Quick answer
Switching your mortgage to a new lender needs a solicitor or licensed conveyancer. The work is checking your title, paying off the old loan and registering the new one at HM Land Registry. Staying with your lender on a new deal (a "product transfer") usually needs no solicitor. You get a written, itemised quote before you instruct us.
On this page
When you need a solicitor
You'll need legal work done when:
- You switch to a new lender. Their mortgage has to be registered against your home, and the old one paid off and removed.
- You add or remove someone from the ownership at the same time (a transfer of equity).
- You borrow more from a new lender, for example to fund building work.
- You move to or from halal home finance, such as a home purchase plan with an Islamic bank. These use different legal documents. See halal remortgage and refinance.
You usually don't need one for a product transfer with your current lender, because its mortgage is already registered. Many lenders also handle further borrowing without a solicitor, but some ask for one, so check with your lender.
What we do for you
- Check your title at HM Land Registry, and any restrictions on it
- Check your new mortgage offer and confirm to your lender that the title is in order
- Ask your current lender how much it will take to clear the old mortgage
- Pay off the old mortgage on completion day and send you anything left over
- Register the new mortgage and have the old one removed
- Handle a transfer of equity at the same time, if someone is joining or leaving the ownership
What it costs
| Our legal fee | Shown in your instant quote, based on your property and your loan |
|---|---|
| VAT | 20% on our fee and on some third-party costs (shown in your quote) |
| Third-party costs (disbursements) | Extra, and listed one by one in your quote |
You get a written, itemised quote before you instruct us. How our charges work, including our hourly rates, is set out on our fees page.
Set by the government, shown separately: the HM Land Registry fee isn't part of our fee.
How it works, and how long it takes
The timing depends mostly on when your new lender issues the mortgage offer. Tell us the date your current deal ends and we plan the work around it.
- Getting startedQuote and ID
You accept your quote and send us your ID, along with your current lender's details.
- Title check
We get your title from HM Land Registry, check it, and ask your current lender for a redemption figure.
- Mortgage offer
Your new lender sends us the offer. We go through its conditions and agree a completion date with you.
- Completion day
The new loan reaches us. We clear the old mortgage and send you any money left over.
- Registration
We register the new mortgage at HM Land Registry and the old one is taken off the title.
Where we act
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Leicester office 3rd Floor, St George's House, 6 St George's Way, Leicester LE1 1QZ 0116 393 0334
Conveyancing in Leicester
What clients say
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4.6 from 249 reviews London office, 6 October 2026
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Regulated by the SRA SRA No. 605949, view our record
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CQS accredited Law Society Conveyancing Quality Scheme
Questions people ask
Can I remortgage on my own without a solicitor?
Not if you move to a new lender. The lender needs a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to act for it. For a product transfer with your current lender, you can usually do it yourself or through your broker.
How much does a solicitor charge for a remortgage?
It varies by firm, lender and property. Ask for a written quote that lists the legal fee, VAT and each third-party cost separately. Our instant quote does this for your remortgage.
Can you act for me and my new lender?
When your new lender has us on its panel, one firm does the legal work for both of you. We check your lender before we quote.
Do I need a solicitor to add my partner to the mortgage?
Putting someone on the mortgage usually means putting them on the ownership too. That change is called a transfer of equity, and your lender will expect a solicitor to handle it. We can do both pieces of work together. If the new owner takes on part of the mortgage, tax may be due on their share (Stamp Duty in England, Land Transaction Tax in Wales), so we check that before anything is signed.
Is a remortgage the same process as buying?
No. There's no seller, no chain and no exchange of contracts, so it's simpler and usually quicker. The legal work focuses on paying off the old loan and registering the new one.
What are "free legals"?
Some lenders include a free legal service when you remortgage to them. They pick a firm from their own panel and pay its fee. It can save money, but you don't choose the firm, and some extra costs can still apply. Ask your broker or lender what's included before you decide.
Helpful guides
Moving to a new lender? Get your figure.
Get a remortgage quote