Remortgage Solicitor

Do I need a solicitor to remortgage?

Usually, yes, if you are moving your mortgage to a new lender. The new lender needs a solicitor or conveyancer to check the legal title, pay off your old mortgage and register the new one.

If you are staying with your current lender on a new deal, often called a product transfer, you usually do not need a solicitor.

Some lenders offer to pay for the legal work through a firm they choose. If yours does, you may not need to instruct a solicitor yourself.

What does a remortgage solicitor do?

• Checks the legal title to your property and anything that could concern the new lender.
• Reports to the new lender and deals with its conditions.
• Explains the mortgage paperwork you need to sign.
• Receives the new loan, pays off your existing mortgage and sends any surplus to you.
• Registers the new mortgage at HM Land Registry and removes the old one.

If the property is leasehold, I also check that the lease meets the new lender’s requirements.

How long does a remortgage take?

As an estimate, 2 to 4 weeks for the legal work. This is an estimate, not a promise. It depends on things outside my control, such as how quickly the lenders respond.

How it works

1. You tell me about the property and the new mortgage.
2. I send you a fixed-fee quote and tell you which firm will act for you.
3. Identity checks and documents are handled online.
4. I check the title and deal with the lenders.
5. You sign the mortgage paperwork online, or by post where that is needed, and I complete the remortgage and register it.

Fees

My fixed remortgage fees, which depend on the value of the property, are on the Fees page, shown plus VAT and including VAT.