What are notary fees?
Notary fees include various elements such as registration duties, notary fees, administrative costs and other expenses related to the real estate transaction. With our intuitive calculator, you can enter the details of your transaction, such as the sale price of the property and its location, to get an instant estimate of the notary fees you can expect.
Who pays notary fees?
It's important to note that notary fees are payable by the buyer in any real estate transaction. It can also be interesting for the seller to be aware of these fees, as they can influence the final sale price. By understanding potential notary fees, the seller can better assess the net amount he will receive from the sale of his property. So, whether you're buying or selling, having a precise knowledge of notary fees is essential for an informed real estate transaction.
What is “Bëllegen Akt”?
For expensive real estate acquisitions, such as the purchase of a house, apartment or building plot, the standard rate for notary fees is 7%. This amount is divided into 6% for registration fees and 1% for transcription fees.
In order to reduce the costs associated with the purchase of a property, the government has introduced a tax credit: the “Bëllegen Akt”. This tax credit offers a reduction in registration and transcription fees for anyone wishing to acquire a property for use as a primary residence.
Since 16 July 2026 the credit has been capped at 45,000 euros per buyer, that is 90,000 euros for a couple buying together, each having their own ceiling. A property of roughly 640,000 euros can therefore be acquired without registration duty — close to 1.3 million euros for a couple. A minimum of 100 euros is levied in every case.
Any unused credit is not lost: it remains available for a later purchase until exhausted.
In return, the buyer undertakes to occupy the dwelling within two years of the notarial deed — four years for building land or a property under construction — and then to live there for at least two consecutive years. Selling the property, letting it even in part, or ceasing to occupy it before that point makes the credit repayable with statutory interest. A waiver may be sought from the AED in cases of force majeure, illness, forced sale, expropriation, death of a spouse, divorce, or a compulsory job relocation.
What about an off-plan purchase?
Where construction is no more than 80 % complete at the time of purchase, registration and transcription duties are payable on the land value only; the construction portion is exempt. The measure covers off-plan purchases concluded from 16 July 2026 and runs for three years, for a dwelling intended as a main residence.
The tax credit is then applied to the remainder. In practice most buyers reach the 100-euro minimum at that point and keep a large share of their credit for a future purchase. As the law has not yet been passed, these amounts remain indicative; for a deed signed before it takes effect, the exemption can be claimed by applying to the AED.
Is the calculator reliable?
We strive to make it as reliable as possible! It is important to note, however, that the results provided by our calculation tool are based on standard formulas and average rates. Actual notary fees may vary depending on a number of factors, such as the specific nature of your transaction, the notary's particular requirements and other variables unique to your situation. As a result, the estimate you obtain here may differ from the actual fees you'll encounter in your transaction.