--- title: "Remortgage Solicitors Maidenhead | Fixed Fee | J Scott & Co" description: "Remortgaging? Our CQS-accredited solicitors handle the legal work fast, from £250+VAT. Serving Maidenhead, Windsor, Reading & Berkshire. Get a quote today." lang: en json-ld: | [ { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LegalService", "name": "J Scott & Co Solicitors", "description": "Experienced solicitors delivering expert legal advice across the UK. Specialists in Conveyancing, Immigration, Wills & Probate, Litigation.", "url": "https://jscottlegal.co.uk", "telephone": "+44-1628-777233", "email": "enquire@jscottlegal.co.uk", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "47 High Street", "addressLocality": "Maidenhead", "addressRegion": "Berkshire", "postalCode": "SL6 1JT", "addressCountry": "GB" }, "openingHours": "Mo-Fr 09:00-17:00", "priceRange": "$$", "areaServed": { "@type": "Country", "name": "United Kingdom" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "LegalService", "name": "Remortgage Conveyancing", "description": "Fixed-fee remortgage conveyancing from CQS-accredited solicitors in Maidenhead — acting for homeowners and landlords across Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and South Oxfordshire.", "provider": { "@type": "LegalService", "name": "J Scott & Co Solicitors" }, "areaServed": "England and Wales", "telephone": "+441628777233", "address": { "@type": "PostalAddress", "streetAddress": "47 High Street", "addressLocality": "Maidenhead", "addressRegion": "Berkshire", "postalCode": "SL6 1JT", "addressCountry": "GB" } }, { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need a solicitor to remortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "In practice, yes. Your new lender requires a solicitor (or licensed conveyancer) to redeem your existing mortgage and register their charge at the Land Registry — they won't release funds without it. Some lenders offer a \"free legal service\", but the solicitor is chosen by the lender and acts primarily for the bank rather than for you personally." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How much does a remortgage solicitor cost?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Our fixed fees start from £250 + VAT, plus the Land Registry registration fee, which is set by the government and scales with your property value. If there's additional work — a transfer of equity alongside the remortgage, for example — we'll always tell you the combined cost upfront." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How long does a remortgage take with a solicitor?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most straightforward remortgages complete in two to four weeks from instruction. The single biggest variable is how quickly your current lender issues a redemption statement." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "When should I remortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Most homeowners remortgage as their current fixed or discounted deal is ending, to avoid rolling onto the lender's standard variable rate. Many lenders let you lock in a new rate three to six months ahead of your current deal expiring, so it pays to start the legal work in good time." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "How early can I remortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "There's no legal restriction on how early you can start. What matters is your current deal: most fixed and tracker products carry an early repayment charge if you leave before the term ends. Many lenders allow you to secure a new rate several months ahead and switch on the day your old deal ends." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Do I need a solicitor or a conveyancer for a remortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Either can legally carry out the work, but a solicitor is a fully qualified legal professional regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority, which gives you additional protections (including access to the SRA Compensation Fund) if something goes seriously wrong." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Can I remortgage to release equity?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Yes, and it's one of the most common reasons people remortgage. The legal process is identical to a standard remortgage — the new mortgage amount is simply higher, with the extra funds released to you at completion." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "What's the difference between a remortgage and a transfer of equity?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "A remortgage changes your mortgage — new lender, new rate, or both. A transfer of equity changes who legally owns the property — adding a spouse, removing an ex-partner, or adjusting ownership shares. They're legally distinct pieces of work, but very often happen together." } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Will I need a survey or valuation when I remortgage?", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "text": "Usually a valuation, but typically a much lighter-touch process than the survey you had when you originally bought — many lenders now use an automated desktop valuation. This is arranged by your lender or broker rather than your solicitor." } } ] } ] --- [Get a Quote ](/quote) [![JScott & Co Solicitors](/images/jscott-logo.png)](/) [Home](/) About [Services](/services) Fees [News](/news) [Get Quote](/quote)[Contact Us](/contact) [![JScott & Co Solicitors](/images/jscott-logo.png)](/) [Home](/) About [Services](/services) Fees [News](/news) [Get Quote](/quote)[Contact Us](/contact) [Conveyancing](/conveyancing-solicitors)[Purchase](/house-purchase-solicitors)[Sale](/house-sale-solicitors)[Sale & Purchase](/conveyancing-sale-and-purchase)[Remortgage](/remortgage-solicitors)[Transfer