29 May 2026 · 5 min read
The short answer
As a rough guide, a solicitor-drafted declaration of trust in the UK commonly costs between about £300 and £600 plus VAT for a straightforward arrangement. Simple cases can be less, and complex ones - multiple owners, unusual share structures, family loans - can run to £1,000 or more. Always ask for a quote up front, as fees vary by firm and by how complicated your situation is.
What affects the price
- Complexity. Fixed equal shares are cheap; floating shares, several contributors, or money lent by family cost more.
- Whether it is bundled with your conveyancing. Many firms offer it as a cheaper add-on while you are buying.
- Fixed fee vs hourly. A fixed-fee quote gives you certainty; hourly can climb if there is back-and-forth.
- Independent advice. If you each take your own advice (sometimes wise), that is two sets of fees.
- VAT. Solicitor fees usually carry 20% VAT on top, so factor that in.
The DIY option
Online templates cost from around £20 to £50, and some are free. They are cheap, but you get no advice and you carry the risk of getting it wrong. For anything beyond the very simplest situation, that saving can be a false economy - we cover this in do you need a solicitor for a declaration of trust.
Is it worth it?
Set against the alternative, yes. If ownership is ever disputed, resolving it through the courts - for example a claim to force the sale of the property - can cost many thousands of pounds and take months. A few hundred pounds now is cheap insurance against a five-figure problem later.
How to keep the cost down
- Ask your conveyancer to include it while you are buying.
- Get a fixed-fee quote so there are no surprises.
- Go in clear on what you have each put in and the split you want; a tidy contribution record saves the solicitor's time.
- Keep that record up to date afterwards, so you are not paying to redo the document later.
The bottom line
Budget a few hundred pounds for a solicitor-drafted declaration of trust, more if your situation is complex. For a document that decides who gets what if things go wrong, it is one of the cheapest forms of protection you can buy when you own a home with someone else.
This article is general information about the law in England and Wales, not legal advice. Prices are a guide only - get a quote for your situation. For legal matters, speak to a qualified solicitor.
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