are due before or on the day you complete. The main ones are a conveyancer or solicitor for the legal work, the searches they carry out, a survey, any mortgage arrangement fee, stamp duty, and the cost of moving.
Stamp duty depends on where you buy. In England and Northern Ireland, first-time buyers pay nothing on the first £300,000 and 5% on the part between £300,000 and £500,000. Above £500,000, the first-time buyer relief doesn't apply at all. On a £500,000 home, that's £10,000. Scotland and Wales have their own taxes and rates.
Some costs are often forgotten: a mortgage valuation, fees for transferring the deposit, buildings insurance from exchange, and furniture or repairs once you move in.
Getting quotes for the legal work and the survey early tells you how much of your savings is really available for the deposit.
Where this information comes from
First-time buyers in England and Northern Ireland: no stamp duty up to £300,000, then 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. No relief above £500,000.
Source: GOV.UK, Stamp Duty Land Tax: residential property rates. Checked 28 October 2026.
Stamp duty on a £500,000 first home: £10,000.
Source: GOV.UK, Stamp Duty Land Tax: residential property rates. Checked 28 October 2026.
General information, not advice about your circumstances. Rules and rates change; this page was last checked 28 October 2026. Spotted an error? Tell us.