A standard residential purchase in Victoria typically costs about A$800 to A$1,900 in professional fees, depending on which published guide you read, plus A$300 to A$850 in disbursements such as searches, certificates and PEXA. Complex matters, including off-the-plan and some owners corporation purchases, can reach A$2,500 to A$5,500 or more. Ask for a written quote that shows the fee and third-party costs separately.
Victoria has its own conveyancing rules, and they affect what you pay. Sellers must supply a section 32 vendor statement before you sign, the cooling-off period is shorter than in some other states, and conveyancers are licensed by a state authority rather than by a law society. This guide explains how conveyancer fees Melbourne buyers and sellers pay are built up, like those across the rest of Victoria, what the published price ranges say, how a conveyancer compares with a lawyer, and how to compare quotes without being caught by hidden extras.
All figures are in Australian dollars, are attributed to the publisher that produced them and are indicative only. None is a quote for your matter.
Typical Conveyancing Fees In Victoria
There is no official fee schedule for residential conveyancing in Victoria. Each practice sets its own price, so the most useful guide is the range published by editorial sites and industry bodies. Those ranges differ because they assume different property types, different levels of service and different audiences.
| Source |
What It Describes |
Published Range |
| ProperEasy editorial team (September 2026) |
Fixed-fee conveyancing for a straightforward Victorian purchase |
A$800 to A$1,600, towards the top end if an owners corporation is involved |
| What’s The Damage? (verified October 2026) |
Licensed conveyancer, standard Melbourne purchase |
A$850 to A$1,900 |
| What’s The Damage? (verified October 2026) |
Online or fixed-fee conveyancer, simple Melbourne sale |
A$550 to A$1,250 |
Taken together, the sources suggest that a plain residential purchase commonly falls between about A$800 and A$1,900 in professional fees. A low-cost online conveyancer may charge less for a simple sale, and a law firm can charge more. ProperEasy describes Victoria as broadly similar to New South Wales, and the What's The Damage? Melbourne ranges are lower than its Sydney ranges at both ends.
Some of these publishers earn money from the services they describe, so treat their figures as market indicators rather than independent audits.
Professional Fee Versus Disbursements
A conveyancing quote has two layers. The professional fee pays for the practitioner's advice and work: reviewing the contract and section 32 statement, ordering and reviewing certificates, dealing with your lender and the seller's representative, and attending settlement. Disbursements are costs the practice pays to others on your behalf and normally passes on at cost.
| Cost Item |
Who Receives It |
Indicative Figure From Published Sources |
| Professional fee |
Conveyancer or lawyer |
A$800 to A$1,900 for a standard purchase |
| Title searches |
Search providers and government |
Included in the disbursement total; no separate figure in the sources we read |
| Council and water certificates |
Council and water authority |
Included in the disbursement total |
| PEXA settlement fee |
PEXA |
ProperEasy says A$150 to A$250 nationally; see below for PEXA's own Victorian prices |
| Total disbursements |
Various |
What’s The Damage? puts them at A$300 to A$850 on top of any tier |
| Land tax clearance (where relevant) |
Revenue authority |
No figure given by the sources we read |
| Duty |
Victorian Government |
Depends on price; paid separately |
What Does PEXA Charge In Victoria?
PEXA is the national electronic settlement platform used by most practitioners. Its pricing page, which is addressed to conveyancers and legal professionals, lists Victorian transaction service fees including GST. A single-title transfer is listed at A$150.39 and a mortgage at A$55.99, with higher prices for multiple titles. Because PEXA charges the practitioner, who normally passes the cost to you as a disbursement, your invoice will reflect the transactions in your settlement: a purchase with a loan often involves both a transfer and a mortgage. PEXA does not state on that page whether consumers pay directly, so ask your practitioner how it is billed.
The Section 32 Vendor Statement
In Victoria, the seller must give the buyer a section 32 vendor statement before the buyer signs the contract. Consumer Affairs Victoria says the principal statement covers matters such as mortgages, improvements, easements, planning controls, rates and taxes. The seller's legal practitioner or conveyancer usually prepares it. If it is missing, incomplete or inaccurate, the contract is not binding on the buyer, and the seller cannot contract out of that obligation.
| If You Are The… |
Section 32 Means |
Fee Impact |
| Buyer |
You or your practitioner must read the statement and the contract before signing |
Reviewing it is part of the contract review, so confirm it is covered by your fixed fee |
| Seller |
Your practitioner must prepare the statement and obtain the certificates it needs |
Expect disbursements for the certificates, plus a preparation component in the fee |
Neither of the cost guides we reviewed gives a separate price for a section 32 statement, so ask any practice you approach for a sale whether it is included in the quoted fee.
