This can seem like a hidden fee, as it’s not something that we come across very often in the UK, but it is common when buying property overseas in certain European countries. The notary is a representative of the state who authenticates and authorises different components of the buying process.

The notaries are a third party who ensures the contracts are drawn up as intended, that the deeds are deposited correctly and, in some cases, they perform a certain level of property searches. It’s easy to see why those who are buying property abroad are happy to pay for their services, as it adds a layer of added protection to the process.

The fees differ depending upon the country from which you are buying the property:
The French notaries collect both a fee for themselves and tax for the state. The amount they charge for fees is based on the value of the property, with most people paying 0.799% for a property valued over €60,000. The taxes change depending on whether the property you buy is new or a resale: under the ‘taxe de publicité foncière’, a new property is taxed at 0.71% and a resale at 5.81% – plus the additional 0.10% for the ‘contribution de sécurité immobilière’.

Portugal has a fixed fee of €153 for the transaction and a further 0.75-1% for the cadastral value (the monetary value the authorities give each property) for the deed registration.

The Spanish notarial fees are set by the government but do vary due to the different services each property requires – these are calculated on an individual case basis.

Italy has a simple system; you pay the equivalent of 2% of the property’s value on your first home and around 9% for a second home. This can increase if you choose to buy a property in the more expensive areas.