Conveyancing fees in NSW: what a quote usually includes

Last updated 4 October 2026

Key facts

Fact	Detail	Source
Main parts of a quote	Professional fees plus disbursements, such as a title search, certificate fees and registration fees	Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers
Transfer duty (buyers)	A separate tax, generally due by the earlier of settlement or 3 months after the contract date (some off-the-plan owner-occupiers can defer it)	Who pays transfer duty and when
NSW Land Registry Services fees	Regulated, and updated each 1 July	Fees
Electronic settlement	NSW land dealings must be lodged electronically through an ELNO such as PEXA or Sympli	100% eConveyancing in NSW
Planning certificate	A section 10.7 certificate from the local council must be attached to a NSW contract for sale	Steps to selling a property
Costs disclosure	Both solicitors and licensed conveyancers must disclose their costs in writing	Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers

What does a conveyancing quote include in NSW?

Most quotes have two parts: professional fees and disbursements. NSW Government guidance says that as well as professional fees, you will usually be charged for disbursements, such as a title search, certificate fees charged by authorities, and fees to register the transfer and any mortgage.

Transfer duty (stamp duty) is not a conveyancing fee. It is a separate tax the buyer pays to Revenue NSW, on top of the conveyancing costs.

Typical parts of a NSW conveyancing quote
Part	What it covers	Who sets the amount
Professional (legal) fees	The legal work: reviewing or preparing the contract, advice, enquiries, dealing with the other side and the lender, and settlement	The solicitor or conveyancer
Searches and certificates	Title and plan searches, planning and strata certificates, and other certificates the property needs	The issuing authority or search provider; some fees are set by regulation
Registration fees	NSW Land Registry Services fees to register the transfer and any new mortgage	Regulated, and updated each 1 July
Electronic settlement fees	Fees charged by the electronic lodgment network operator (ELNO), such as PEXA or Sympli	The ELNO, subject to price regulation by the NSW Registrar General
Transfer duty (buyers only)	Tax on the purchase, paid to Revenue NSW; not part of the conveyancing fee	Set by NSW law and collected by Revenue NSW

Sources: Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers; Fees; Electronic Lodgment Network Operators; ELNO conditions of approval; Who pays transfer duty and when

What are professional fees?

Professional fees pay for the legal work on your matter. Each practice sets its own, so fees vary between solicitors and conveyancers.

Legal costs can be charged as a single amount for the whole matter, at an hourly rate, per item of work, or on another basis. Ask which basis applies, and what happens if the matter becomes more involved than expected.

Also check whether the figures quoted include GST, so you compare like with like.

Sources: Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers; Fact Sheet 2: Costs disclosure

What disbursements will I pay?

Disbursements are amounts paid to other organisations for your matter, such as search, certificate and registration fees. Which ones apply depends on whether you are buying or selling and on the type of property.

Title and plan searches: NSW Land Registry Services provides title records through authorised information brokers, which charge for searches.
Section 10.7 planning certificate: a seller must attach a current planning certificate from the local council to the contract. For most Baulkham Hills properties, that council is The Hills Shire Council.
Other documents for a sale: the contract must also include a sewer or drainage diagram (where one is available) and, where required, a swimming pool certificate.
Strata certificate: for a lot in a strata scheme, a section 184 strata information certificate is issued by the owners corporation for a prescribed fee. A pre-purchase strata report is a separate cost.
Other certificates the property needs, such as a land tax clearance certificate.

Sources: How to find a record; Steps to selling a property; Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022; Section 184 certificate (strata schemes); Buying a strata property; Understand land tax clearance

What government and settlement fees are charged?

Registering a transfer or mortgage with NSW Land Registry Services attracts fees. These fees are regulated and change each 1 July, so a quote should reflect the amounts in force when your matter is lodged.

Since 11 October 2021, NSW land dealings must be lodged electronically through an Electronic Lodgment Network Operator (ELNO). The approved ELNOs in NSW are PEXA and Sympli, and ELNOs charge fees for their service. Those fees are price-regulated: the NSW Registrar General limits how much an ELNO can raise them each year. PEXA, for example, publishes its NSW pricing. Ask whether the quote includes the ELNO fee.

