How Much Does It Cost to Move House in the UK?

Moving home is a complex undertaking, no matter how many times you’ve done it before. It requires time, energy and effort. Every move marks a milestone, whether it’s the excitement of a new beginning or closing the chapter on a much-loved home. Alongside this comes a long list of things to do and costs that are easy to underestimate. 

For an average UK home, moving typically costs £8,000–£15,000, covering conveyancing, stamp duty, estate agent fees, removal services, packing, and storage fees, with higher costs for high-value properties, larger homes or long-distance moves. 

With Abels, every element of your move is managed with care – from professional packing and secure storage to the safe handling of fine art, antiques, and treasured family possessions. Whether you’re relocating nearby, across the country, or internationally, our bespoke service takes the pressure off your shoulders, so you can focus on what matters most.

For homeowners in high-value areas such as London, Hertfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Norfolk or Suffolk, the sums involved can be particularly significant. That’s why we are here to guide you through the typical cost of moving house.

This guide breaks down the cost of moving house in the UK into buying, selling, and general moving costs – as well as exploring optional and hidden costs of moving house, along with expert advice on when a premium moving service, like Abels, can make the process seamless.

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Here Are Some Costs to Expect when Buying or Selling a House:

Do you need a solicitor when moving house?

While you don’t legally have to use a solicitor, most buyers and sellers do. A solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles contracts, conducts searches, and registers the property – ensuring the move is legally valid, ownership is correctly transferred, and there are no unexpected legal issues after completion.

Stamp Duty Costs

While you don’t legally have to use a solicitor, most buyers and sellers do. A solicitor or licensed conveyancer handles contracts, conducts searches, and registers the property – ensuring the move is legally valid, ownership is correctly transferred, and there are no unexpected legal issues after completion.

One of the most significant moving house expenses is stamp duty. For many, this is likely to be your highest cost when calculating the average cost of moving house. Stamp duty is calculated as a percentage of the value of the property you are buying.

While each move is unique – depending on when you buy, how much you pay, and whether you’re eligible for relief or an exemption – the amount of Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) can vary considerably. Rates increase in bands, with higher percentages applied to the portion above each threshold. 

You can check the latest bands and work out how much tax you’ll pay using the Government’s Stamp Duty Land Tax calculator. 

From April 2025, the rates for buying a single residential property are:

Property price portion	SDLT rate (rates correct as of October 2025)
Up to £125,000	0%
£125,001 – £250,000	2%
£250,001 – £925,000	5%
£925,001 – £1.5 million	10%
Over £1.5 million	12%

For example, if you buy a house for £295,000 in April 2025, your SDLT would be calculated as:

To reduce the impact, some buyers look at properties just below the next tax band to limit the percentage applied. Others save by exploring exemptions, such as for shared ownership or multiple dwellings, which can lower the overall bill. 

For instance, first-time buyers purchasing a property for £300,000 or less may qualify for First-Time Buyers’ Relief, potentially saving up to £5,000.

Additionally, shared ownership schemes can offer savings. If you buy a 50% share of a property valued at £280,000, you would pay SDLT based on the market value of the entire property (£280,000), not just the share you purchase. 

It’s advisable to consult with a conveyancer and to assess your eligibility for these reliefs to ensure you’re only paying what’s required.

Estate Agency Costs

If you’re selling your property, you may also need to consider estate agency fees.

The average estate agent fee for selling a property is approximately 1% to 3% of the sale price, plus VAT, but this is a broad range and can vary significantly depending on the agent, your location, and the services included. On a £1 million property, this equates to £10,000 – £30,000.

Premium agencies may charge more but often secure better results in high-value markets.

Other Selling Costs

In addition to estate agency fees, sellers may also need to budget for mortgage exit or early repayment fees, as well as minor repairs or upgrades to make the property more appealing to buyers. These additional expenses vary depending on the property and circumstances, but they should always be considered as part of your total house moving costs.

