How much does it cost to transfer equity in a property?
A 'transfer of equity' is when an existing owner of a property (or land) adds or removes one or more other people to the title (ownership) of the property.
There are various reasons why you might decide to transfer equity, including gifting a property to a child or adding a new partner to the deeds of your home.
We explain the various costs and fees involved when transferring equity.
Fees and disbursements
Your conveyancing solicitor will charge you legal fees for completing the legal work for the transfer of equity. This work will include reviewing the title deeds, preparing the legal documents and registering the new owner/s at HM Land Registry (HMLR).
Disbursements are third party costs incurred by your solicitor on your behalf. Examples of disbursements include Stamp Duty Land Tax (HMLR) and HM Land Registry charges.
What does a transfer of equity cost?
The following table summarises the typical fees and disbursements.
| Item | Fee/Disbursement | Amount |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor's legal fees | Fee | £250 to £750 + VAT |
| Identity (ID) checks | Disbursement | £9 per party |
| TT Charges (if applicable) | Disbursement | £20 - £40 |
| HM Land Registry (HMLR) | Disbursement | £20 - £455 |
| Search indemnity insurance | Disbursement | £50 - £150 |
| Leasehold (freeholder consent) | Disbursement | £0 - £250 |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) | Disbursement | 0% to 15% of the 'chargeable consideration' |
We explain these fees and disbursements in more detail below:
Solicitor's legal fees
Legal fees are usually relatively inexpensive. There is some disparity between different conveyancing solicitor firms, however, with fees typically ranging from £250 to £750 plus VAT.
In some circumstances, the 'transferor' (the person giving a share in the property), and the 'transferee' (the person receiving the share) will need separate legal representation - meaning additional legal fees.
All-inclusive transfer of equity conveyancing quotes with Completely Moved start from £379 inc. VAT.
Remortgaging?
If you are intending to remortgage the property at the same time as the transfer of equity, your conveyancing solicitor would normally carry out the legal work for the remortgage at the same time. This will normally add £200 - £500 plus VAT in legal fees.
Identity (ID) checks
Your solicitor will need to confirm the identity of both the transferor and transferee. ID checks are usually completed electronically and charged as a disbursement at cost of around £9 per person.
TT charges
If the transferee is paying for the equity, the money will be electronically transferred from the transferee to the transferor. The conveyancing solicitor will charge a TT (Telegraphic Transfer) disbursement fee for the safe electronic bank-to-bank transfer of the money.
TT fees range from £20 - £40.
HM Land Registry (HMLR)
The transferee's (new owner) interests will need to be registered on the title at HM Land Registry (HMLR).
The transferee is paying for the equity
If the transferee is paying for the equity, the HMLR charge is based on the ‘value’ of the equity. The value will be calculated as follows:
The entire property being transferred
The transfer value is calculated on the full market value of the property minus the outstanding mortgage amount.
A share in the property being transferred (no mortgage)
If, for example, 50% of the equity in a property with no mortgage is being transferred, the transfer value is will be calculated on 50% of the full market value.
Share in the property with an outstanding mortgage
If there is an outstanding mortgage on the property, the transfer value is calculated by first subtracting the outstanding mortgage from the property value.
The remaining amount is then apportioned in accordance with the equity split. For example, if Mark is transferring 30% of a property worth £500,000 with an outstanding more of £200,000 to Emma, the value is calculated as follows:
Transfer Value = 30% of (£500,000 - £200,000) = £90,000.
HM Land Registry Fees for transfer of equity
HMLR have 2 fee scales. If the transferee is paying for the equity, HMLR Fee Scale 1 will apply.
HMLR Fee Scale 1
| Equity Transfer Value | HMLR Fee (Electronic Registration) |
|---|---|
| 0 – £80,000 | £20 |
| £80,001 – £100,000 | £40 |
| £100,001 – £200,000 | £100 |
| £200,001 – £500,000 | £150 |
| £500,001 – £1,000,000 | £295 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £500 |
If the transferee is not paying for the equity, HMLR Fee Scale 2 will apply.
HMLR Fee Scale 2
| Equity Transfer Value | HMLR Fee (Electronic Registration) |
|---|---|
| 0 – £100,000 | £20 |
| £100,001 – £200,000 | £30 |
| £200,001 – £500,000 | £45 |
| £500,001 – £1,000,000 | £65 |
| £1,000,001 and over | £140 |
Search indemnity insurance
If there is an outstanding mortgage on the property, the existing lender may require search indemnity insurance in lieu of a full set of property searches.
Search indemnity insures the lender against any issue that conveyancing searches might have revealed that could affect the value of the property.
Search indemnity insurance will depend on the value of the property and varies from provider to provider. Policies typically cost between £50 and £150.
Leasehold (freeholder consent)
If the property is leasehold, the freeholder or managing agent may charge you a fee to consent to the transfer of equity. Fees will typically range from £0 - £250.
Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT)
Chargeable consideration
In some circumstances, Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) will be payable on the 'chargeable consideration'.
When transferring equity, chargeable consideration is defined as the amount of debt transferred or taken on (the mortgage) plus the amount being paid for the equity.
SDLT rates range from 0% to 15% of the 'chargeable consideration'.
Who pays for the transfer of equity?
It depends on the circumstances.
With a marriage, separation or divorce, both parties are effectively clients as mutual consent must be obtained. The legal fees would typically be paid by both parties but there is no reason why they cannot be paid by an individual party.
If the property is being gifted to a child, for example, the transferor would usually pay the fees.