Transfer duty is separate again. The buyer generally pays it to Revenue NSW by the earlier of settlement or 3 months after the contract date; our stamp duty guide sets out the 2026-27 rates.

Sources: Fees; 100% eConveyancing in NSW; Electronic Lodgment Network Operators; ELNO conditions of approval; PEXA pricing and fees for NSW; Who pays transfer duty and when

Why can conveyancing costs differ between properties?

The same practice may quote different amounts for different properties, because the documents and work involved differ. Common reasons include:

Strata: a lot in a strata scheme involves extra documents, such as the common property title, the strata plan and the by-laws, and often a section 184 certificate and a strata report.
Off the plan: the contract comes with a disclosure statement, the seller must notify material changes, and the registered plan must be provided at least 21 days before the buyer can be required to settle.
Buying or selling: a seller's solicitor or conveyancer prepares the contract and obtains the prescribed documents, while a buyer's reviews them and deals with finance and duty.
Complexity: special conditions, tenants, a pool, a deceased estate, a company or trust buyer, or a related-party transfer can all add work.
Changes along the way: renegotiated terms or a delayed settlement can mean extra work.

Sources: Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022; Section 184 certificate (strata schemes); Off-the-plan; Buying property off the plan; Steps to selling a property

Do buyers and sellers pay for different things?

Yes. The work, and so the disbursements, differ depending on which side you are on.

Sellers: the contract must be prepared before the property is advertised or offered for sale, so the title search, plan, section 10.7 certificate and other prescribed documents are obtained before marketing starts.
Sellers: an Australian-resident seller needs an ATO clearance certificate, or the buyer must withhold 15% of the price at settlement. The ATO does not charge for the application, but it can take up to 28 days, so apply early.
Sellers with a mortgage: the lender prepares and lodges the discharge of mortgage at settlement, and the seller's solicitor or conveyancer obtains the payout figure.
Buyers: contract review before exchange, searches and enquiries, registration of the transfer and any new mortgage, and transfer duty.
Strata buyers: a pre-purchase strata report, which usually combines a records inspection with a section 184 certificate, is recommended.

Sources: Sales contracts: requirements for property agents; Steps to selling a property; Australian residents and clearance certificates; Foreign resident capital gains withholding overview; How do I discharge a mortgage?; Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers; Buying a strata property

What costs information must a solicitor or conveyancer give you?

A law practice in NSW must generally tell you in writing how its legal costs will be calculated and give you an estimate of the total legal costs. This obligation comes from the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW). The practice must also tell you about any significant change to what it has disclosed, such as a higher estimate.

A licensed conveyancer has similar duties under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003: the amount of the costs, or the basis for calculating them if the amount is not known, must be disclosed in writing before or when the conveyancer is retained.

Whoever you use, if anything in the costs information is unclear, ask about it before you go ahead.

Sources: Fact Sheet 2: Costs disclosure; Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers; Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003 (NSW), section 36: Obligation to disclose costs and other matters to clients

What should I ask when comparing conveyancing quotes?

Comparing totals alone can mislead, because quotes are put together differently. Ask each provider:

Is the professional fee a single amount for the whole matter, or does it depend on time or the work done?
Which disbursements are included, and which figures are estimates?
Are NSW Land Registry Services fees and the ELNO fee included?
Do the figures include GST?
What is not covered, such as strata reports, inspections, or extra work if the contract changes or settlement is delayed?
Does the fee cover reviewing the contract before exchange, including advice on the cooling-off period and any section 66W certificate?
Who will handle the matter, and are they a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer?

How a conveyancing solicitor can help

Baulkham Hills Conveyancing is a solicitor practice and will give you written costs information before you instruct us. Send us the contract or the property address, or call (02) 9000 1408, and we can explain what our estimate covers, from contract review before exchange through to settlement.