of Equity](/transfer-of-equity-solicitors)[First-Time Buyers](/first-time-buyer-conveyancing)Locations [Get a Quote](/quote) Conveyancing 1. [Home](/) 2. [Conveyancing](/conveyancing-services-berkshire) 3. Remortgage Solicitors # Remortgage Solicitors If your fixed rate is coming to an end, you're releasing equity, or you've simply found a better deal with a new lender, you'll need a solicitor to handle the legal side of the switch. Your new lender won't release a single pound until a solicitor has confirmed the title is clean, redeemed your old mortgage, and registered their charge at the Land Registry — get it wrong or get it slow, and you can miss your rate lock, pay an extra month on your old lender's standard variable rate, or lose the deal entirely. At J Scott & Co, we act for homeowners and landlords across Maidenhead, Windsor, Reading and the wider Berkshire, Buckinghamshire and South Oxfordshire area. Most of our remortgage instructions complete inside **three to four weeks**, and quicker if your current lender is responsive with the redemption figure. **20+ Years Experience · CQS Accredited · SRA Regulated**. [Get a Remortgage Quote](/quote)[01628 777233](tel:01628777233) ## Why a solicitor is involved even when you're not moving It surprises a lot of clients that remortgaging needs a solicitor at all — there's no seller, no buyer, no chain, so what exactly is there to do? In practice, quite a lot, and it's worth understanding because it explains why the fee exists and where delays tend to come from. Your new lender is putting up several hundred thousand pounds against your home, and before they'll release it, they need independent confirmation that the property's legal title is exactly what it appears to be. That means checking the title register at HM Land Registry for anything that could get in the lender's way: an old charge that was never formally removed, a restriction requiring someone else's consent before the property can be mortgaged again, a boundary or right-of-way issue, or a lease (if it's a flat) that's dropped below the length most lenders will accept. Alongside the title check, we request a redemption statement from your existing lender, report to your new lender that their mortgage offer conditions have been satisfied, and then on completion day, we receive the new mortgage funds, pay off the old lender, and register the new lender's charge at the Land Registry. It's also worth flagging the distinction between a **remortgage** and a **product transfer**. A product transfer is where you switch to a new deal with your _existing_ lender — no new lender, no redemption, and usually no solicitor required. A remortgage is where you move to a _different_ lender, which is where all of the legal work above becomes necessary. ## How much does remortgage conveyancing cost? We quote a **fixed legal fee from £250 + VAT** based on your property value, so you know the full cost before you instruct us — no hourly rates, no surprise invoice at the end. The fee covers title checking, liaising with both lenders, redemption, and registration. On top of our fee, there's a Land Registry registration fee (set by the government, based on property value) and any search fees your specific lender requires. Some lenders are happy with existing searches or indemnity insurance in place of new ones, which can save you money — we'll always flag that option where it applies rather than defaulting to the more expensive route. A remortgage is usually one of the less expensive pieces of conveyancing you'll pay for, precisely because there's no chain to manage and no negotiation over price or fixtures and fittings. For the full picture on what's included, what counts as an extra, and how our fees compare with a lender's "free legal service," see our [complete guide to remortgage solicitor fees](/news/remortgage-solicitor-fees-explained). ## How long a remortgage actually takes, week by week Most of our clients are surprised how quickly a straightforward remortgage moves once it's under way — the bottleneck is very rarely us, and it's very rarely the new lender either. It's almost always the redemption statement from your _existing_ lender. - **Week 1 — instruction and setup.** You send over ID, proof of address, and your new mortgage offer. We open the file, order the title register, and — if your lender needs it — request updated searches. - **Weeks 1–2 — title review and redemption request.** We go through the title in detail, flag anything unusual, and request a redemption statement from your current lender. This is the step most likely to cause a delay if your current bank is slow, so we chase early. - **Weeks 2–3 — reporting on the mortgage offer.** We check every condition attached to your new mortgage offer is satisfied and tell you exactly what's needed. - **Weeks 3–4 — completion.** Your new lender releases the funds, we redeem your existing mortgage on the same day, and register the new charge with the Land Registry. For a fuller walkthrough of the whole journey, including what happens before you even instruct a solicitor, see our [guide to how remortgaging works](/news/how-does-remortgaging-work). ## Leasehold and shared ownership remortgages — what's different If your property is leasehold, a remortgage brings an extra layer: your new lender will only accept the mortgage if the remaining lease term meets their minimum requirement, commonly 70 years at completion but varying between lenders. If your lease has dropped close to that threshold, you may need a **lease extension** completed or formally agreed before the remortgage can proceed — far better to know in week one than after your new offer has been issued with a deadline attached. We also check the lease for anything that could concern a lender regardless of length: escalating ground rent clauses, restrictions on subletting, and whether the freeholder or managing agent needs to be notified of the new charge. Shared ownership remortgages have their own quirks. If you're **staircasing** — buying a further share at the same time as remortgaging — that's effectively two transactions running in parallel, and we coordinate both with your housing association and your new lender. ## When a remortgage brings other legal changes with it A remortgage is often the point at which other things get sorted at the same time. Quoting for them together usually saves you money and definitely saves you time: - **Adding or removing someone from the mortgage and title.