Transfer of Equity
Transfer of Equity solicitors in the East Midlands
The legal process for transferring the legal ownership of a property is called a transfer of equity.
A transfer of equity is often the result of a substantial change of circumstances for yourself and anyone else involved. As such, it’s imperative that you get legal advice.
Get a Conveyancing Quote Email Enquiry Form
What is a Transfer of Equity?
A Transfer of Equity is the transfer in ownership, or co-ownership of a property. There are a number of reasons for transferring equity. These include;
- Removing an ex-partner from the deeds after a divorce
- Adding a spouse to the deeds of your home after getting married or re-married
- The gifting of a property
- Reducing future inheritance tax liabilities in the event of a person’s death
- To take advantage of personal capital gains limits
What is equity?
Equity is the value of your property minus the outstanding mortgage amount. So if you bought your home for £250,000 and your remaining mortgage is £100,000, you have £150,000 of equity.
What’s the process for transferring equity?
Before you start a transfer of equity, you need an original copy of the title to the property. We use this to check if there are any existing mortgages on the property. It’s also used to check if there are any restrictions on the property.
We’ll then review the title deeds, check and confirm your ID and then prepare the transfer deeds.
The next step depends on whether you have a mortgage on your property or not.
If there is no mortgage
You and the new owner(s) will sign the transfer deed in the presence of a witness. We’ll then register the transfer deed with the Land Registry. We’ll also need a Stamp Duty Land Tax certificate if the value of the property is more than £40,000.
If there is a mortgage
You’ll also need the consent of your mortgage lender.
When you add another person to the title of the property, they become liable for the mortgage. On the other hand, if you’re removing someone from the property title, the remaining owner becomes responsible for the mortgage.
The mortgage lender will need to be satisfied that the remaining or new owners are able to carry on paying the mortgage payments.
We’ll contact your mortgage lender on your behalf and ask for written consent to the transfer. Before consenting to the transfer, they might change the terms and conditions of the mortgage.
If your mortgage lender refuses to agree to the title transfer, you’ll need to pay off the mortgage first, either with a cash payment or through re-mortgaging with a different lender who agrees to the transfer.
How long does a Transfer of Equity take?
At Rothera Bray, we know the importance of completing property transactions quickly. Especially when it’s a family home.
In most cases, a transfer of equity takes 4-6 weeks. That said, every transaction is unique so each one can take a different length of time to complete.
For example, if there’s a mortgage involved, it’s likely to take longer than if there’s no mortgage.
How much does a Transfer of Equity cost?
When transferring equity, there are two costs:
- Your solicitors fee (our fees are transparent), and
- The Land Registry fee
Other fees might apply but this depends on the transfer. For example, if you’re applying for a new mortgage, then you’ll need to pay for the search fees. Also, depending on the amount of equity in the property, it may be subject to Stamp Duty Land Tax.
We will discuss any and all potential fees with you at the very start so you know exactly how much it will cost and when.
Why use Rothera Bray for Transfer of Equity?
We have an experienced property and conveyancing team and a network of eight offices operating across Nottingham, Leicester and Derby.
When you instruct us to act on your behalf, we’ll assign a team member and give you access to their direct phone number and email address.
They will look after the transaction from beginning to end and keep you updated on progress at all stages of the process. They will also let you know about any communication with third parties such as mortgage lenders or where any third party disbursements such as stamp duty are payable.
We can also assist with mortgaging the property where required.
Once the transfer of equity is complete we will make an application to the Land Registry to register the new ownership of the property on your behalf.
We can advise you on Stamp Duty.
We can also draw on the experience of our Wills, Probate and Trusts and Family Law teams where needed to provide you with a comprehensive service that addresses all of your queries, including advice on inheritance tax and capital gains tax.
Our fees are transparent and we speak in plain English. You’ll always know how much you’re paying and where the transaction is up to.
