How much are legal fees when buying a house in NZ?

Conveyancing for a standard purchase often runs from around $1,500 to $3,000 plus GST, depending on the lawyer and complexity, plus disbursements such as LINZ registration and title searches. Selling is usually a little less.

What are disbursements?

Disbursements are third-party costs your lawyer pays on your behalf, such as LINZ registration fees, title and LIM searches, and bank documentation. They are added to the lawyer's fee and are usually a few hundred dollars.

Is GST charged on legal fees?

Yes, 15% GST applies to the lawyer's professional fee. This calculator lets you add GST so you see the full amount you will pay at settlement.

Property Legal Fees Calculator

This New Zealand calculator estimates the legal and conveyancing costs of buying or selling property, combining the lawyer's professional fee with disbursements such as LINZ registration and title searches, plus GST. Legal fees are an easy cost to forget when budgeting for settlement, so this gives you a realistic all-in figure. You enter the fee and disbursements, and the tool shows the total including GST.

Lawyer's professional fee (excl GST)

Disbursements (LINZ, searches, bank docs)

Add GST on the fee

estimated total legal cost

Fee incl GST$0

Disbursements$0

GST on fee$0

Indicative only. Fees vary by lawyer and complexity (cross-lease, unit title, trusts and finance add cost). Disbursements are third-party costs passed on. Get a written quote before you engage a lawyer. Estimate only.

How it works

The calculator adds GST to the lawyer's professional fee (if selected), then adds disbursements to give the total legal cost. Disbursements are the third-party costs your lawyer pays on your behalf, such as LINZ registration and title and LIM searches, and are usually GST-inclusive or GST-free already. The result is a realistic figure to budget alongside your deposit and moving costs.

Worked example

An $1,800 fee plus 15% GST is $2,070, plus $400 of disbursements, for about $2,470 in total. A more complex transaction (unit title, trust, or a build) could run higher, so always get a quote.

Related calculators

First Home Buyer Calculator: buying your first home.
Deposit Savings Calculator: save a deposit.
Real Estate Commission Calculator: selling costs.
Moving Costs Calculator: moving costs.

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