** Marriage, moving in together or separation often means a remortgage alongside a [transfer of equity](/transfer-of-equity-solicitors). - **Releasing equity** — for home improvements, consolidating borrowing, or a gifted deposit for a family member. The legal process is identical to a like-for-like switch; the new mortgage is simply larger. - **Buy-to-let and portfolio remortgages.** Investment properties and limited-company holdings add extra paperwork and, for portfolios, coordinated multi-completion. - **Help to Buy remortgages.** If you're switching your main mortgage while keeping the equity loan, both your lender and Homes England need a **Deed of Postponement** — a common oversight for firms that don't do much Help to Buy work; it isn't for us. - **Shared ownership and staircasing**, as above. ## What can slow a remortgage down (and how to avoid it) Most remortgages that overrun do so for a small, predictable set of reasons: - **A slow redemption statement** — the single most common cause of delay. If your current lender has been slow to deal with in the past, tell us at the outset. - **Undischarged historic charges** — old loans never formally removed from the title need discharging before a new charge can be registered. Our title check catches these early. - **Name or detail mismatches** between the title and your new mortgage offer, easier to sort in week one than week four. - **Lease length issues on flats**, and outstanding service charge or ground rent arrears flagged by the freeholder. - **Missing or incomplete ID and source-of-funds documentation** — AML checks apply to remortgages just as they do to purchases. ## Remortgage solicitors near you We're a Maidenhead high street firm at heart, but the vast majority of our remortgage clients don't come into the office at all — everything is handled by phone, email and post. That said, we know these local markets well because we act across them every week: - **Maidenhead** — our home turf, covering Boyn Hill, the Waterways developments and the wider SL6 postcode; see our [Maidenhead conveyancing team](/conveyancing-maidenhead). - **Windsor** — see our [Windsor conveyancing team](/conveyancing-windsor). - **Reading** — a large, varied market from Victorian terraces to newer developments around the station; see our [Reading conveyancing team](/conveyancing-reading). - **Slough** — strong demand from first-time buyers remortgaging out of Help to Buy deals; see our [Slough conveyancing team](/conveyancing-slough). - **Bracknell** — a lot of 1990s and 2000s new-build stock, where leasehold flats sometimes need extra checks on lease length; see our [Bracknell conveyancing team](/conveyancing-bracknell). - **Wokingham** — see our [Wokingham conveyancing team](/conveyancing-wokingham). - **Marlow** — higher-value remortgages and equity release for renovation work; see our [Marlow conveyancing team](/conveyancing-marlow). - **Beaconsfield** — see our [Beaconsfield conveyancing team](/conveyancing-beaconsfield). - **Henley-on-Thames** — see our [Henley-on-Thames conveyancing team](/conveyancing-henley-on-thames). - **Twyford and surrounding villages** — [get in touch](/contact) and we'll confirm coverage and quote over the phone. ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Do I need a solicitor to remortgage? ### How much does a remortgage solicitor cost? ### How long does a remortgage take with a solicitor? ### When should I remortgage? ### How early can I remortgage? ### Do I need a solicitor or a conveyancer for a remortgage? ### Can I remortgage to release equity? ### What's the difference between a remortgage and a transfer of equity? ### Will I need a survey or valuation when I remortgage? ## What Our Clients Say Verified reviews from real property transactions ## Speak to us today Fixed fees, named solicitor, 20+ years of experience. SRA regulated and CQS accredited. [Get a Remortgage Quote](/quote)[01628 777233](tel:01628777233) ### Get in Touch [01628 777233 ](tel:01628777233) [Contact Us](/contact) ### Areas We Serve [Reading](/conveyancing-reading)[Slough](/conveyancing-slough)[Twyford](/conveyancing-twyford)[Bracknell](/conveyancing-bracknell)[Hungerford](/conveyancing-hungerford)[Wickham](/conveyancing-wickham)[View all areas](/conveyancing-services-berkshire) [![JScott & Co Solicitors](/images/jscott-logo-white.png)](/) J Scott & Co Solicitors is a limited company registered in England and Wales (Company No. 08883749) | Authorised and Regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority No. 621898 | © 2026 All Rights Reserved ### Quick Links - [Our Services](/services) - [Our Team](/team) - [News and Insights](/news) - [Careers](/careers) - [About us](/about) - [Contact Us](/contact) - [Privacy Policy](/privacy-policy) - [Sitemap](/sitemap.xml) ### Contact Call [01628 777233](tel:01628777233) [enquire@jscottlegal.co.uk](mailto:enquire@jscottlegal.co.uk) ### Office 47 High Street Maidenhead, Berkshire SL6 1JT ![Law Society Accredited - Conveyancing Quality](/images/cqs-logo.png) Site built and managed by [legalbuzz 🐝](https://legalbuzz.co/)