Send us a message
“We explain costs clearly – so there’s no hidden surprises”
Michelle Young
Head of Conveyancing
FAQs
The owner who is buying the other person out must be represented by a solicitor, and the person being bought out can decide whether they want to be represented by a solicitor or not. However, it is recommended that the person being bought out does have legal representation so that they can receive legal advice about the transaction.
Stamp duty is payable when transferring equity. For transfer of equity, stamp duty is payable on the ‘chargeable consideration’, which is calculated on the amount of debt transferred or taken on and would be payable on the amount of mortgage being taken on by the new owner.
Firstly, you will need an official copy of the title for the property, which will be used to check if there are mortgages on the property or any other restrictions. Your conveyancer will then review the property or title deeds, check the identity of the clients, and prepare the transfer deed.
If there is a mortgage on the property, the mortgage lender will need to give their consent to proceed with the transfer; if they do not agree to the transfer you will need to repay the mortgage before you can go ahead with the transfer, either using a cash payment or a remortgage with another lender who agrees to the transfer.
If there are no mortgages on the property, the current and new owners of the property sign the transfer deed in front of a witness and the conveyancer registers the transfer deed at the Land Registry. If the value is above £40,000, a stamp duty certificate will be needed.
You can often use equity in your home as a deposit to buy a new house. You can use the equity to assist with your purchase and either take out a new loan for the remainder of the mortgage or port your existing mortgage.
It costs at least £40 to alter the register and change the title deeds.
There will be a fee of between £20 and £125, depending on the price bracket your property falls into, to the Land Registry to register the ownership change.
You can transfer a property to a family member as a gift, which means no money exchanges hands. This is often done to minimise the amount of inheritance tax payable after you’ve died.
Before gifting a property, it is worth getting specialist advice from an estate planning expert beforehand, as there are not just tax considerations to take into account, but also the risk that a family member could evict you from the property since you are no longer the legal owner.
If you want to gift your property to your children, any property you own that is worth over £325,000 is liable to inheritance tax, which starts at 40%, but if you have a partner, you can combine your assets so that it starts at £650,000. You will not be able to live in the property as though you were still the primary householder or benefit from it and will need to live for another seven years after gifting the property in order for your children to avoid paying any inheritance tax.
Alternatively, you can gift your property to your spouse or civil partner. The spouse gifting the property will not receive any money unlike a transfer of equity, but there will be no stamp duty or capital gains tax charged on the gift.
To transfer the property as a gift, you will need to complete a TR1 form and AP1 form and send these to the Land Registry. You will also need to complete an ID1 form if either side is not using a solicitor or conveyancer.
Whilst you can carry out a Transfer of Equity yourself, generally it is not advised as the process can be complicated, especially where divorce or separation are involved. You will need to ensure that the property is correctly registered at the Land Registry, as well as thinking about stamp duty and tax considerations.
stars
Posted 11 August 2026
We would give your service a full 5 stars without hesitation. The communication from start to finish was second to none—you kept us informed at every single stage, answered our questions promptly, and made what could have been a stressful process feel entirely seamless and straightforward. We are incredibly grateful for all your hard work, thoroughness, and dedication to getting our purchase across the finish line. We wouldn't hesitate to recommend Rothera Bray (and specifically you!) to any family or friends looking for legal support.
Jamie Johnston
stars
Posted 7 August 2026
I was recommended to use Rothera Bray by a family friend. The staff at Rothera Bray worked relentlessly. They showed a high level of professionalism, and were extremely supportive throughout my divorce and separation, particularly while dealing with a very challenging opposition. They gave me peace of mind, and I always felt safe in the knowledge that I was being well supported during what was an incredibly difficult time in my life. I will always be grateful for the advice, guidance, and compassion they all showed throughout the process. I would never wish for anyone to find themselves in a situation requiring legal support, but if they do, your team will be the first I recommend without hesitation.
