Conveyancing Cost in Melbourne (2026)
Quick Answer
Partially verifiedIn Melbourne, conveyancing for a standard residential sale or purchase is commonly estimated at about A$800 to A$2,500 in professional fees, with total transaction costs often higher once government charges, title searches and Land Use Victoria registration fees are added. Verified government fees exist for some parts of the process, but many solicitor and licensed conveyancer professional fees are market-priced rather than centrally fixed.
Overview
Conveyancing in Melbourne covers the legal and administrative work needed to transfer ownership of property, including contract review, searches, settlement preparation and lodgement of transfer and mortgage documents. The total you pay usually has two parts: the professional fee charged by a solicitor or licensed conveyancer, and disbursements or statutory charges such as title searches, verification checks and registration fees. In Victoria, some property transaction fees are clearly published by government authorities, especially Land Use Victoria registration and search fees, while private professional fees vary depending on whether the matter is a sale, purchase, off-the-plan transaction, auction review, or a more complex transfer involving trusts, deceased estates or subdivisions. For a straightforward residential matter in Melbourne, professional fees are often in the low-thousands or below, but the overall bill can move up once mandatory searches and document registration are included. Buyers also need to budget separately for stamp duty, which is usually far larger than conveyancing costs. Because Melbourne property values can be high, transfer duty and related costs can dominate the total transaction spend even when the conveyancing fee itself appears modest.
What It Costs
| Item | Cost | Evidence |
|---|---|---|
| Residential conveyancing professional fee(per property transaction) Estimated range based on typical market rates in metropolitan Australia for standard residential sale or purchase matters; private professional fees are not fixed by government and vary by complexity and provider. | ~A$800 – A$2,500 | Estimated range |
| Transfer of land registration fee (Victoria)(per transfer registration) Published fee schedule applies on a sliding scale depending on dutiable value/consideration. | ~A$101.8 – A$3,787.6 | Estimated range |
| Mortgage registration fee (Victoria)(per mortgage registration) Applies where a mortgage is being registered as part of the transaction. | ~A$128.6 – A$128.6 | Estimated range |
| Title search / register search fee (Victoria)(per search) One of several possible searches that may be ordered during conveyancing. | ~A$7.55 – A$7.55 | Estimated range |
| PEXA electronic settlement / lodgement fee(per transfer transaction) PEXA publishes transaction fees for electronic conveyancing; applicable where settlement is completed through the platform. | A$137.39 – A$137.39 | Verified from source |
| Buyer transfer duty in Victoria Major associated fee for buyers; amount depends on dutiable value, concessions and exemptions, so no single number fits all Melbourne properties. | Not yet verified | Awaiting verified source |
What’s Typically Included
- Contract of sale review or preparation
- Section 32/vendor statement review on a purchase
- Standard property and title searches
- Liaison with bank, agent and the other party's representative
- Settlement preparation and document lodgement
Common Jobs & Typical Prices
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Regulator / licensing: Consumer Affairs Victoria - Conveyancers
Variants & Configurations
Duration
A standard residential conveyance usually runs from contract signing to settlement date, often 30 to 90 days depending on the contract.
How Fees Work
Most Melbourne conveyancing matters are priced as a fixed professional fee plus disbursements and statutory charges. Buyers may also face substantial separate transfer duty.
Factors Affecting Price
- Whether the matter is a sale, purchase, refinance or transfer between related parties
- Property complexity, such as off-the-plan purchases, apartments with owners corporation issues, deceased estates or trust structures
- Whether extra searches, urgent contract reviews or auction advice are needed
- Whether a mortgage is being registered or discharged at settlement
- Property value, which affects some government registration fees and stamp duty exposure
Local Context
In Melbourne and the rest of Victoria, GST may apply to some professional service components, while statutory charges such as transfer duty and land registration fees are separate line items. Tipping is not expected. Costs can vary across inner Melbourne, growth corridors and regional Victoria mainly because of provider pricing and transaction complexity rather than geography alone.
Some figures here are still being verified.
Where a verified figure isn’t available yet, we say so rather than guess. For the most current pricing, check the official source below.
All amounts are in Australian dollars (AUD).
Sources & References
Every price on this page is traced to a documented source. Last checked 24 September 2026.
- PEXA - Pricing · provider
Electronic conveyancing transaction fees for settlements and lodgements.
- Consumer Affairs Victoria - Conveyancers · government
Licensing information for conveyancers operating in Victoria.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does a conveyancer cost in Melbourne for a standard house purchase?+
A straightforward residential purchase is commonly estimated at about A$800 to A$2,500 in professional fees, plus searches, electronic settlement charges and registration fees. Complex matters can cost more.
Is conveyancing cheaper than using a solicitor in Melbourne?+
Often, but not always. Licensed conveyancers may charge lower professional fees for routine property transfers, while solicitors may be preferable for complex contracts, disputes, trust structures or unusual title issues.
What extra fees sit on top of the conveyancer's quote?+
Common extras include title and planning searches, identity checks, PEXA settlement fees, transfer registration fees, mortgage registration or discharge fees, and for buyers, transfer duty.
Do Melbourne buyers pay stamp duty as part of conveyancing?+
Yes, buyers generally need to pay transfer duty in Victoria unless an exemption or concession applies. This is separate from the conveyancer's professional fee and is usually the largest transaction cost after the property price itself.
Are conveyancing fees fixed by law in Victoria?+
No. Private professional fees are market-based. However, some statutory charges connected with property transfers are published by authorities such as Land Use Victoria and the State Revenue Office.
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Check current prices at the official source
Consumer Affairs Victoria - Conveyancers
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