Free tools Windows power users keep installed
One-click scans. No signup required.
The deposit is only one part of the cash you need to buy a London home. Before completion, plan for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT), conveyancing, searches, a survey, mortgage and registration fees, and any lender or broker charges in your quote. Around move-in, add removals, packing, essential repairs and initial furnishings. After completion, your budget must still cover the mortgage, Council Tax, utilities, insurance and—if the property is leasehold—service charges and ground rent.
London is in England, so English SDLT rules apply. The amount you actually need depends on the price, whether every buyer qualifies for first-time buyer relief, the tenure, the property’s condition and the written quotes you obtain.
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases.
Start with a cash map, not a single “extra costs” percentage
A deposit is the amount you contribute toward the purchase price. It does not normally pay the transaction costs listed below, and some costs are due before completion while others arrive later. Build a dated cash-flow plan so money is available when each invoice falls due.
| When | Cost to plan for | What to confirm |
|---|---|---|
| Before exchange or completion | Conveyancing and legal work | Obtain a written quote and check which searches, lender work, lease review and VAT are included. |
| Before completion | Property searches | Allow for local-authority, water-and-drainage and environmental searches; buyers usually pay for these upfront. |
| Before mortgage approval | Survey and lender valuation | Check the survey’s scope and whether the lender’s valuation is a separate, lender-only assessment. |
| On or before completion | SDLT, mortgage and registration fees | Ask who collects each amount and when it must be transferred. |
| Completion and move-in | Removals, packing and immediate works | Get a removals quote for your move and reserve cash for essential repairs or improvements. |
| Every month or year after completion | Mortgage, Council Tax, utilities, insurance and tenure charges | Use actual bills or written estimates for the specific property. |
There is no reliable official all-in London average for these beyond-deposit costs. Treat any online percentage as a rough prompt to investigate, not as a budget for your purchase.
#1 Best Overall
- MOVING SUPPLIES FOR HOME OR BUSINESS – Moving boxes for apartment and house moves, classrooms, offices, and small business relocations. Ideal for packing books, clothing, linens, office supplies, and household goods for moving, storage, or shipping.
- STRONG CORRUGATED BOXES FOR HEAVY ITEMS – Made from 32-ECT corrugated cardboard, supporting up to 65 lbs when properly packed. Helps protect books, kitchenware, tools, and household items during moving, shipping, or storage.
- SAFE FOR DISHES, GLASSWARE & FRAGILE ITEMS – Suitable for packing dishes, glassware, kitchen supplies, collectibles, and breakables when used with packing paper or cushioning. Corrugated construction adds structure and protection during moves.
- EASY TO ASSEMBLE & STORE FLAT – Ships flat to save space before use. Simple fold-and-tape assembly allows quick setup for moving, organizing, shipping, or packing household and business items.
- SUITABLE FOR STORAGE & REUSE – Kraft corrugated boxes can be reused for organizing garages, closets, offices, and storage units. Designed for packing, moving, and storing items in clean, dry environments. Made in the USA and recyclable.
SDLT: calculate the tax before you offer
Residential purchases in London are subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax because London is in England. HM Revenue & Customs’ current residential rates guidance sets the standard single-property bands below:
| Purchase-price slice | Standard SDLT rate |
|---|---|
| Up to £125,000 | 0% |
| £125,001 to £250,000 | 2% |
| £250,001 to £925,000 | 5% |
| £925,001 to £1.5 million | 10% |
| Above £1.5 million | 12% |
First-time buyer relief
Qualifying first-time buyers in England pay 0% on the first £300,000 and 5% on the portion from £300,001 to £500,000. The relief is available only when the purchase price is £500,000 or less. If the price is above £500,000, the relief is unavailable and the standard rates apply to the whole transaction.
Every buyer in a joint purchase must meet the first-time buyer test, and the buyers must intend to occupy the property as their main residence. Confirm the position with your conveyancer if ownership history, a previous inherited interest or a non-occupying co-buyer could affect eligibility.
Worked illustrations
These examples show the rate bands, not a quote for your transaction:
Rank #2
- FULL-OPEN SIDE ZIPPER — PACK A DORM ROOM IN MINUTES: Unlike standard top-zip moving bags, our full-open side zipper unzips all the way down, so the bag lies completely flat on your bed or floor — just drop in comforters, pillows, and bulky blankets without digging, stuffing, or tilting, and unload just as easily. Lidded Storage Bins.Perfect for college move-in day, apartment moves, and loading your car fast.