Craig Watts
stars
Posted 5 August 2026
I cannot thank Rothera Bray Loughborough enough; my house move should have been straight forward, but several hiccups happened along the way. I did both my sale and purchase through them and had excellent service. They were supportive, offered great advice and updates and was their when I had multiple queries. Luisa was amazing, she was there for me when I didn't understand certain queries and was a really calm influence when I was worried about queries I had on the property I was buying. I would 100% recommend Rothera Bray and if I did ever move again I would use them in a heartbeat. Thanks so much!!
Rachael Turner
stars
Posted 4 August 2026
We have used Rothera Bray in the past, when dealing with my late mother's estate. Everything was handled really well, so I contacted Kerry Redfern at their Mapperley branch to sell a property I owned, which was intended to provide retirement funds. Kerry handled everything in a timely manner. The whole process was far less stressful than I had feared and here we are on completion day, with the money in our bank. I feel that Kerry's knowledge in relation to selling property, is extensive and she has guided us through every step of the process. As with probate after my mother's death; and also Rothera Bray dealing with an equity release situation, which facilitated my brother remaining in my late mother's home; I cannot fault the service we have had from them. I feel confident they can successfully deal with any situation that may present in the future where the services of a solicitor are required. We are grateful to them.
Property sale
stars
Posted 4 August 2026
I recently used Rothera Bray for a house sale and purchase. The service I received from Ellie Robinson was top tier I was always kept up to date with the progression of the sale and purchase if ever I had any queries they were always answered quickly. My purchase wasn't straightforward there were a few teething problems with the property we were buying that needed to be sorted to make sure we weren't going to be in a bad situation after purchasing and Ellie made sure she went through everything with a fine tooth comb and everything was right before completion. Grace Millward also helped with things and was great. I would definitely recommend this company.
Michelle Dakin
stars
Posted 3 August 2026
The solicitor I worked with Fatima Altaf was efficient and personable, sharing realistic information and managing our expectations on what was possible, while also always working in our best interest to understand and progress the outcome to our needs and desired outcomes. We would be very happy to recommend Rothera Bray, we found the whole team to be very supportive, positive and dynamic, we were always informed of updates and there were no gaps or unexpected surprises throughout the process.
Wesley
stars
Posted 3 August 2026
Rothera Bray Solicitors have been absolutely brilliant from start to finish. They helped get me into my new property in what felt like record time, making the entire process smooth and as stress-free as possible. Their professionalism was outstanding throughout, but what really stood out was how friendly, supportive and approachable they were at every stage. Lucy and Karen were both fantastic and are a real asset to Rothera Bray Solicitors. I cannot thank them enough for all their help. I would be more than happy to recommend them to anyone in the future, and I would not hesitate to use their services again myself.
Rebecca Towler
stars
Posted 31 July 2026
As a first-time buyer, I couldn’t have asked for a better experience. Carol and the entire team were professional, knowledgeable, and supportive throughout the conveyancing process. They kept me informed at every stage, answered all of my questions promptly, and took the time to explain the legal process in a way that was easy to understand. Their communication was excellent, and I always felt confident that my purchase was in safe hands. Despite the complexities involved, everything was handled efficiently, and the transaction was completed smoothly. I truly appreciate the hard work and dedication of everyone involved. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for a reliable and professional conveyancing solicitor. Thank you again for helping me purchase my first home.
Vipul
stars
Posted 29 July 2026
A big thank you to Sara Odedra for all her help with the sale of our house. She was always friendly, easy to deal with and kept us informed every step of the way. Whenever we had a question, she got back to us quickly and nothing ever felt like too much trouble. We really appreciated all the hard work she put in and would happily recommend Sara to anyone.
Vikram G
stars
Posted 28 July 2026
Thankyou for all of your help that you have done throughout the sale. The experience of working with Laura and Lisa has been nothing but positive in selling the property. After using other firms in the past, Rothera Bray made the process the most simple with strong communication and helped throughout.
