Are there any fees involved when selling my house to a cash buyer?

A cash sale is not automatically fee-free. Some cash buyers do not charge the seller a separate buying fee, but costs can still be deducted from the agreed price or arise through the legal and financial work needed to complete the transaction. The important figure is the net amount you will receive, not simply the headline offer.

Before accepting an offer, ask the buyer to confirm in writing:

• the agreed purchase price;
• any amount that will be deducted before completion;
• which party is responsible for each professional cost;
• whether any fee becomes payable if you withdraw or the transaction does not complete; and
• when the final completion statement will be provided.

Seller-paid costs can include your own conveyancer’s charges. A solicitor or licensed conveyancer checks the title, prepares the contract, deals with enquiries and transfers the property legally. Some firms offer a fixed fee, while others charge according to the work required. Confirm whether the quoted legal cost includes VAT, identity checks, bank-transfer charges and dealing with a mortgage or leasehold title.

You may also incur charges that are specific to your circumstances. For example, a lender may apply an administration or early-repayment charge when an outstanding mortgage is redeemed. A property with a lease, management company, restriction on the title, missing document or unresolved ownership issue may require additional legal work. These are not necessarily cash-buyer fees, but they can reduce the amount left from the sale.

Some costs should normally be questioned. A cash buyer may propose paying for certain arrangements as part of the transaction, but check whether the cost is genuinely covered or merely added to another deduction. Be cautious about:

• upfront application, valuation or inspection fees;
• marketing, administration or referral charges imposed on you as the seller;
• fees for introducing a solicitor or other service provider;
• charges that appear only after you have accepted the offer; and
• withdrawal, exclusivity or contract-break fees that are not clearly explained.

An offer can look attractive while producing a lower net sum if deductions are not disclosed at the outset. Ask for a written breakdown and compare the final amount with the amount you expected to receive. Do not rely solely on a verbal statement that there are no fees; the contract and completion statement should support it.

Check how the agreement describes the price. Terms such as purchase price, net price, costs deducted, allowance and contribution can have different practical effects. If the buyer agrees to contribute towards your legal expenses, establish whether that contribution is capped and whether it covers VAT or additional work. If the buyer says that its own costs will be paid separately, confirm that they will not later be deducted from your proceeds.

Your conveyancer should explain the financial clauses before you sign. They can also check whether the buyer has included a fee, a right to alter the offer after inspection, or a condition allowing the transaction to be cancelled. A cash purchase may involve fewer stages than a sale dependent on a buyer’s mortgage, but it still requires a properly documented contract and satisfactory title checks.

Tax is a separate issue from a buyer’s fee. Stamp Duty Land Tax is generally a cost for the purchaser rather than a charge deducted from the seller’s proceeds. However, your own tax position can depend on factors such as whether the property is your main residence, whether it is an investment or second property, and how it was acquired. A solicitor or tax adviser can explain whether any tax reporting or payment applies to your circumstances.

Before proceeding, calculate the likely net proceeds by starting with the agreed price and subtracting confirmed legal charges, lender charges, leasehold or management-company costs and any other written deductions. This gives a more reliable basis for comparing a cash offer with other selling methods. If a charge is unclear, ask for it to be removed or explained in writing before signing an agreement.