- 93L EXTRA LARGE CAPACITY (29" x 14" x 13") — HOLDS UP TO 65 LBS, REPLACES 2+ MOVING BOXES: Each bag measures 29"L x 14"W x 13"H with a massive 93-liter (≈25 gallon) capacity — fits 4 king-size comforters, 36 pairs of jeans, or 60 T-shirts, yet at 56 linear inches it stays within most airlines' 62" checked-baggage size limit. The 6-pack moves a full dorm room or studio apartment in one car load — no more endless cardboard boxes.
- EXTRA HEAVY-DUTY 210 GSM FABRIC + REINFORCED STRAPS — NO RIPPED HANDLES AT 65 LBS: Thick 210 GSM woven fabric with extra-long straps stitched down the sides spreads heavy loads across the whole bag, so handles won't tear mid-stairs even when packed full of books or shoes. Built to be reused move after move, semester after semester — not tossed after one trip like flimsy bags and cardboard boxes.
- TAG POCKET + 6 COLOR-CODED ID CARDS — FIND ANY BAG WITHOUT OPENING IT: Every bag features a built-in tag pocket on the top-right corner — slide in one of the 6 included color-coded ID cards or a written label. Red for winter clothes, orange for shoes, green for bedding, blue for books — no marker scribbles, no guessing, no unzipping every bag to find what you need. A complete organization system exclusive to RMOHRO.
- WATER-RESISTANT & FOLDS TO 1" FLAT — FROM MOVING DAY TO UNDER-BED STORAGE: Coated woven fabric resists moisture, dust, and dirt, protecting your belongings from light rain on loading day and from damp closets or garages during long-term storage. When the move is done, each bag folds flat to about 1 inch thick — slip it under a bed, onto a closet shelf, or keep one in your trunk for the next move, seasonal swap, or camping trip.Lidded Storage Bins.
- £300,000 purchase: £0 SDLT for an eligible first-time buyer.
- £400,000 purchase: 0% on £300,000 and 5% on £100,000, giving £5,000.
- £500,000 purchase: 5% on £200,000 above the £300,000 nil-rate portion, giving £10,000.
- £600,000 purchase: first-time buyer relief does not apply. Under the standard bands, the tax is 2% of £125,000 (£2,500) plus 5% of £350,000 (£17,500), or £20,000.
Rates and thresholds can change. Recalculate using HMRC’s current rates guidance and calculator immediately before exchange and ask your conveyancer to confirm the figure for your completion statement.
Return and payment deadline
The SDLT return and payment are due within 14 days of completion. A conveyancer will usually submit the return and pay HMRC for you on completion, using money you have provided. Make sure the completion funds include the tax even if you do not personally file the return.
These rules are for England. Scotland uses Land and Buildings Transaction Tax and Wales uses Land Transaction Tax, so do not carry the London calculation into a purchase in either nation.
Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsConveyancing, searches and registration
Legal work
Your solicitor or licensed conveyancer checks title, handles the contract, raises enquiries and coordinates exchange and completion. Ask for an itemised written quote rather than relying on a headline fee. Confirm whether it includes acting for your lender, leasehold work, bank-transfer charges, identity checks, search fees, SDLT filing and VAT. A low initial quote can rise if these items are excluded.
Rank #3
- 【Extra Heavy Duty】Made of upgraded 180 GMS extra thick coated PE fabric, Fygrip moving bags with fully wrap around handles, strong zipper and reinforced stitching promise to safely hold more than 65 lbs loading.
- 【Extra Large Capacity】Sized at 29"L x 14"W x 13"H, these extra large storage bags offers more than 23 gallon volume, perfect packing bags for the moving of college student.
- 【Easy Packing & Storage】No more hassles to assemble and unpack the moving boxes. These large packing bags features a wide open zipper design, you can easily pack your large bedding right into the bags. And you can also easily folded them after use for easy storage.
- 【Fygrip Comfortable Grip】Equipped with wide webbing handles, it can relieve the burden while carrying by hand or on the shoulder, bringing you a more comfortable using experience.Perfect storage bags storage bins storage totes cubes containers for closet organizers and storage.
- 【No Puncture & Waterproof】These sturdy packing bags are puncture-free and waterproof, they can easily withstand the rough journey of moving, camping, travel, closet organization and storage.
Searches
Usual searches include the local-authority search, water-and-drainage search and environmental search. They can reveal planning matters, road proposals, drainage connections, contamination risks or other issues that affect value and insurability. Buyers usually pay for searches upfront, often before the seller’s solicitor will release the results. Ask your conveyancer which searches are ordered, the expected turnaround and whether a lender requires any additional report.
Land registration and completion money
Registration fees are another possible transaction cost. The amount depends on the transaction and the Land Registry application, so use the figure in your conveyancer’s quote or completion statement rather than a generic internet estimate. Request a draft completion statement early enough to check the purchase price balance, deposit already paid, SDLT, legal fees, searches, registration and any apportionments.