Thomas Cruickshank
stars
Posted 27 July 2026
I was fortunate enough to have Laura Runcak look after what was a complicated and lengthy house sale and purchase. Laura was exceptional - professional, friendly, patient and always available to answer questions. Lisa Rainbow was also incredibly helpful. I would have no hesitation in recommending both Laura and Lisa.
Mike
stars
Posted 27 July 2026
Buying my first home was very daunting but Fatima Altaf was there for me along the journey. It meant a lot to have someone there to assist me through the process and be able to get me onto the property ladder.
Ben Stacey
Tim Brooke
Partner
Tim Brooke is a solicitor and partner in our residential conveyancing department, based at our West Bridgford and Nottingham offices.
Emily Weston
Partner
Emily Weston is as a Partner in the Residential Conveyancing team and is based primarily at our Beeston office.
Michelle Young
Partner & Head of Conveyancing
Michelle Young is a residential property specialist and heads up the conveyancing team. She’s based at our Loughborough office.
Julekha Nathani
Managing Associate
Julekha specializes in residential conveyancing and is based at our Market Harborough office. Having qualified in 2016 she has an extensive property knowledge dealing with a wide range of conveyancing matters.
Lucy Walsh
Managing Associate
Lucy Walsh is a Managing Associate in the Residential Conveyancing team and is based primarily at our Derby office.
Abbey Freeman
Senior Associate Solicitor
Abbey Freeman is a Senior Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team. She is based at our Loughborough office and is assisted by Luisa. She specialises in all aspects of Residential Property including New Build Purchases.
Carol Freeman
Senior Associate
Carol Freeman is a Chartered Legal Executive in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Johanna Goddard
Senior Associate
Jo Goddard has over 20 years experience specialising in all aspects of residential conveyancing and regularly acts for clients on sales, purchases, remortgages and transfers of equity and is part of one of the largest conveyancing teams across the East Midlands. She works out of our Nottingham city centre office, in the Lace Market.
Sade Love
Senior Associate Licensed Conveyancer
Sade Love is a Licensed Conveyancer in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is Conveyancing Team Leader at our Mapperley office.
Rebecca McGarry
Senior Associate
Rebecca McGarry is a Senior Associate in the Residential Conveyancing team and is based at our Nottingham office.
Sally Simpson
Senior Associate
Sally is based at our West Bridgford office. She has 40 years experience specialising in all aspect of residential conveyancing.
Jo Clarke
Associate
Jo is an experienced Conveyancing Associate and is based at our West Bridgford office.
Sandy Kaur
Associate Solicitor
Sandy Kaur is an Associate Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Beeston office.
Tina Rana
Associate Solicitor
Tina is an Associate Solicitor in our Residential Conveyancing department, based in Leicester.
She has extensive experience in dealing with all aspects of residential conveyancing including, leasehold and transfer of equities.
Fatima Altaf
Solicitor
Fatima Altaf is a Solicitor in the Residential Property department. She is based at our Leicester office.
Kerry Brown
Chartered Legal Executive
Kerry Brown is a residential property specialist at Rothera Bray’s Nottingham HQ.
Hayley Hart
Solicitor
Hayley Hart is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Mapperley branch office.
Jackie Murphy
Solicitor
Jackie Murphy is a Solicitor in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing team and is based at our West Bridgford office.
Sara Odedra
Chartered Legal Executive
Sara Odedra is a Chartered Legal Executive in our Residential Property department and is based at our Market Harborough office.
Kerry Redfern
Licensed Conveyancer
Kerry Redfern is a residential property specialist in our Mapperley office.
Suzanne Riozzi
Chartered Legal Executive
Suzanne Riozzi is a Chartered Legal Executive in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Ellie Robinson
Solicitor
Ellie Robinson is a Solicitor in the residential conveyancing department at Rothera Bray and is based at our Derby office.
