When you remortgage your home, you do not change owner — the property stays in your name — but the legal work that surrounds the new mortgage is just as regulated as a full purchase. Your existing lender's charge has to be released, the new lender's charge has to be registered, the new lender needs a Certificate of Title before they release funds, and HM Land Registry has to be notified. This article walks through exactly how remortgaging conveyancing works, what your solicitor does at each stage, what it costs, and how long it actually takes.
If you are remortgaging a property in Marlow, Maidenhead, or across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, our team at J Scott & Co Solicitors handles remortgage conveyancing as part of our fixed-fee service. Get an instant quote.
Do I need a solicitor to remortgage?
Yes. Every UK lender requires the borrower to use a regulated conveyancer — either a solicitor or a licensed conveyancer — for a remortgage. This is non-negotiable because:
- The new lender needs to register its legal charge against the property
- The existing lender's charge needs to be formally released once paid off
- HM Land Registry has to be updated
- The new lender needs a Certificate of Title confirming the property has clean title
Some lenders offer a "free legal" remortgage where they instruct their own panel solicitor at no cost to you. This is often advertised as a saving, but the panel solicitor acts only for the lender, not for you — and the service is typically very slow because the firm is processing thousands of identical cases in bulk.
The alternative is choosing your own solicitor (often called a "cashback remortgage" where the lender pays a fixed contribution toward your legal costs). This is usually faster and gives you a named contact, but you may need to top up the lender's contribution.
The remortgage conveyancing process step by step
- Instruction and ID — you formally instruct your solicitor, complete anti-money-laundering checks, and pay any search fees on account.
- Title review — your solicitor downloads the official copies of title from HM Land Registry and checks for any issues that would prevent the new mortgage being registered.
- Redemption statement — your solicitor writes to the existing lender to request a final redemption figure, usually valid for a set number of days.
- Searches (if required) — most lenders accept search indemnity insurance on a remortgage in place of full searches. Some require full searches; your solicitor will tell you which applies.
- Mortgage offer review — your solicitor reviews the new lender's offer and any special conditions.
- Certificate of Title — your solicitor sends this to the new lender confirming the title is clean and asks for the new mortgage advance.
- Completion — funds are received, the old mortgage is redeemed, and any surplus is paid to you.
- Registration — the new charge is registered at HM Land Registry and the old charge removed.
How long does remortgaging take?
The typical UK remortgage takes 4 to 8 weeks from instruction to drawdown. This is significantly faster than a purchase because:
- There is no contract pack, no enquiries, no other side to negotiate with
- There is usually no chain
- Searches may not be required
- Many of the regulatory steps can run in parallel
The main timing factors are: the existing lender's speed in providing the redemption figure (5–10 working days typically); whether searches are required (adds 2–6 weeks); the new lender's processing time; and your availability to sign documents and provide ID.
If you are remortgaging at the end of a fixed-rate deal, start the process at least 8 weeks before your current rate expires. This avoids the gap where you would otherwise roll onto the lender's standard variable rate.
Why local expertise matters
Marlow's mix of period property, listed buildings in the conservation area, and leasehold flats can complicate a remortgage. A solicitor familiar with Marlow's title quirks will spot any issues at the title-review stage rather than mid-way through the process. We routinely handle Marlow remortgages for clients across SL7 and the wider Buckinghamshire area.
If you are remortgaging in Marlow, see our Marlow conveyancing page for service details, or our pages for Maidenhead, Beaconsfield, and Windsor.
Get a fixed-fee remortgage quote
If you are remortgaging in Marlow, Maidenhead, or across Berkshire and Buckinghamshire, our team provides transparent, fixed-fee remortgage conveyancing. Get an Instant Quote or call 01628 777233.
