Asked to Sign Uncompleted Mortgage Deed

fiish

The solicitors for my house purchase have just sent round the mortgage deed and contract to sign. However, the mortgage deed they've given us is straight from the mortgage offer pack, and hasn't had any of the details filled in yet (our names, the property address), and I've been asked to sign it with a witness. Searching around with Google, most pages seem to just mention signing with a witness, and seem to assume the solicitor will already have filled it.

When I asked the solicitor about this, as I didn't feel comfortable signing a blank deed, they told me they would complete the mortgage deed on completion day. Is this usual practice?

Flugelhorn

I think there is a fair bit that they complete on the day - you just sign beforehand with witness, they do usually fill in the names / address though ( I think )

user1977

It's not best practice, but it's difficult to think of ways in which it would be to your prejudice to sign it as it is.

TBG01

The contract will have the title number. You (should) already know the full address of the property. Add the details if you feel that uncomfortable. 

propertyrental

The amount your are borrowing seems pretty important to get right.

But there's nothing to stop you filling in the blanks. Leave completion date out though as that's an unknown which your solicitor will add.

jimbo6977

This sort of utter madness is normal apparently (according to a close relative who's a property solicitor). 

lrzxft

I'm not entirely sure if it's normal practice, but I'm at the end of my purchase and this was the same process for me. When my mortgage offer was issued, my solicitor asked it to be witnessed and signed, but not dated. The solicitor dated the deed at the point of exchange.

I'm presuming this is so that they have everything they need to exchange/complete without delay waiting for the forms to be returned signed. As long as the amount and person signing is correct, I wouldn't worry too much. But if you're skeptical, I see no issue in you filling in the address and all of that important information just don't date it.

lrzxft

lrzxft said:

I'm not entirely sure if it's normal practice, but I'm at the end of my purchase and this was the same process for me. When my mortgage offer was issued, my solicitor asked it to be witnessed and signed, but not dated. The solicitor dated the deed at the point of exchange.

I'm presuming this is so that they have everything they need to exchange/complete without delay waiting for the forms to be returned signed. As long as the amount and person signing is correct, I wouldn't worry too much. But if you're skeptical, I see no issue in you filling in the address and all of that important information just don't date it.

Edit: I'm not sure why the address isn't listed, though. On my deed to sign, the address and name were filled in by the lender (TSB) before the deed was sent out (in text, so it cannot be changed.)

user1977

Unless perhaps you own more than one property over which you could conceivably grant a mortgage (and the solicitor then fills in the details of the wrong one), I don't see what the risk is?

You mortgage somebody else's property? Why would that be a problem from your point of view? It's not going to happen anyway.

fiish

Thanks for the replies. If this is normal/usual practice, then maybe I’m worrying myself too much. As you’ve all pointed out, risk is low here. It’s going back in the same envelope as the contract and TR1, barring a mixup at their end it should be fine.