Short answer
Waterstone Legal is on Santander’s conveyancing panel, so we act for you and Santander together. Lenders can change their panels, so we confirm when you instruct. Santander accepts gifted deposits from friends as well as family, and its new-build offers last nine months. We check both before exchange.
On this page
- Santander at a glance
- Can a friend gift you a deposit on a Santander mortgage?
- Will Santander ask for a gifted deposit letter?
- What does Santander ask us to check on your purchase?
- When does a Santander new-build offer run out?
- Is a Santander remortgage handled by us or by Santander’s own firm?
- Does buying in Wales with Santander change anything?
- Our fees
- What happens next
Santander at a glance
| Who can give you a deposit | Family or friends, as a true gift |
|---|---|
| Gift letter for Santander | Not usually asked for when the mortgage is with Santander |
| Gift from abroad | May need extra checks, so allow more time |
| New-build offer | 9 months, plus a 3-month extension you can apply for |
| Remortgage legal work | Santander’s free legals, or your own solicitor with a cashback |
| Who runs the panel | Not published by Santander |
Can a friend gift you a deposit on a Santander mortgage?
Yes, says Santander, as long as it is a true gift. Santander’s own guide says it also accepts money from friends, if the friend does not expect it back, will not own any share of the home and will not live there.
This matters for first-time buyers. About 30% of the people who asked us for a buying quote had help with the deposit (website quote requests, 2 Sep–29 Oct 2026). A friend’s gift is still checked like any other. We confirm the giver’s identity and where the money came from, because the money-laundering rules require it.
Will Santander ask for a gifted deposit letter?
Usually not, Santander says, when the mortgage is with Santander. Two things still apply:
- We still need evidence. Our anti-money-laundering checks do not depend on the lender. The giver sends us ID and proof of where the money came from.
- Money from abroad takes longer. Santander says a gift from abroad may need extra checks, so tell us early.
What does Santander ask us to check on your purchase?
In our own words, from Santander’s public pages (checked 29 Oct 2026). “What it means for you” is the column to read. Lenders change their criteria, so we confirm what applies when we receive your mortgage instructions.
| Santander’s requirement | What it means for you |
|---|---|
| Gift from family or friends, as a true gift | A friend can help with the deposit; it must not be a loan |
| Gift letter not usually needed by Santander | The giver may not fill in a Santander form, but still sends us ID and bank evidence |
| Extra checks on gifts from abroad | Allow more time; we may need statements from the overseas account |
| New-build offer valid 9 months; a 3-month extension can be asked for | If your build runs late, ask for the extension before the offer runs out |
| Remortgage: Santander’s free legals, or your own solicitor with a cashback | Your choice; free legals typically take 12 to 14 weeks, Santander says |
| Adding or removing a borrower: a Santander fee, affordability re-checked, you appoint a solicitor | Budget for our fee as well as Santander’s |
Waterstone Legal is an independent firm. This page is not written or endorsed by Santander.
When does a Santander new-build offer run out?
Nine months from the offer, for a new-build home. Santander moved from six months to nine on 6 May 2025. If the build may not finish in time, a further three months can be applied for. So check the offer’s end date against the builder’s expected finish date as soon as the offer arrives.
Is a Santander remortgage handled by us or by Santander’s own firm?
You choose. Santander offers free legals, where its own conveyancing firms do the standard work; Santander says this typically takes 12 to 14 weeks. Or you pick your own solicitor and Santander pays a cashback to your conveyancer on completion. Disbursements (costs we pay out for you) are extra, and your written quote confirms the exact figure. We are solicitors, not brokers: we don’t advise on rates or products.
Does buying in Wales with Santander change anything?
Santander’s gift and new-build rules on its public pages do not change for Wales. The tax is different: Land Transaction Tax, not Stamp Duty, and there is no first-time buyer relief in Wales. Our LTT calculator shows the figure.
Our fees
| Buying a residential propertyStandard purchase of a freehold home under £2m, with one mortgage | £1,010 – £1,910 + VAT (£1,212 – £2,292 including VAT) |
|---|---|
| RemortgagingFreehold home, borrowing under £1m | £610 – £910 + VAT (£732 – £1,092 including VAT) |
Typical ranges for a standard transaction, excluding VAT at 20% and disbursements. Every client receives a written, itemised quotation with an exact figure before instructing us. See all our fees and what they cover.
What happens next
Legally reviewed by Shah Ali, Senior Partner, on 30 October 2026.
Last updated 30 October 2026.
Sources
- Santander: Mortgage support (change of borrower), checked 29 October 2026
- Welsh Revenue Authority, Land Transaction Tax guide, checked 29 October 2026
- Santander: Gifted deposits, checked 29 October 2026
- Santander press release: new-build offer validity extended, checked 29 October 2026
- Santander for Intermediaries: Remortgage free legals, checked 29 October 2026
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
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