Celebrating 70 years
of legal expertise

- TRANSFER OF EQUITY

We can guide you through this important and potentially sensitive transaction

Transfer of equity is a legal process that allows you to add or remove someone from the title deeds of a property.

There are several reasons you might want to arrange a transfer of equity. Whatever the motivation, it is important to make sure that you understand the legal implications of the transaction and that you are getting a fair deal.

It is also important to make sure the person or entity you are transferring equity to is trustworthy and financially stable.

Common reasons for transferring equity

In our experience, these are some of the most common situations prompting a transfer of equity:

Divorce or separation: Some couples in the process of splitting choose to remain joint owners and sell the property, while others – typically those with children – may want to remove one party from ownership so the other party can keep the house to live in. If this decision has not yet been made, our matrimonial and family law team is available to offer some guidance.

New relationship: If you already own property and have started a new relationship, you might want to consider adding your new partner to the deeds of the house.

Resolving joint ownership: More and more people are teaming up financially to get a foot on the property ladder, mostly with family but sometimes with friends. At some stage, one owner may wish to buy out the others.

Tax planning: Transferring equity to children or other family members can be an effective way to increase your tax efficiency. The property can be treated as a gift, minimising the tax owed when transferring it. If tax mitigation is your objective, we strongly advise you to seek the advice of a suitably qualified financial adviser.

How the process works

Once you have made the decision to transfer equity, one of our specialist solicitors will help guide you through the process, which we set out below.

1. Take a copy of the title deeds

Your solicitor will obtain an official copy of the title for the property and review it to check for a mortgage or any other restrictions on the property. At this point, they will also check the identities of each party.

2. Prepare the transfer documents

Your solicitor will next draw up the transfer deed document ready to be signed.

3. Notify third parties

Any third party involved in the property, such as a mortgage lender, bank or building society, will need to provide their written consent. If the property is being transferred subject to the current mortgage, the lender will need to be a party to the transfer deed.

4. Sign the deed

Once your solicitor has prepared the paperwork, the next step is to meet with them and an independent witness to sign it.

5. Notify the Land Registry

Finally, the details of the deed transfer will need to be passed on to the Land Registry. This will involve a fee which is dependent on the value of the property.

To arrange a chat with one of our team of specialists, contact us

Eve Wilson

Partner/Residential Conveyancing

Eve joined KWW in 2014 in a legal support role. Today, she is a partner of the firm and one of the most highly regarded conveyancing solicitors in Surrey.

Eve studied Politics at Exeter University. When she wasn’t buried in her coursework, she learned to fly with the RAF, completing 30 hours in a Grob trainer.

Eve passed the Common Professional Examination at City University and holds a Masters in Law.

As someone who loves local history, one of the best parts of the job for Eve is looking through old deeds and documents.

Since 2013 Eve has been vice chair of governors at a local school, and she is the assistant manager of her daughter’s football team.

She is the proud owner of a Dachshund called Frankie.

Ade Ajani

Residential Conveyancing

Ade is the newest member of our conveyancing team, having joined us in 2021. Tall of stature and wide of smile, Ade has been an instant hit with colleagues and clients.

Ade was born and raised in Nigeria and moved to the UK to study law. He began his legal career with a High Street solicitors in Camberley, Surrey and then moved to a firm in St Margaret’s Twickenham.

Ade deals with several areas of residential conveyancing: sales and purchases of freeholds and leaseholds; bridging loans; transfers of equity; lease extensions and remortgages.

Ade loves playing football, cooking and going to the theatre. He is also a dab hand at DIY and home renovation. He speaks fluent Yoruba.

Contact Us

To discuss a matter, please fill in the form below. We look forward to hearing from you.

Hidden

KWW Form Notes

Replaces Elementor Pop-up contact form template for GENERAL pages. NB: Notifications may require regular updates per staff changes; notices default to relevant partners. Page-specific contact forms based on this one, labelled accordingly. 07/2022 JH
Hidden

Contact us

Please call us on 0208 979 1131 or complete the form for a call or email from one of our experts:
Your name(Required)
*Please scroll down the list to find the desired service.
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.