Resources

What Is Remortgaging?

Remortgaging means replacing your existing mortgage with a new one, either with your current lender or a different one. Most people do this when their current deal is ending, to avoid rolling onto a higher standard variable rate, though many also remortgage to release equity, consolidate borrowing, or switch to better terms. Behind the scenes, remortgaging is still a genuine legal process: your existing mortgage needs to be redeemed, a new legal charge registered against your property, and any lender requirements properly dealt with, which is where a specialist conveyancing solicitor comes in.

We are automating: Our systems just got 50% faster, so you can move through your remortgage without unnecessary delays.

Our dedicated remortgage team provides expert guidance through every step of the process, ensuring a smooth experience

We keep customers connected: Customers can be in control of their case through our portal, app and Alexa - 7 days a week

We provide quotes 7 days a-week: Customers can get a quote any day of the week.

PLS 24/7 Portal speeds up the process for customers: Customers can track every stage of their remortgage from application to completion.

We are on every lender panel: This gives customers the advantage of securing their mortgage with any lender they choose

Why should I Remortgage?

There are four key reasons to remortgage your property:

If you are paying a high interest rate - Switching to a fixed or tracker interest rate on your mortgage could lower your monthly payments and help you pay off your mortgage sooner.

You want to pay off your mortgage early - By switching to a mortgage that lets you make over-payments you can pay off your debt earlier than your original term.

Your current mortgage deal ends soon - If your deal ends soon then you can move to the lender’s standard variable rate. This rate is often higher and so this is a good opportunity to look for better deals.

Your property has increased in value - Remortgaging can allow you to borrow for home improvements, further increasing your property’s value. A lower loan to value ratio might mean you meet the criteria for a wider range of interest rates.

How does the Remortgage process work?

Considering your financial situation as a whole is vital in the remortgage process as well as understanding what happens when you remortgage. There are four key steps:

Complete an Agreement in Principle - Most lenders will let you get an online Agreement in Principle in order to see if a lender is willing to lend you what you need. This will help you understand your options without choosing a specific deal.

Considering the costs - It is important to make sure that a remortgage will leave you in a better position. Therefore, it is essential to consider costs such as application fees and valuation fees in the process.

Applying for a new mortgage - Once you have your Agreement in Principle, you can now apply for a new mortgage. You will be asked for various personal and financial information in addition to the details of your current mortgage.

Completing your remortgage - Your new lender will carry out a credit check and arrange to have your property valued. PLS can help you with the transfer of your mortgage and complete the process.

Testimonials

Customer feedback

See What Our Customers Are Saying

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MIke

I honestly think this has been my best experience of buying a property. Craig was absolutely brilliant throughout the whole process. He was always quick to respond to any questions, kept things moving and made what can often be a stressful experience feel straightforward and well managed. The online portal was also excellent and made a real difference. Being able to log in, see the progress of my purchase and understand what was happening at each stage gave me real peace of mind. The communication, organisation and overall service were fantastic from start to finish. A massive thank you to Craig and the team at PLS. I wouldn't hesitate to recommend them and would happily use them again in the future.

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Rachael Phillips

Sean was absolutely amazing, he was professional, responsive and explained everything. Sean made the whole process so easy to understand. Thank you so much.

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james fowler

Many thanks to Sehrish Iqbal for completing my property purchase. I was impressed by her patience and professionalism dealing with a fairly challenging property purchase, and I paid what I was originally quoted , a double win for me. My thanks , once again .

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Sean Wilcox

Rubina was a massive help to us along every step letting us know if anything happened and next steps along with being very easy to get hold of the entire experience was made so much easier because of this. Thank you ever so much.

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Alexandra Wiggins

We have been very impressed with PLS. There has always been someone available to answer our queries by phone or email. Chloe has been amazing and kept us informed each step of the way and gone the extra mile for us. We would certainly highly recommend Chloe and her Team at PLS.

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TB

Louis Blanchard handled the conveyancing process for the purchase of our first home. Louis was communicative, efficient and supported us through the process. We recommend Louis and PLS, and would use them again in the future.

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Robert Hill

Catherine Ross has just acted for us in our house purchase, and she was excellent. Very friendly on the phone, took a genuine interest in us as customers, and always replied very promptly to emails. Everything went smoothly, and we'd definitely use both Catherine and the firm again.

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Kyle Bowers

Nick Anderson was great throughout the buying and selling process, always quick to respond, clear next steps and timelines. Would definitely use again - thanks for all the help!

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owen williamson

Big thank you to Louis for steering me through this fairly anxious time. Buying My second home has been a long and complicated process but it has been handled deftly and expertly by Louis and the team at PLS, highly recommend.

