adding name to mortgage

shymanuk

hi want to add my name to our current mortgage, its in partners name at the mom, and is with halifax. they have told us there is a administration fee which is fine, and also a fee for the deeds to be released also ok, also they have stated that we will require our solicitor to process the transfer which is also fine but when we contacted the solicitor they said a flat fee of £500 for all searches and work carried out. but halifax say they dont need any of this just the transaction overseen ! so can this be done either by ourselves or could we use halifax solicitor? or anyone any other ideas ..

Thrugelmir

shymanuk wrote: »

but halifax say they dont need any of this just the transaction overseen ! ..

The Halifax don't but you do. As its not merely a question of adding a name to a piece of paper.

shymanuk

Thrugelmir wrote: »

The Halifax don't but you do. As its not merely a question of adding a name to a piece of paper.

i know its for my protection ....... but there is a very small amount of work for the solicitor to do. and £500 is way over the odds. but they all seem to class this as a new purchase of property which it isnt.

shymanuk

any ideas where to go to get cheaper solicitor fees? for just the work i need

Thrugelmir

shymanuk wrote: »

....... but there is a very small amount of work for the solicitor to do. and £500 is way over the odds. but they all seem to class this as a new purchase of property which it isnt.

Ask why new searches are required.

Old_Git

can you get a better deal with a different lender that offers free legal and then add you name on when you move

CLAPTON

shymanuk wrote: »

i know its for my protection ....... but there is a very small amount of work for the solicitor to do. and £500 is way over the odds. but they all seem to class this as a new purchase of property which it isnt.

in my view

you ARE buying a (share) in the property
lets say there is something wrong with the deeds that the previous solicitor didn't spot.... you would have no comeback as you weren't partly to the contract.
your new solicitor would be liable and saying he didn't to any checks would hardly be a defence

shymanuk

yes i see your point, but i guess if there were a problem and the first solicitor had missed it my partner would claim for the full amount from him.(if at all possible) not the new one but i agree it makes comon sense now that you have said it. but thanks for the replies.

5705sus

Shyman, we have the same quandry...

Boyfriend bought a flat with his best friend a few years back and now we live in it together , his friend has moved out to live with his girlfriend.
We have been there for 5 years and never formalised the situation, but now his friend is starting to get..shall we say...a little "crazy" with money, taking out loans, 2 new cars...and i can see him going off the rails - and we have decided to take his name off the mortgage - with his agreement of course!
Northern Rock have approved it, we are just putting it on my BF's name for ease- and this is all ok -but we have contacted the lawyer and he is charging us 600 pounds to do the admin/or paperwork for this.
Is this standard for such transactions? what is the process - ANd is there any way to get this cheaper?

Thanks in advance for help and for reading..i have been a Moneysaving Lover from afar and I am getting involved!!!!! love this site.