Laura Runcak
Solicitor
Laura Runcak is a Solicitor in the Conveyancing department at Rothera Bray Derby and Beeston.
Ruth Cooper
Managing Paralegal
Ruth Cooper is a Managing Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Loughborough office.
Michelle Chambers
Senior Paralegal
Michelle works in our Conveyancing department as a Senior Paralegal and is based at our Beeston office.
Priscilla Dohara
Senior Paralegal
Priscilla Dohara is a Senior Paralegal specialising in residential conveyancing, providing clients with efficient and reliable support throughout the property transaction process. Priscilla is based at our Loughborough office.
Nikola Dzierzak
Senior Paralegal
Nikola is a Senior Paralegal and works within our Conveyancing department at our West Bridgford office.
Gail Garner
Senior Paralegal
Gail is a Senior Paralegal in our Residential Conveyancing department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Schiennel Holness
Senior Paralegal
Schiennel Holness is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Mapperley office.
Theresa Mason
Senior Paralegal
Theresa is a Senior Paralegal in our Conveyancing department based at the West Bridgford office.
Grace Millward
Senior Paralegal
Grace Millward is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray Residential Conveyancing department and is based at the Derby branch.
Luisa Palumbo
Senior Paralegal
Luisa Palumbo is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team and is based at our Loughborough office.
Shelby Richardson
Senior Paralegal
Shelby Richardson is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Mapperley branch.
Beccy Rodham
Senior Paralegal
Beccy Rodham is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing department and is based at our Lace Market office.
Julian Ryan
Senior Paralegal
Julian Ryan is a Senior Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team and is based at our Market Harborough office.
Lianne Green
Paralegal
Lianne is a Paralegal in the Conveyancing Team based at our West Bridgford branch.
Duygu Kartal
Paralegal
Duygu Kartal is a paralegal in Rothera Bray’s conveyancing team and is based at our Nottingham office.
Akeeta Lakhani
Paralegal
Akeeta is a Paralegal in our Residential Conveyancing team. She is based at our Loughborough office.
Lisa Rainbow
Paralegal
Lisa is a Paralegal in our Residential Conveyancing team. She is based at Mercury Place in Leicester.
Clare Salt
Paralegal
Clare Salt is a paralegal in Rothera Bray’s conveyancing team and is based at our Nottingham office.
Nirvair Kaur Singh
Paralegal
Nirvair is a Paralegal in our Conveyancing team based at our West Bridgford office.
Rhiannon Tyrrell
Paralegal
Rhiannon Tyrrell is a Paralegal in Rothera Bray’s Conveyancing team and is based at our Leicester office.
Sally Cooper
Conveyancing Department Assistant
Sally is our first point of contact for any new conveyancing enquiries that come in to the department and provides a bespoke quoting service for prospective clients, estate agents and other referrers of work.
People Focus: Rebecca Lee – Wills & Probate
Meet Associate Solicitor Rebecca Lee, from our Wills and Probate department based at our Leicester office. Getting into law was sparked by family influences and the stories she heard. Here, she shares a look at her career so far, from standout achievements to the hobbies and causes that mean the most to her.
Commercial property deal for new children’s play centre in Market Harborough
Rothera Bray has advised KYMM Ltd, trading as Sprog, on its first commercial property transaction, securing premises for a new children’s indoor play, retail and café destination at Wellington Place Local Centre in Market Harborough.
Meet the Team: getting to know our Family Law colleagues
Since joining Rothera Bray in January 2026, Julie McCrery, Sophie Spreckley and Jack English have become an integral part of the Family Law team. Having worked closely together for several years before joining the firm, they brought with them a wealth of experience and a strong working relationship.
Why a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s UK activities must remain on the table
Recent reports have reignited debate over whether a public inquiry into Jeffrey Epstein’s activities in the UK should take place, following apparently conflicting messages from the Government on the issue. The developments have prompted renewed calls for transparency, accountability and answers for survivors.