Legal fee calculator
Estimate conveyancing legal fees for SPA, MOT, and Loan Agreement. Rates per the Solicitors' Remuneration Order 2023.
- First RM500,000 × 1.00%RM5,000
- Next RM500,000 × 0.80%RM800
- SPA fee subtotalRM5,800
MOT uses the same scale on the same base — typically billed alongside SPA.
- First RM500,000 × 1.00%RM5,000
- Next RM500,000 × 0.80%RM320
- Loan Agreement subtotalRM5,320
- SPA fee
- RM5,800
- MOT fee
- RM5,800
- Loan Agreement fee
- RM5,320
- Disbursements (estimate)
- RM1,050
- Total legal cost
- RM17,970
Disclaimer. This calculator applies the SRO 2023 statutory rates. Actual firm quotes may bundle MOT with SPA, waive disbursements, or apply developer-panel discounts. Always get a written quote from your conveyancing lawyer before signing.
SRO 2023 scale
The same tier table applies to SPA, MOT, and Loan Agreement — but each is calculated separately against its own base amount (property price for SPA/MOT, loan amount for Loan Agreement).
| Tier | Rate |
|---|---|
| First RM500,000 | 1.00% |
| Next RM500,000 | 0.80% |
| Next RM2,000,000 | 0.70% |
| Next RM2,000,000 | 0.60% |
| Next RM2,500,000 | 0.50% |
| Excess above RM7,500,000 | Negotiable (capped 0.50%) |
Minimum fee per matter: RM500. Disbursements (stamping, registration, searches) are charged separately.
How legal fees are calculated
- 01Enter the purchase price
The SPA consideration. SPA and MOT fees are both calculated against this.
- 02Enter the loan amount
The mortgage principal. Loan Agreement fee is on this amount, not the property price.
- 03Read the result
Three separate fees (SPA, MOT, Loan Agreement) plus disbursements, totalling what the lawyer bills you.
Frequently asked questions
What are conveyancing legal fees in Malaysia?+
Legal fees are what your lawyer charges to prepare and execute property documents — the Sale & Purchase Agreement (SPA), Memorandum of Transfer (MOT), and Loan Agreement (if you have a mortgage). The rates are set by statute, not by negotiation, under the Solicitors' Remuneration Order 2023.
What is the SRO 2023?+
The Solicitors' Remuneration Order 2023 (P.U.(A) 86/2023, effective 15 March 2023) is the Malaysian statutory schedule that fixes the legal fee scale for property conveyancing. It replaced the SRO 2017. The tier table above is what every Malaysian conveyancing lawyer is legally required to charge.
Can my lawyer charge less than the SRO scale?+
Officially no — the SRO sets the statutory rate. In practice, firms often "absorb" certain disbursements or bundle the MOT with the SPA without charging twice. For first-time buyer schemes (Skim Rumah Pertama, HOC packages), developers sometimes pre-arrange a panel lawyer with reduced/waived fees. Always ask for a written quote.
What are disbursements?+
Disbursements are the out-of-pocket costs your lawyer pays on your behalf: stamp duty on the documents (a few RM each), land office search fees, registration fees for the charge, photocopying, affidavits. Typically RM200–RM500 per document. They are NOT the lawyer's fee — they go to the government or third parties.
Do I need a separate lawyer for the Loan Agreement?+
You can use the same firm for the SPA, MOT, and Loan Agreement, but the Loan Agreement is technically between you and the bank. Most banks require their panel lawyer to handle it. The fee is calculated separately under the same SRO scale, on the LOAN amount (not the property price).
How much should I budget for legal fees on a RM500k house with 90% loan?+
SPA fee on RM500,000 = RM5,000. MOT fee on RM500,000 = RM5,000. Loan Agreement fee on RM450,000 (1% on first 500k tier) = RM4,500. Disbursements ~RM1,050 (3 documents × RM350). Total ≈ RM15,500 before any first-time-buyer exemption or stamp duty.
Are legal fees tax-deductible?+
For your own home: no, they are a capital cost. For investment property: legal fees on purchase ARE allowable expenses when computing RPGT on a future sale. Legal fees on sale (when you eventually dispose of the property) are also RPGT-allowable. Save the receipts.
Sources
- Malaysian Bar — Solicitors' Remuneration Order
- Solicitors' Remuneration Order 2023 (P.U.(A) 86/2023)