Property Law
Transfer of Equity Cost: £250 to £600
Updated July 2026. Adding or removing someone from a property title costs £250 to £600 in solicitor fees, plus Land Registry and possible stamp duty. Full breakdown for divorce, remortgage, and gifting a share.
What is a transfer of equity?
A transfer of equity is a change to who legally owns a property, where at least one existing owner stays on the title. You are not selling the whole property to a new buyer, you are adding or removing a name. It is used most often when a couple separates and one partner buys out the other, when a homeowner adds a spouse or partner to the deeds, when parents gift a share to a child, or when the ownership is restructured alongside a remortgage.
Full cost breakdown
| Cost item | Typical cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Solicitor / conveyancer fee | £250-£600 | Plus VAT at 20%. Higher if a mortgage is involved |
| Land Registry fee | £20-£500 | Tiered by property value; often the reduced fee applies |
| Lender handling fee | £100-£300 | Only if there is a mortgage and lender consent is needed |
| ID and bankruptcy searches | £10-£25 | Anti-money-laundering and insolvency checks |
| Telegraphic transfer fee | £30-£50 | If money changes hands on completion |
| Stamp Duty Land Tax | £0 or more | Only if consideration (usually assumed mortgage share) exceeds the threshold |
| Typical total (no mortgage) | £350-£750 | Straightforward gift or spousal transfer |
| Typical total (with mortgage) | £500-£1,100 | Includes lender handling and consent |
Cost by scenario
| Scenario | Typical total | Why the cost varies |
|---|---|---|
| Divorce buy-out (with mortgage) | £500-£1,100 | Lender consent, a remortgage into one name, and often stamp duty on the assumed mortgage share. |
| Adding a spouse to the deeds | £350-£700 | Simple if mortgage-free; the lender must consent if there is a mortgage. |
| Gifting a share to a child | £350-£750 | Usually no stamp duty on a pure gift, but inheritance tax and mortgage rules need advice. |
| Removing a joint owner | £400-£900 | Requires the departing owner's cooperation and, if mortgaged, lender approval that the remaining owner can afford it alone. |
Stamp Duty Land Tax is charged on the chargeable consideration, which for a transfer of equity usually means the share of the outstanding mortgage the incoming owner takes on. A pure gift with no mortgage and no cash changing hands generally has no SDLT. If a mortgage share above the threshold is assumed, tax can be due. The 3 per cent additional-property surcharge can also apply in some cases. Your solicitor calculates the exact figure before you commit.
A transfer of equity is far cheaper than a full purchase because there is no chain, no survey, and fewer searches. If you are handling it as part of a separation, see our divorce cost guide, and for the wider picture of property legal fees read the conveyancing fees breakdown.