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Marie

I have work with Lisa and she was really helpful, As all know it is a stressful process when you are getting your own house. But during this process i had been given lots of reassurance and really it was great working with PLS Solicitor

A Guide to our residential conveyancing costs

It is not possible to give precise costs1 figures without first understanding your specific transaction and your exact requirements. This costs guide is only an indication of the likely approximate cost of a transaction. For a costs estimate specific to your transaction, please contact us. This costs guide is intended to give you an approximate idea of the overall legal costs and is based on the average amount of work involved in a basic house remortgage. We start with a base fee for a basic house remortgage (around £150) and add fees for specific elements, such as leasehold status, ID verification, or banking charges, which are included in the £150- £900 range. If unforeseen complexities arise (e.g., title defects), the fee may be revised.

Typical Sale Costs1:Typical Remortgage Fees:

Legal Fees2 (Inclusive of VAT at 20%)

Additional fees are included in the above range and are applied where applicable. Some typical examples of these are as follows (inclusive of VAT):

Leasehold purchase fee:

Banking and bank charges fee:

Lawyer Checker fee:

ID verification administration fee:

OS1 search fee

Office copies fee:

Bankruptcy search fee:

Fee for provision of general searches, which includes local authority, water and drainage, and environmental searches

Search Indemnity fee – this is for a no search indemnity policy (Inclusive of VAT at 20%)

We carry out searches on a re-mortgage only if it is a requirement of the lender (below are an indicative costs if searches are required).

£150 – £900

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£30.00 – £50.00

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Search Fees (Inclusive of VAT at 20%) (these are not included in the legal fees mentioned above)

Dependant on the property type & location typical examples of these can be:

Mining Search:

Brine Search:

Chancel Search:

£50.00-£70.00 (per search)

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Other Disbursements3 (no VAT)*

Land Registry Fee: (Dependant on the value of the property)

1 Costs means fees and disbursements, taken together
2 Fees means our charges for the work we do for you (including any VAT element)
3 Disbursements means any costs or expenses paid or to be paid to a third party on your behalf

£20.00 – £140.00

£20.00 – £140.00

Typical Sale Costs1:Typical Remortgage Fees:

Legal Fees2(Inclusive of VAT at 20%):
£450 – £1900

Additional fees are included in the above range and are applied where applicable. Some typical examples of these are as follows (inclusive of VAT).:

Leasehold purchase fee:
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Banking and bank charges fee:
–
Lawyer Checker fee:
–
ID verification administration fee:
–
OS1 search fee:
–
Office copies fee:
–
Bankruptcy search fee:
–
Fee for provision of general searches, which includes local authority, water and drainage, and environmental searches:
–
Search Indemnity fee – this is for a no search indemnity policy (Inclusive of VAT at 20%)
£30.00 – £50.00

We carry out searches on a re-mortgage only if it is a requirement of the lender (below are an indicative costs if searches are required).

Search Fees (Inclusive of VAT at 20%) (these are not included in the legal fees mentioned above)
£50.00-£70.00 (per search)
Dependant on the property type & location typical examples of these can be:
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Mining Search:
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Brine Search:
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Chancel Search:
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Other Disbursements3 (no VAT)*
£20.00 – £140.00
Land Registry Fee: (Dependant on the value of the property)
£20.00 – £140.00

1 Costs means fees and disbursements, taken together
2 Fees means our charges for the work we do for you (including any VAT element)
3 Disbursements means any costs or expenses paid or to be paid to a third party on your behalf

Please contact us for a Free Quote.

A detailed quote will always be provided to you at the beginning of the case.
Our costs quotes for the work to be carried out are made on the following assumptions. If any of the assumptions are incorrect, we mayneed to revise our quotation:

That the property is registered land.

That you are obtaining a mortgage from a high street lender and that lender does not require separate legal representation.

That no third parties’ consents are needed to the transaction.

That in the case of leasehold land that there is no freeholder’s or superior lessor’s consent required as a pre-condition of there mortgage.

That no unforeseen matters arise including for example (but not limited to) a defect in title which requires remedying prior to completion or the preparation of additional documents ancillary to the main transaction

That the transaction is concluded in a timely manner and no unforeseen complication arise

That all parties to the transaction are co-operative and there is no unreasonable delay from third parties providingdocumentation

Resources

Frequently Asked Questions

Explore our FAQs for Remortgage!

How long does a remortgage typically take?

Remortgages are usually quicker than a purchase or sale, often completing within 4-6 weeks, though this depends on your lender and how quickly documentation is returned.

Your new lender will usually arrange their own valuation of the property. This is separate from the legal work we carry out on your behalf.

A legal charge is the formal record of your lender’s interest in the property, registered at the Land Registry. When you remortgage, your old charge is removed and the new lender’s charge is registered in its place.

No, Stamp Duty Land Tax doesn’t apply to a straightforward remortgage with no change in ownership.

Need more Information?

For more information, please contact our Advisory Team.