Survey versus the mortgage valuation
A lender’s valuation and a buyer’s survey answer different questions. The valuation is commissioned for the lender before mortgage approval and is intended to assess whether the property supports the loan. It is not a detailed inspection for you and may not identify defects that could become your expense.
The Tool Desk
Outbyte PC Repair FREERepair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Outbyte Driver Updater FREEFix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →A buyer-arranged homebuyer survey is for your decision-making. Its scope depends on the survey level and the property’s age, construction and condition. Read the terms before ordering, check what is inspected, and ask how urgent defects are reported. No dependable London-wide survey price range is established here; obtain a quote for the particular address and survey level.
Rank #4
- QUICK AND EASY ASSEMBLY: No tape required, easy to pack and stack, boxes are preprinted with convenient labeling space
- REINFORCED HANDLES: Worry about your move, not your boxes. Reinforced, easy carry handles make it simple to carry and move your boxes
- CONVENIENT LIFT-OFF LID: Quick access to your items when needed, but the lid stays secure while transporting your moving boxes
- RECYCLABLE, STACKABLE, AND REUSABLE: Our strong moving boxes are easier to keep organized in stacks, quick to break down, and store flat until ready to reuse
- MEDIUM SIZE: 19-in x 14.5-in x 15.5-in, the versatile box in our range that works for nearly everything
If a survey identifies significant work, you have practical choices before exchange: renegotiate the price, ask the seller to remedy a defect, increase your repair reserve or withdraw if the risk is unacceptable. Do not treat a clean lender valuation as a substitute for your own inspection.
Mortgage and finance-related charges
Mortgage products can carry arrangement or product fees, valuation charges, broker fees and other administration costs. Some fees are payable when you apply, some on offer or completion, and some may be added to the loan. Adding a fee increases the balance on which you pay interest, so compare the total cost over the deal period rather than assuming “fee-free” is cheapest.
Ask the lender or broker for a written schedule showing each fee, its due date, whether it is refundable if the purchase fails and whether it can be financed. Keep a separate cash reserve for fees that cannot be added to the mortgage. Your conveyancer should also confirm whether a lender requires specific searches, indemnity policies or registration work.
PC Slower Than It Used to Be?
A free scan shows the junk files, broken settings and background clutter dragging Windows down - then fixes them in one click.Free scan · Windows 10 & 11Crashes, No Sound, or Screen Glitches?
Random freezes, missing sound and display glitches usually trace back to one bad driver. Find and replace yours safely.Free scan · under a minuteRepairs, improvements and the first week in the home
Government home-buying guidance lists essential repairs or improvements as possible extra costs. A property-specific contingency is more useful than a standard allowance. Use the survey, viewing notes and any specialist reports to list immediate safety or weatherproofing work separately from projects that can wait.
Best Value
- ULTRA-STRONG 200LB LOAD CAPACITY — Independently tested to support heavy-duty moves. Our signature wrap-around handles encircle the entire bag from bottom to top, creating a structural "cradle" that supports weight from the base. Combined with reinforced stitching, these bags won't snap or tear, even when packed with heavy linens, books, or kitchenware.
- THE SMARTER BOX ALTERNATIVE — Why buy expensive, bulky moving boxes that end up in the trash? One 24-gallon HOMESURE bag provides the same volume as a large box but is far easier to carry over the shoulder. When empty, all 8 bags fold down into a compact stack, saving you a massive amount of storage space in your closet or car trunk.
- COLLEGE DORM MOVE-IN READY — Save time and car space on move-in day. One 24-gallon HOMESURE bag is a dorm room lifesaver. To visualize the space: it fits 2 Twin XL comforters and 1 mattress pad, OR 6 standard pillows, OR 30+ sneakers and an entire semester’s worth of sweaters. It’s the ultimate heavy-duty solution for carrying everything from the trunk to the dorm room.
- INSTANT CONTENT IDENTIFICATION — Stop the "guessing game" on moving day. Each tote features a clear plastic tag pocket. Simply slide in a label to identify "Master Bedroom" or "Garage Toys" in seconds. This small design detail saves hours of unzipping and searching, making your organization system professional and efficient.
- PRO-GRADE PROTECTION — Crafted from high-density, water-resistant woven fabric with smooth #5 dual zippers. These aren't flimsy one-move bags; they are designed for years of reuse. Whether it's light rain during transit or long-term storage in a dusty attic, your clothes and linens stay pristine and protected.
- Immediate: work needed for safety, security, heating, leaks or compliance.
- Near term: repairs that prevent deterioration, such as defective gutters or damp-related work.
- Optional: decoration, replacement furniture and energy-efficiency upgrades you can schedule after your finances settle.
