Hurrah! Paying off my mortgage!

Loughers1966

Hi folks. After many years, I'm now in a position to pay off my mortgage, I've waited until my deal ends to avoid a £900 early repayment charge, however I've been told by my solicitor that I must use them to have Santander removed from my deeds. Needless to say, this will cost me £900. I've been told I need the solicitor because the process is more difficult in Northern Ireland, where I live.
Has anyone any advice on how I can do this myself, and save having to give my solicitor practically a grand for what I suspect will be little more than a form filled in?

Thanks all!

BonaDea

I didn't have to use or pay a solicitor when I paid my mortgage off. (England)  I assume the lender got themselves off the deeds.  

Cressida100

That sounds odd, when I paid off my Halifax mortgage slightly early there were no solicitor costs involved. 

Hoenir

Cressida100 said:

That sounds odd, when I paid off my Halifax mortgage slightly early there were no solicitor costs involved. 

Halifax charge a final fee to cover their costs of releasing the mortgage charge over the property. 

Diddidi

I didn’t have to get a solicitor involved when I paid off my mortgage. The bank (HSBC) took themselves off the deeds and sent me a letter to confirm this. I then checked directly with Land Registry to make sure it had been done. Admittedly, this was England but can’t see why NI would be more complex? Have you contacted the bank directly to find out what the standard procedure is?

user1977

You can just leave it until the next time you do something with the property, will be cheaper as part of a sale than a stand-alone instruction.

SkyeD

I'm in England and didn't have to employ a solicitor when I paid off my mortgage in February.  Nwide took themselves off the deeds and confirmed it by letter.

BikingBud

Congratulations on clearing the mortgage debt.

Please refer to your Santander mortgage documents where mine state in Section 3:

The £225.00 Account fee for managing your mortgage account. This also includes closing your mortgage
account when your mortgage ends.

I would seek confirmation that Santander have done this and how it was achieved, releasing the charge on your property.

user1977

BikingBud said:

Congratulations on clearing the mortgage debt.

Please refer to your Santander mortgage documents where mine state in Section 3:

The £225.00 Account fee for managing your mortgage account. This also includes closing your mortgage
account when your mortgage ends.

I would seek confirmation that Santander have done this and how it was achieved, releasing the charge on your property.

Discharging the security is not a necessary part of closing the account. It's the borrower's responsibility to draft and register the discharge deed, all the lender is required to do is sign it when requested.