Lawyer Vs Conveyancer In Victoria
The solicitor vs conveyancer Victoria question comes down to price, complexity and the scope of advice. For a standard residential transaction, either can lawfully act. The published ranges show licensed conveyancers costing less.
| Practitioner |
Standard Residential Fee In Melbourne (What’s The Damage?) |
Best Suited To |
| Online or fixed-fee conveyancer |
A$550 to A$1,250 (simple sale) |
Straightforward sales with a standard title |
| Licensed conveyancer |
A$850 to A$1,900 |
Ordinary purchases and sales |
| Lawyer |
A$1,600 to A$3,500 |
Matters where wider legal advice may be needed |
| Complex matters (either practitioner) |
A$2,500 to A$5,500 or more |
Off-the-plan, strata with issues, trusts or SMSF, easements, caveats, disputed titles |
If your purchase involves a trust, an estate, a dispute or a complicated structure, a lawyer may be the better fit because the matter can involve legal advice outside ordinary conveyancing. For ordinary matters a licensed conveyancer is usually the cheaper choice. When you compare law firms in Melbourne, ask whether the quoted conveyancing fee is fixed, who will do the work day to day, and what is excluded.
How Conveyancers Are Licensed In Victoria
In Victoria, conveyancers are licensed by the Business Licensing Authority under the Conveyancers Act 2006, according to the Australian Business Licence and Information Service. A licence is needed to operate a conveyancing business unless you are an Australian legal practitioner or an incorporated legal practice. Employees working inside a licensed conveyancer's business do not need their own licence.
| Requirement |
What The Official Listing Says |
| Regulator |
Business Licensing Authority |
| Governing law |
Conveyancers Act 2006, with conduct, qualifications and trust account regulations made in 2018 |
| Age and experience |
At least 18, with 12 months of work experience (or the part-time equivalent within five years) and the required educational qualifications |
| Insurance |
Required professional indemnity cover, or employment by someone who holds it |
| Companies |
Must have at least one licensed director |
| Public register |
Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes a register of licensed conveyancers |
Before you instruct anyone, check the register and ask about insurance. Both take a few minutes and cost nothing.
Conveyancing Costs In Melbourne
For conveyancing cost Melbourne buyers should plan on professional fees of about A$850 to A$1,900 and disbursements of A$300 to A$850, a combined A$1,150 to A$2,750, for a standard property. ProperEasy advises Melbourne buyers to budget towards the top of its A$800 to A$1,600 range when an owners corporation is involved, since apartments and townhouses bring additional documents and certificates to review.
Many buyers in Melbourne also work with a tax adviser when a purchase affects an investment structure or business finances. If that applies, you may want to compare accountants in Melbourne before settlement. You can also find other local providers through the Melbourne services hub.
| Property Type |
Extra Work To Expect |
Fee Effect |
| House on a clean title |
Standard searches and certificates |
Lower end of the range |
| Apartment or townhouse |
Owners corporation records and certificates |
Toward the upper end, per ProperEasy |
| Off-the-plan |
Developer contract, variations, longer timelines |
Complex band: A$2,500 to A$5,500 or more (What’s The Damage?) |
| Property with easements or caveats |
Additional title review |
Complex band |
Cooling-Off In Victoria
Consumer Affairs Victoria says a buyer of residential property has three clear business days, starting the day after signing, to change their mind. To cool off, the buyer gives written notice to the agent or seller and pays a penalty of A$100 or 0.2 per cent of the sale price, whichever is greater. This right is not available for properties sold at public auction (or within three clear business days before or after), for commercial or industrial property, for rural property over 20 hectares, or for purchases by companies, among other exceptions. It cannot be removed by a term in the contract.
| Item |
Victorian Rule (Consumer Affairs Victoria) |
| Length |
Three clear business days from the day after signing |
| Penalty |
A$100 or 0.2 per cent of the price, whichever is greater |
| Notice |
Written, to the agent or seller |
| Not available |
Auction sales, commercial and industrial property, rural land over 20 hectares, company purchasers |
The fee point is practical. Three clear business days is tight, so book your contract and section 32 review before you sign, rather than after. Reviewing the paperwork during the cooling-off period is usually cheaper than losing money by cancelling late.
Duty: A Separate Cost
Land transfer duty, commonly called stamp duty, is a tax paid to the Victorian Government and is not part of the conveyancing quote. ProperEasy reports that Victoria uses a sliding scale with the top general rate of 5.5 per cent applying once the dutiable value passes A$960,000, that first home buyers are exempt up to A$600,000 with a tapering concession up to A$750,000, and that foreign purchasers pay an 8 per cent surcharge. Thresholds change, so check the State Revenue Office calculator before you set a budget. Your practitioner will usually arrange payment of duty around settlement, but it should appear as a separate line in your costings.