Keep funds for locksmithing, meter readings, cleaning, appliance installation and small materials. These items are individually modest but arrive when your completion account is already stretched.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Moving costs and settling in
Arrange removals quotes suited to the size, distance, access and date of your move. Ask whether the quote includes packing, dismantling and reassembly, stair or lift charges, waiting time, insurance and storage. A weekend or bank-holiday move may be priced differently from a weekday.
If you pack yourself, budget for boxes, tape, protective wrap and labels. Supplies are optional; they are not a substitute for a removals quote. Check whether your building has a booking system for loading bays or lifts and whether the managing agent requires a refundable move-in deposit.
Quick wins for a faster PC:
Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsFix Now →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Leasehold and freehold: different ongoing liabilities
Leasehold
Leasehold ownership can involve a service charge and ground rent in addition to your mortgage and household bills. Service charges usually contribute to building insurance and the maintenance of shared areas; the lease may also permit major-works bills. Ground-rent terms, review clauses and statutory changes can affect future costs.
Before exchange, obtain the lease, the latest service-charge accounts and budget, information about arrears, planned major works, buildings insurance and any reserve fund. Ask how often charges are billed, whether they can rise, and whether the landlord has issued consultation notices for major expenditure. Budget using the actual documents, not an estate-agent estimate.
Freehold
A freehold buyer owns the house and land outright and does not pay leasehold ground rent or service charges. The trade-off is direct responsibility for the roof, structure, external fabric, boundaries, garden, drainage and other land-related maintenance. Set aside money for periodic work even when no repair is immediately visible.
Recurring ownership costs to add to the monthly budget
| Cost | How to budget it |
|---|---|
| Mortgage payment | Use the payment at the initial rate and stress-test your budget for a higher rate when the deal ends. |
| Council Tax | Check the property’s band and the council’s current charge; divide the annual bill across your budgeting months. |
| Heating and electricity | Use recent bills or meter information where available and allow for seasonal variation. |
| Water | Confirm whether the home is metered or charged by another method and use the supplier’s current tariff. |
| Broadband and communications | Check availability, installation charges and the post-promotion price. |
| Buildings and contents insurance | Confirm the lender’s buildings-insurance requirement; leaseholders should check what the service charge already covers. |
| Service charge and ground rent | Apply the lease’s actual billing frequency, review terms and any known major-works demand. |
| Repairs and maintenance | Maintain a separate reserve for routine replacement and unexpected faults. |
Mortgage affordability is not assessed on the repayment alone. GOV.UK states: “The mortgage affordability assessment will take into account: your income your current outgoings, for example, utility bills, insurance and Council Tax”. Prepare evidence of these commitments and avoid assuming that a lender’s maximum offer is a comfortable household budget.
What’s actually slowing this PC down?
Pick the symptom - the matching free tool is one click away.
Quick Recap
A practical planning sequence
- Set the purchase-price ceiling. Check the deposit, mortgage offer and cash you can retain after completion.
- Test SDLT eligibility. Confirm that every buyer qualifies and that the price is within the £500,000 first-time buyer-relief ceiling.
- Collect written quotes. Get itemised conveyancing, search, survey, mortgage and removals costs, with VAT and payment dates shown.
- Review the property documents. For leasehold homes, inspect the lease, service-charge information, ground-rent terms, insurance and planned works. For freehold homes, list likely maintenance obligations.
- Build a completion statement check. Reconcile the balance to complete, SDLT, legal and search charges, registration, lender fees and any apportionments.
- Reserve move-in cash. Keep separate funds for removals, packing, locks, cleaning, essential repairs and immediate utility setup.
- Run the monthly test. Add the mortgage, Council Tax, utilities, insurance, tenure charges and a maintenance reserve. Compare the total with take-home income, not just the lender’s approval.
- Recheck volatile figures. Immediately before exchange, confirm HMRC’s rates, the lender’s product fees, current service-charge information and every supplier quote.
Common budgeting mistakes and how to avoid them
- Assuming relief applies automatically: relief fails when the price exceeds £500,000 or a joint buyer does not meet the test. Confirm eligibility before relying on a zero-tax calculation.
- Using the lender’s valuation as a survey: order an inspection suited to your risk tolerance and the building’s condition.
- Comparing only headline legal fees: compare the full quote, including searches, lender work, lease review, VAT and registration-related charges.
- Ignoring payment timing: searches and some mortgage fees can be due before completion, while SDLT is funded at completion and paid within 14 days.
- Budgeting leasehold charges from an advert: rely on the lease and current statements, then investigate major works and escalation clauses.
- Spending the entire reserve on the deposit: retain cash for moving, repairs and the first household bills so a minor problem does not become expensive borrowing.
- Relying on an old tax figure: rates and thresholds are changeable; recalculate with current HMRC guidance before signing.
Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.
