Adding a partner to the deeds or buying out an ex can cost as little as £350, or run into thousands once a remortgage and Stamp Duty are involved. That gap is why transfer of equity costs are so hard to pin down online.
Most of the difference comes down to two questions: is there a mortgage on the property, and is any money changing hands?
A transfer of equity changes who owns a property without selling it, whether you’re adding a partner, buying out an ex or gifting a share to family. This guide breaks down the fees you’re likely to pay, prices up four common situations and lists what to have ready so your transfer of equity quote reflects what you’ll actually pay.
Alternatively, get to grips with the process and timeline, read our ‘What is a transfer of equity?‘ article.
What’s in this guide?
- What’s Included in Transfer of Equity Costs?
- Transfer of Equity Solicitor Costs and Conveyancer Fees
- Disbursements: The Third-Party Fees to Budget For
- Mortgage Costs When Transferring Equity
- Do You Pay Stamp Duty on a Transfer of Equity?
- Could Other Taxes Apply? CGT and Inheritance Tax
- How Much Does a Transfer of Equity Cost in Total? Worked Examples
- What Affects the Cost of a Transfer of Equity?
- How to Keep Your Transfer of Equity Costs Down
- How to Get an Accurate Transfer of Equity Quote
- Transfer of Equity Costs: FAQs
What’s Included in Transfer of Equity Costs?
Your total cost is made up of four parts, although not everyone pays all four. Whether you have a mortgage, and whether any money changes hands, makes the most difference.
| Cost | What it is | Typical cost | When it applies |
| Conveyancer fees | The legal work to change ownership | £350 to £950 + VAT | Every transfer |
| Disbursements | Third-party fees, such as HM Land Registry and ID checks | Around £50 to £200 | Every transfer |
| Mortgage costs | Lender admin fees, remortgage costs, early repayment charges | £0 to several thousand | Only if there’s a mortgage |
| Stamp Duty | Tax on any money paid or mortgage debt taken on | Often £0 | Only if the chargeable consideration is over the threshold, or higher rates apply |
We’ll look at each of these in more detail below.
Transfer of Equity Solicitor Costs and Conveyancer Fees
The legal fee is the one cost almost every transfer has. If you’re comparing transfer of equity solicitor costs, it helps to know you don’t need a solicitor for this work. A licensed conveyancer is a property law specialist who can handle the whole process for you.
At Bespoke Law Services, we’re licensed conveyancers regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Across England and Wales, legal fees for a straightforward transfer of equity typically range from around £350 to £950 plus VAT. Our fee starts from [£X] + VAT. Get a transfer of equity quote to see how much yours would cost.
What the legal fee covers
Your conveyancer’s fee usually covers:
- Checking the title deeds and any restrictions at HM Land Registry
- Drafting the transfer deed (known as a TR1) and getting it signed and witnessed
- Getting your mortgage lender’s consent, if you have a mortgage
- Handling completion and any money changing hands
- Working out whether Stamp Duty is due and filing the return with HMRC
- Registering the new owners with HM Land Registry
Why it costs less than buying or selling
A transfer of equity is usually cheaper than a standard purchase. There are no local searches to order, no enquiries with a seller’s conveyancer and no property chain to manage. If you’d like to compare, our guide to full conveyancing fees explains what’s involved in a purchase.
Extra legal work that can add to your bill
Some situations need a bit more legal work. A good conveyancer will include these in your quote from the start if they apply to you.
| Extra work | When you’ll need it | Typical cost |
| Leasehold work | Your property is leasehold, so the freeholder or managing agent must be notified | £150 to £300 |
| ID1 form | Someone transferring their share doesn’t have their own conveyancer | Around £100 |
| Removing a Form A restriction | You own as tenants in common and the property is moving into one name, or you’re switching to joint tenants | £200 |
| Declaration of solvency | The share is transferred for less than its market value, including as a gift | Around £150 |
| Remortgage work | You’re switching mortgage lenders at the same time | From £200 |
| Insolvency indemnity insurance | An alternative to a declaration of solvency when a share is transferred for less than its market value | £80 |
If the transfer leaves you with unequal shares, you can record who owns what, and who contributed what, with a deed of trust.
Disbursements: The Third-Party Fees to Budget For
Disbursements are fees your conveyancer pays to other organisations on your behalf. They’re usually small, but it’s worth knowing what they are.
