With the average deposit taking nearly six years to save, hidden moving costs become the extra hurdle standing between buyers and the keys
Moving Compared warns buyers to look beyond the deposit as essential purchase costs create a second affordability test
- Saving 10% of average net pay each month could take a prospective buyer nearly six years to build that deposit
- The average cost of moving home in 2026 is £13,018 for those buying and selling an averagely priced UK property
- AI-led search data shows more than 26,000 monthly UK searches linked to moving house costs, conveyancing fees, survey costs and hidden buying fees
- Increased AI Overviews for high-intent moving-cost queries include “how much does it cost to move house”, “conveyancing fees”, “house survey cost” and “fees when buying a house”
- Conveyancing fees when buying a house can range from £400 to £1,500, with disbursements adding up to £700 or more
- House surveys can cost between £300 and £1,500
As first-time buyers continue to stretch their savings to get onto the property ladder, Moving Compared, the UK’s leading home moving hub, helping buyers and sellers compare trusted conveyancers and surveyors, warns that the deposit is only the beginning of the affordability challenge. While the deposit is often treated as the final hurdle to home ownership, HomeOwners Alliance estimates that the average cost of moving home in 2026 is £13,018, including conveyancing, surveys and other essential services. A 10% deposit on a typical UK first-time buyer property is now around £23,000, and even saving 10% of average net pay each month could take a prospective buyer nearly six years to build that deposit. AI-led search data also shows AI Overviews are appearing across more than 26,000 monthly UK searches linked to moving house costs, conveyancing fees, survey costs and hidden buying fees, displaying the increased guidance Brits are seeking as they try to decode the true cost of moving before the bills arrive.
For buyers, these costs can quickly turn the deposit from a finish line into the beginning of another financial test. Conveyancing fees when buying a home can range from £400 to £1,500, with disbursements adding up to £700 or more, while surveys can cost between £300 and £1,500 depending on the type of report, property value and location. AI Overviews are now appearing for high-intent moving-cost queries including “how much does it cost to move house”, “conveyancing fees”, “house survey cost” and “fees when buying a house”, showing that buyers are not only searching for clarity, but increasingly trying to understand the costs beyond the deposit. Moving Compared says the affordability conversation around moving house often focuses heavily on deposits, mortgage rates and house prices, but gives less attention to the practical costs that arrive during the moving process itself. For many buyers, legal checks, surveys, searches and removals come at the same moment as mortgage decisions, completion deadlines and the emotional pressure of securing a first home.
About Moving Compared
Moving Compared is the UK’s leading home moving hub, helping buyers, sellers and movers compare quotes from trusted professionals across conveyancing, surveying and moving services. Built to make the moving process clearer and less stressful, Moving Compared connects users with vetted, reviewed and rated partners, giving movers a simple way to compare services, understand costs and choose the right professionals for their move.
The platform brings conveyancing, surveying and removals into one place, helping users save time, reduce uncertainty and avoid last-minute cost surprises during one of the most expensive and complex moments in the property journey.