What Drives The Cost
- Buying or selling: Purchases involve more searches and lender liaison. Sales involve preparing the section 32 statement. What's The Damage? shows lower fees for simple online sales.
- Property type: Owners corporation properties carry extra certificates and records to review.
- Title issues: Easements, caveats and shared access increase time spent.
- Finance: Mortgage documents and lender conditions add work, and PEXA may process both a transfer and a mortgage.
- Who acts: Lawyer rates are higher than conveyancer rates for standard work in the published ranges.
- Timing: Short settlements and urgent reviews can attract extra fees, so ask about them up front.
- Third-party costs: Searches, certificates and PEXA add a fixed layer whichever practitioner you use.
How To Compare Quotes
| Question To Ask |
Why It Matters |
| Is the fee fixed and GST-inclusive? |
GST can make a headline fee look lower than the final bill |
| Is the section 32 review or preparation included? |
Buyers need it reviewed; sellers need it prepared |
| Which certificates and searches are included? |
They make up the disbursement layer |
| Is the PEXA fee included? |
PEXA lists single-title Victorian transfers at A$150.39 including GST |
| Will the contract be reviewed before I sign? |
Cooling-off is only three clear business days |
| What triggers an extra charge? |
Owners corporation work, variations and complex titles often do |
| Is the practitioner licensed or a lawyer? |
Check the Consumer Affairs Victoria register or the practising certificate |
| Who will handle my file? |
Names and qualifications avoid surprises |
Ask for the quote in writing and compare the total cost to settlement, not the advertised fee. A quote that is A$200 cheaper but leaves out certificates and PEXA may end up higher. Speak to two or three practices by phone: how quickly and clearly they answer before you instruct them is a reasonable predictor of how they will behave when settlement is close.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Much Are Conveyancing Fees In Victoria?
Published guides put professional fees for a standard Victorian purchase at roughly A$800 to A$1,900. What's The Damage? adds A$300 to A$850 for disbursements such as searches, certificates and PEXA. Complex matters cost more, with its complex band at A$2,500 to A$5,500 or more. Ask for a written all-in quote.
What Do Conveyancer Fees Melbourne Quotes Include?
Typically contract and section 32 review, ordering searches and certificates, liaising with your lender and the other side, preparing settlement documents and attending settlement through PEXA. Disbursements are usually billed on top. Because practices package work differently, confirm in writing what the fixed fee covers and what triggers extra charges.
Is It Cheaper To Use A Conveyancer Or A Lawyer In Victoria?
For standard matters, a licensed conveyancer is usually cheaper. What's The Damage? shows A$850 to A$1,900 for a conveyancer and A$1,600 to A$3,500 for a lawyer in Melbourne. A lawyer may be worth the extra cost if your purchase involves a trust, an estate, a dispute or a complicated contract.
How Long Is The Cooling-Off Period In Victoria?
Consumer Affairs Victoria says it is three clear business days, starting the day after signing. Cancelling costs A$100 or 0.2 per cent of the price, whichever is greater. It does not apply to auction sales or several other categories of property. Have your contract and section 32 statement reviewed before you sign.
What Happens If The Section 32 Statement Is Missing?
According to Consumer Affairs Victoria, the contract is not binding on the buyer if the section 32 statement is missing, incomplete or inaccurate, and the seller cannot remove that obligation through a contract term. If you think this applies to you, get advice from a licensed conveyancer or lawyer straight away rather than deciding for yourself.
Who Regulates Conveyancers In Victoria?
The Business Licensing Authority licenses conveyancers under the Conveyancers Act 2006. Consumer Affairs Victoria publishes a register you can search. Lawyers are regulated separately as legal practitioners. Before you instruct a practitioner, check their status and ask about professional indemnity insurance.
Do I Pay Extra For PEXA?
Usually yes, as a disbursement. PEXA charges the practitioner, and the fee is normally passed on. PEXA's own pricing page lists a single-title Victorian transfer at A$150.39 including GST, and ProperEasy puts the typical cost at A$150 to A$250. Ask whether it is included in the fixed fee.
The Short Version
- Expect roughly A$800 to A$1,900 in professional fees for a standard Victorian purchase, plus A$300 to A$850 in disbursements.
- Complex matters, including off-the-plan and some title or owners corporation issues, commonly run A$2,500 to A$5,500 or more.
- Sellers must provide a section 32 statement before you sign; a missing or inaccurate one means the contract is not binding on you.
- Cooling-off is three clear business days with a penalty of A$100 or 0.2 per cent, so review the paperwork before you sign.
- Compare total cost to settlement in writing, including searches, PEXA and GST, and check the practitioner's licence or practising certificate.
This guide is general information only. Confirm current figures and rules with your practitioner, Consumer Affairs Victoria, the State Revenue Office or the official source before you commit.