HM Land Registry fees
HM Land Registry charges a fee to update the register with the new owners. How much you pay depends on the value involved and whether money is changing hands:
- No money changing hands, e.g. a gift – the fee is based on the value of the share being transferred, after deducting any mortgage, and is usually between £20 and £140 when submitted online.
- Money changing hands – a higher fee scale applies, based on the amount being paid.
You can check the latest figures on the HM Land Registry fees page, and we’ll confirm the exact amount in your quote.
ID checks, official copies and searches
You’ll also have a few smaller costs, usually adding up to under £100:
- Identity and anti-money laundering checks for each person involved
- Official copies of the title register and plan
- A bankruptcy search against anyone joining the title or taking on the mortgage
- A bank transfer fee for sending money on completion
Leasehold extras
If you own a leasehold flat or house, the freeholder or managing agent may charge a fee for being notified of the change in ownership. The freeholder or managing agent sets these fees, which typically range from £100 to £300.
Mortgage Costs When Transferring Equity
If there’s a mortgage on the property, your lender has to agree to the change. This is often where costs can climb, so it’s worth speaking to your lender early.
Lender consent and admin fees
Some lenders charge an admin fee for adding or removing someone from a mortgage, typically up to around £300. Others don’t charge at all, so check with yours.
Remortgaging and early repayment charges
If your lender won’t agree to the change, or the person staying doesn’t pass its affordability checks, you may need to remortgage. Our transfer of equity guide explains the options.
If you do need to switch lenders, you’ll have extra legal work and possibly an early repayment charge on your current deal. Early repayment charges can run into thousands of pounds, so check yours before you commit to anything.
We can handle the remortgage conveyancing alongside your transfer of equity, so you have one team dealing with everything.
Do You Pay Stamp Duty on a Transfer of Equity?
Often, no. Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) on a transfer of equity is worked out on what’s called the chargeable consideration: any money paid for the share, plus any share of the existing mortgage the new owner takes on.
In England, if that figure is £125,000 or less, there’s usually no Stamp Duty to pay, unless the new owner already owns another property (see higher rates below).
For a general overview of how the tax works, see our guide to how Stamp Duty works.
How chargeable consideration works
These two examples show how the same rule can lead to very different bills.
Example 1: adding a partner
Sam owns a £300,000 home with a £200,000 mortgage. Their partner Alex is added to the deeds with a 50% share and takes on half the mortgage (£100,000). No cash changes hands. The chargeable consideration is £100,000, which is below £125,000, so no Stamp Duty is due.
Example 2: buying out an ex-partner
Jo and Chris aren’t married and are separating. Their home is worth £500,000, with a £300,000 mortgage. Jo pays Chris £100,000 and takes on Chris’s half of the mortgage (£150,000). The chargeable consideration is £250,000. Stamp Duty is 2% on the £125,000 between £125,000 and £250,000, so Jo pays £2,500.
Even when there’s no Stamp Duty to pay, your conveyancer may still need to file a return with HMRC if the chargeable consideration is £40,000 or more.
When Stamp Duty isn’t payable
You won’t usually pay Stamp Duty on a transfer of equity if:
- You’re divorcing, dissolving a civil partnership or legally separating, and the transfer is part of a court order or an agreement between you.
- You’re gifting a share and no mortgage debt is passed on (for example, gifting part of a mortgage-free home to your child).
- You’ve inherited the property or a share of it under a will or the intestacy rules.
One thing to watch: unmarried couples don’t get the divorce exemption. If you’re separating from a partner you weren’t married to, the normal rules apply, as in Example 2 above.
Higher rates and recent changes
If the person taking on a share already owns another property, the higher rates for additional homes may apply. This adds a 5% surcharge on top of the standard rates. There are exceptions, including some transfers between spouses, so your conveyancer will check whether they apply to you.
The Stamp Duty thresholds also changed in April 2025, when the nil-rate band dropped from £250,000 to £125,000. Our article on the 2025 Stamp Duty changes explains what changed.
If your property is in Wales, Land Transaction Tax (LTT) applies instead of Stamp Duty, with its own rates and thresholds. For a main home, there’s usually no LTT to pay if the chargeable consideration is £225,000 or less.
Could Other Taxes Apply? CGT and Inheritance Tax
Gifting part of your home can also have Capital Gains Tax or Inheritance Tax consequences, particularly if the property isn’t your main home or you’re giving a share to your children.
These don’t add to your conveyancing bill, but they can affect what the transfer costs you overall, so speak to a tax adviser before you make a gift.