Frequently asked questions

How much does conveyancing cost in NSW?

There is no single set price for conveyancing in NSW. Each solicitor or conveyancer sets its own professional fees, and disbursements such as title searches, certificates, NSW Land Registry Services registration fees and electronic settlement (ELNO) fees are added. Buyers also pay transfer duty to Revenue NSW, which is not a conveyancing fee. Ask for written costs information and compare what each quote includes.

What is the difference between conveyancing fees and disbursements?

Professional fees pay for the solicitor's or conveyancer's own work, such as contract review, advice and settlement. Disbursements are amounts paid to others for your matter, such as title searches, certificates, NSW Land Registry Services registration fees and electronic settlement (ELNO) fees. A quote should show both, so you can compare like with like.

Is stamp duty included in conveyancing fees?

No. Transfer duty (stamp duty) is a separate NSW tax that the buyer pays to Revenue NSW, generally due by the earlier of settlement or 3 months after the contract date. Your solicitor or conveyancer can arrange the payment as part of the conveyancing work, but the duty itself is not part of their fee.

Why can a strata purchase involve extra costs?

A lot in a strata scheme involves extra documents, such as the common property title, the strata plan and the by-laws. A pre-purchase strata report is also recommended. It usually combines an inspection of the owners corporation's records with a section 184 strata information certificate. The certificate and the records inspection each have their own fees.

Do conveyancing fees change each year?

Professional fees are set by each practice. Some disbursements are set by others: NSW Land Registry Services fees are regulated and change each 1 July, and certificate fees are charged by councils and other authorities. A quote should reflect the fees in force when your matter runs, so check the date of any quote you compare.

What costs information must a solicitor or conveyancer give me in NSW?

Under the Legal Profession Uniform Law (NSW), a law practice must generally disclose in writing how its legal costs will be calculated and give an estimate of the total legal costs. A licensed conveyancer must disclose the amount of the costs, or the basis for calculating them, in writing before or when retained, under the Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003. If you have not received it, ask for it early.

Do I pay PEXA fees when buying a house in NSW?

Every NSW settlement goes through an approved electronic lodgment network operator (ELNO), PEXA or Sympli, and ELNOs charge fees for their service; PEXA publishes its NSW pricing. Whether you see the ELNO fee as a separate item depends on how your quote is set out, so ask whether it is included.

Sources

Conveyancing for property buyers and sellers – NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading)
Who pays transfer duty and when – Revenue NSW
How to find a record – NSW Land Registry Services
Fees – NSW Land Registry Services
100% eConveyancing in NSW – NSW Registrar General
Electronic Lodgment Network Operators – Australian Registrars' National Electronic Conveyancing Council (ARNECC)
ELNO conditions of approval – NSW Registrar General
PEXA pricing and fees for NSW – PEXA
Steps to selling a property – NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading)
Conveyancing (Sale of Land) Regulation 2022 – NSW Legislation
Section 184 certificate (strata schemes) – NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading)
Buying a strata property – NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading)
Understand land tax clearance – Revenue NSW
Off-the-plan – NSW Registrar General
Sales contracts: requirements for property agents – NSW Government (NSW Fair Trading)
Australian residents and clearance certificates – Australian Taxation Office
Foreign resident capital gains withholding overview – Australian Taxation Office
How do I discharge a mortgage? – NSW Land Registry Services (Registrar General's Guidelines)
Buying property off the plan – NSW Government
Conveyancers Licensing Act 2003 (NSW), section 36: Obligation to disclose costs and other matters to clients – AustLII (NSW Consolidated Acts)
Fact Sheet 2: Costs disclosure – Office of the NSW Legal Services Commissioner

Related services

Related guides

Local pages

This guide is general information about New South Wales law as at 4 October 2026, not legal advice for your circumstances. Laws, thresholds and government fees change; check the official sources listed and contact us for advice about your matter.

Talk to us about your matter: call (02) 9000 1408, email info@baulkhamhillsconveyancing.com.au or request a quote online.