Moving Costs – Before and During Your Move

Removal Company Costs

Professional removal companies are a central part of moving house. The costs can vary widely depending on distance, the size of the property, and the services required. For a local move of a 2–3-bedroom home with standard services, prices typically range from £800 to £1,200, while long-distance moves or larger properties can cost £2,000 to £5,000 or more. 

Basic services usually include loading, transport, and unloading. However, moving valuable or fragile items – like antiques, art, or delicate furniture – requires more care.

Experts typically recommend preparing well in advance to reduce packing costs and stress. Key considerations include decluttering to minimise the number of items to be , clearly labelling boxes and keeping an inventory, wrapping fragile possessions carefully, measuring large furniture and doorways, and booking your removal company early. 

At Abels, our professionally trained team handles all of these steps for you, ensuring a smooth, efficient, and worry-free move.

Should you hire movers or do it yourself?

Many people weigh this up when calculating their overall house moving costs. A DIY move can appear cheaper, but it often adds stress and strain on your body, takes longer, and carries the risk of damaging your furniture, possessions and new property.

Professional movers, like Abels, offer bespoke moving solutions and specialist care, particularly for high-value homes with delicate and high-value items – bringing in professional relocation experts makes the process smoother and less stressful, so you can focus on settling into your new home and not worry about the logistics.

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Packing and Specialist Services

For small or standard moves, buying boxes and moving yourself can seem like a cheaper option. A modest home can involve moving dozens of boxes, and in our experience, the average home move can use anywhere up to sixty boxes in one move.

For larger or more complex moves, it’s not simply a matter of having more boxes. Bulky furniture, fragile items, and valuable collections often require specialist packing materials and handling techniques. This might include oversized boxes, bespoke racking for artwork, custom crates, reinforced fastenings, or protective coverings to safeguard delicate finishes. 

Without this level of preparation, the risk of breakage or damage increases significantly. By contrast, a professional packing service from Abels provides a team of expert movers with the right materials, skill and experience to use them properly – ensuring your possessions arrive in perfect condition, no matter how complex the move.

In the UK, a standard packing service typically costs £300 – £1,200, depending on property size and items. Premium professional movers, like Abels have been operating for over 65 years, with a wealth of experience in handling specialist items for prestigious museums and galleries.

Their expertise covers a wide range of valuable possessions, including fine art and antiques, private collections such as wine or artwork, and vehicles or country estate items. These tailored services go beyond standard removals, providing reassurance that every valuable or fragile item is handled with expert care and precision.

Storage Costs

Every move is different, and sometimes moving plans don’t follow a straight line. That’s why Abels offers flexible, secure storage to our customers, ensuring valuable items remain safe and in perfect condition, whether for the short term or the long term. 

We advise you to always factor potential storage costs into your moving budget. Services such as Abel’s storage solutions can provide that extra flexibility when plans change.

Hidden Costs of Moving House

In our experience, there are always a few extra costs that can creep in. These hidden costs of moving house may not be huge individually, but together they can add up. A few costs that are often easy to overlook are:

Building these into your budget helps avoid last-minute surprises and will give you a more accurate picture of your overall moving house expenses to help make your transition smoother.

Make Every Move Seamless with Abels

The type of House move you’re making will naturally influence costs. Local moves are often cheaper, while long-distance or international moves require specialist logistics and careful planning

With Abels’ full-service approach, many of the usual “hidden” costs from packing and storage to permits and unexpected challenges – are already anticipated and taken care of. Even for shorter moves, our services extend well beyond transport, offering professional packing and unpacking, secure storage, bespoke solutions for fine art and antiques, vehicle relocation, and dedicated move management.

This attention to detail is what safeguards your most delicate and valuable possessions, while making the entire moving experience smoother and less stressful. It means you can focus on the excitement of settling into your new home, with complete confidence that everything else is being handled.

Discover how Abels can make your domestic move seamless. Speak with our team today for a personalised moving quote, tailored around your needs.

The content on this blog is for informational and educational purposes only. It is not intended to be, and should not be construed as, professional advice in any field, including but not limited to financial, legal, or medical fields. We are not liable for any actions taken based on the information provided. Please conduct your own research and consult with a professional before acting on any information from this blog.