Our transfer of equity guide explains when they apply, and our article exploring how to gift a share of your home covers how a deed of gift works.
How Much Does a Transfer of Equity Cost in Total? Worked Examples
To give you a clearer picture, here’s what four common situations might cost from start to finish. These are illustrative ranges, and your quote will be based on your own circumstances.
| Situation | Legal fee (+ VAT) | Disbursements | Mortgage costs | Stamp Duty | Estimated total |
| Adding a spouse to a mortgage-free home | From £350 plus VAT | £50 to £100 | None | £0 | From £400 plus VAT |
| Adding a partner to a £300,000 home, taking on £100,000 of the mortgage | From £350 plus VAT | £50 to £100 | £0 to £300 lender fee | £0 | From £400 plus VAT |
| Buying out an unmarried ex-partner, with a remortgage (£250,000 consideration) | From £350 plus VAT incl. remortgage | £100 to £200 | Any early repayment charge | £2,500 | From £2,950 plus VAT + any early repayment charge |
| Adding a partner to a mortgaged leasehold flat | From £350 plus VAT incl. leasehold work | £100 to £200 + £100 to £300 freeholder fees | £0 to £300 lender fee | £0 (if consideration is £125,000 or less) | From £550 plus VAT |
As you can see, the legal fee is usually the most predictable part of the bill. Mortgage costs and Stamp Duty are what usually push a total up.
What Affects the Cost of a Transfer of Equity?
Every transfer is a little different. These are the main things that affect your total:
- Freehold or leasehold – leasehold properties need extra legal work and usually involve a freeholder fee.
- Whether there’s a mortgage – lender consent, affordability checks and possibly a remortgage all add cost and time.
- Whether money changes hands – paying for a share can trigger Stamp Duty and a higher HM Land Registry fee.
- How you own the property now – tenants in common usually have a restriction on the title that needs removing.
- How many people are involved – more owners means more ID checks and more paperwork.
- The value of your home – HM Land Registry fees rise with the property’s value.
How to Keep Your Transfer of Equity Costs Down
- Check for early repayment charges first – they can be the most expensive part of the whole process.
- Get an itemised quote – you’ll see exactly what you’re paying for and can compare like for like.
- Check whether you need separate conveyancers – in many cases, one conveyancer acts for the person staying and their lender, and the person leaving doesn’t instruct their own. They’ll need to verify their identity with an ID1 form, which usually costs less than separate representation. If you don’t agree on the terms, you should each get independent advice.
- Have your paperwork ready – having ID and mortgage details to hand avoids delays.
- Work out your Stamp Duty position early – knowing your number from the outset helps you avoid last-minute surprises.
How to Get an Accurate Transfer of Equity Quote
The more information you give at the start, the more accurate your quote will be. That means fewer surprises later.
What you’ll need for your quote
- The property’s approximate value and whether it’s freehold or leasehold
- Your mortgage lender’s name and roughly how much is left on the mortgage
- Who is joining or leaving the title
- Whether any money is being paid for the share
- How you own the property now (joint tenants or tenants in common)
Questions to ask when comparing conveyancing quotes
Transfer of equity conveyancing quotes don’t all include the same things. Before you choose, ask:
- Is the fee fixed, and does it include VAT?
- Which disbursements are included, and which are estimates?
- Are you on my mortgage lender’s panel?
- What will I pay if the transfer doesn’t go ahead?
- Will I have one dedicated person handling my case?
We’re on all major lender panels, and you’ll have the same dedicated conveyancer from start to finish.
Ready to find out what your transfer will cost? Get a transfer of equity quote or contact us and we’ll get back in touch as soon as we can.
Transfer of Equity Costs: FAQs
Who pays for a transfer of equity?
There’s no set rule, so the owners agree it between themselves. Often the person joining the title pays, or the costs are split. If you’re separating, who pays is usually agreed as part of the wider financial settlement.
Is it cheaper to do a transfer of equity yourself?
If there’s no mortgage, you can apply to HM Land Registry yourself and avoid the legal fee, although you’ll still pay the registration fee and any Stamp Duty. Mistakes in the forms or the Stamp Duty position can cost more to fix later. If there’s a mortgage, your lender will need a conveyancer or solicitor to act for it.
Is VAT charged on transfer of equity fees?
VAT is charged on the conveyancing fee. Most disbursements, such as HM Land Registry fees and Stamp Duty, don’t include VAT. Check whether the quote you’re given includes VAT.
