Legal Fees for Buying a Subsale Property
A full breakdown of legal fees and stamp duty for a subsale property purchase in Malaysia, calculated under the Solicitors Remuneration Order 2023 and the Stamp Act 1949.
Updated 4 October 2026 · Written and reviewed by Nur Nabilah Binti Mohd Aris
Subsale legal fees are made up of the sale and purchase agreement fee, the loan documentation fee, stamp duty and disbursements. For a subsale property at RM500,000 with a 90% loan, the total is approximately RM26,000. That comprises legal fees of RM6,250 for the sale and purchase agreement, RM5,625 for the loan documentation, service tax of RM950, transfer stamp duty of RM9,000, loan agreement stamp duty of RM2,250, plus registration fees and disbursements.
What this subsale legal fees guide covers
Legal costs for a property purchase in Malaysia are not a price set by the law firm. Conveyancing fees are fixed by statute under the Solicitors Remuneration Order 2023, and stamp duty is fixed under the Stamp Act 1949.
This means the figures below are the same whichever firm you appoint. What differs between firms is disbursements and how the work is handled, not the statutory fees. What the work covers is set out under subsale conveyancing for buyers and for sellers.
Full breakdown of subsale legal fees by property price
The table assumes a purchase with a bank loan at 90% margin, property in Selangor, a citizen buyer who is not a first-time buyer.
| Property price | SPA fee | Loan fee | SST 8% | Transfer duty | Loan duty | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| RM250,000 | RM3,125 | RM2,813 | RM475 | RM4,000 | RM1,125 | RM13,538 |
| RM500,000 | RM6,250 | RM5,625 | RM950 | RM9,000 | RM2,250 | RM26,075 |
| RM750,000 | RM8,750 | RM8,000 | RM1,340 | RM16,500 | RM3,375 | RM39,965 |
| RM1,000,000 | RM11,250 | RM10,250 | RM1,720 | RM24,000 | RM4,500 | RM53,720 |
| RM1,500,000 | RM16,250 | RM14,750 | RM2,480 | RM44,000 | RM6,750 | RM86,230 |
The subsale legal fees scale under SRO 2023
The same scale applies to the sale and purchase fee and to the loan agreement fee, each calculated on its own amount.
| Value band | Rate |
|---|---|
| First RM500,000 | 1.25% |
| Next RM7,000,000 | 1.00% |
| Next RM7,000,000 | 0.70% |
| Next RM10,000,000 | 0.60% |
| Above RM25,000,000 | negotiable, not less than 0.50% |
The transfer stamp duty scale
| Value band | Rate |
|---|---|
| First RM100,000 | 1% |
| RM100,001 to RM500,000 | 2% |
| RM500,001 to RM1,000,000 | 3% |
| Above RM1,000,000 | 4% |
| Non-citizen buyer or foreign company, flat rate | 8% |
What changes your subsale legal fees
Four things affect the final total most: whether you use a loan and at what margin, whether you qualify for the first-time buyer stamp duty exemption, the state where the property is located because registration fees differ, and whether you are a citizen.
Our calculator accounts for all four and shows the statutory reference for each line.
When your estimate does not match the actual bill
The most common reason is that market value exceeds the purchase price. Transfer stamp duty is charged on the higher of the two, so a property bought below market still attracts duty on the full value.
The second is the loan margin. Loan documentation fees are calculated on the loan amount, not the price, so a 90% loan produces a higher fee than a 70% loan on the same property.
The third is disbursements left out of the early estimate: official searches, bankruptcy searches, registration fees, document delivery, and for strata property, the management body’s fees.
Legitimate ways to reduce subsale legal fees
Use one firm for both the sale and purchase agreement and the loan documentation where that firm is on your bank’s panel. This does not reduce the statutory fee, but it removes duplicated work and delay.
Check your eligibility for the first-time buyer stamp duty exemption before signing. It depends on the price ceiling and on this being a first purchase, and it is not granted automatically if the forms are not filed correctly.
Negotiate a realistic completion period. An extension carries late interest payable to the seller, and that is a real cost that appears on no fee schedule.
Frequently asked questions about subsale legal fees
Why are there two different legal fees?
The sale and purchase agreement and the loan documentation are separate matters. The first is calculated on the property price, the second on the loan amount.
Are conveyancing fees negotiable?
Fees are set by statute under the Solicitors Remuneration Order 2023. They are not a price set by the firm.
What are disbursements?
Actual costs paid out on your behalf, such as official land searches, bankruptcy searches, registration fees, delivery and printing. They are separate from legal fees.
Why is service tax charged?
Service tax at 8% applies to legal services since 1 March 2024, under the Service Tax Act 2018.
I am buying with cash, how much do I save?
You avoid the legal fee for loan documentation, the loan agreement stamp duty, and the charge registration fee. Depending on the price this can be several thousand ringgit.
Is there a stamp duty exemption for first-time buyers?
There is an exemption for first-time buyers subject to a price cap and conditions in force. You need to check eligibility against your circumstances at the time of the transaction.
When is this payable?
Legal fees and stamp duty are normally paid early in the matter, after the sale and purchase agreement is signed. They are not paid at handover.
Ready to start your property matter?
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