Why keep the property instead of selling?
- Keeps children in the same schools and neighbourhood
- Dodges estate-agent fees and removal costs
- Lets you keep any future house-price growth
- But: you’ll shoulder 100 % of the mortgage and bills, so check affordability first
The five core steps
- Agree a valuation – use three local estate agents or pay a RICS surveyor.
- Calculate equity – (current value − outstanding mortgage) ÷ 2 (if 50/50 owners).
- Get lender approval – either a remortgage in your sole name or a product switch plus “transfer of equity”.
- Sign legal paperwork – your solicitor drafts a TR1 transfer deed and handles Land Registry forms.
- Pay your ex and any taxes/fees, then register the new ownership. elitelawsolicitors.co.ukmanaksolicitors.co.uk
How to work out the pay-out
| Item | Example |
|---|---|
| Property value | £300,000 |
| Mortgage balance | £180,000 |
| Total equity | £120,000 |
| Your ex’s 50 % share | £60,000 |
You’d need to raise (mortgage + cash) of £240,000 (£180k to clear the old loan, £60k to buy their share).
What will lenders look at?
- Affordability: income vs. new mortgage alone
- Credit score & commitments
- Loan-to-value (LTV): the higher the LTV, the tighter the criteria
- Length of time in current job / self-employment
Some high-street banks cap borrowing at 4.5× income; specialist lenders can stretch to 5-6× if you have a strong profile.
Documents you’ll need 
Latest payslips or SA302s (if self-employed) P60 or tax year overview 3–6 months’ bank statements Mortgage statement showing the current balance Formal valuation report Separation agreement or court order (if relevant)
Will you pay Stamp Duty Land Tax?
- Married or civil partners: usually exempt if transfer is under a formal divorce/separation order. Osbornes Law
- Unmarried couples: SDLT is payable on any “chargeable consideration” (cash + mortgage you take on) above £125,000. GOV.UKThe Sun
Typical costs 
| Cost | Range |
|---|---|
| Valuation | £250–£600 |
| Solicitor (transfer of equity) | £250–£500 |
| Land Registry fee | £50–£200 |
| Lender product / remortgage fee | £0–£1,000 |
| Stamp Duty (if due) | Depends on consideration |
Time-line 
- Simple cases: 4–6 weeks (both parties cooperative, same lender)
- Complex cases: 8–12 weeks+ (new lender, adverse credit, disputes) The Law Superstore
Alternatives if you can’t buy them out
- Sell and split the proceeds
- Mesher order: delay the sale until children reach 18
- Guarantor / joint-borrower-sole-proprietor mortgage
- Shared ownership staircasing later
Next steps checklist
- Book a valuation
- Download your credit report
- Speak to a mortgage broker who handles transfer-of-equity cases
- Instruct a conveyancing solicitor
- Agree a written figure with your ex and start the mortgage application
Need personal guidance?
We’ll match you with lenders who understand separation-related transfers so you avoid high-street rejections and keep life moving forward.