Adding a Partner to a Mortgage
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Adding a Partner to a Mortgage
Xavier Collin explains how adding a partner to a mortgage works.
How do you add your partner to your mortgage?
To add your partner to the mortgage, you’ll typically need to contact your current lender to initiate a Transfer of Equity. This involves the lender assessing your partner’s financial situation, including credit score, income and expenditure, to ensure they can be added on as a joint borrower.
If that’s all approved, legal steps are then taken to add your partner to the property’s title deeds, so that you both show as registered owners on the Land Registry. Alternatively, though, you could always add a party to the mortgage when remortgaging. This would be a brand new application with a different lender.
The best option for a client will obviously depend on their circumstances, which we’ll look into as your advisors. For example, if you’re fixed into a rate for the next two years, adding a partner to the existing mortgage might be better than remortgaging – to avoid any potential early repayment charges.
Of course, we’ll always assess that and do what’s best for the client.
What is it called when you add someone to your mortgage?
It’s called a Transfer of Equity – that’s the technical term – although some people call it a change of borrower. You can add a partner, spouse, family member or even a friend to the mortgage. You can also use it to remove someone from a mortgage.
Do I need to contact my current lender when I want to add my partner to my mortgage?
It may be that you need to approach your lender directly to add your partner onto the mortgage, but I’d always suggest initially approaching a mortgage broker. We will give you full and accurate advice on which route best suits your needs and circumstances.
Do I need to stay with my current lender?
No, you don’t. It will come down to your circumstances and what’s best for you. You’re not necessarily stuck with only one option.
That’s where a mortgage advisor would come into play – to review your circumstances in full alongside your existing mortgage, to establish the most appropriate option. It could be that staying with your current lender is the most suitable, but it may be that moving to another lender is actually better for you.
What is the first step when adding a partner to a mortgage?
In my opinion, it’s speaking to a mortgage broker, as we will establish the most appropriate option for you and your partner, considering all your priorities and circumstances.
Another potential step to help avoid delays is getting together all the relevant documents. Your mortgage broker and the lender will use these to assess your details – such as proof of ID, proof of address, and your latest three months’ bank statements.
If you’re employed, you need the latest three months’ payslips, or if you’re self-employed, your latest two years’ tax computations and tax overviews. Your advisor can delve into more detail as to the documents needed if you are unsure.
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Do you need to remortgage when adding a partner to a mortgage?
You don’t always need to remortgage, but depending on your circumstances it might be the most appropriate route. Sometimes you can just add a partner to your existing mortgage through a Transfer of Equity.
Here, the lender will assess the affordability of adding that person to the mortgage. If your current lender isn’t happy to add them on and they decline to do that, you can look at remortgaging to a new lender and applying for a joint mortgage.
What are the fees involved when adding a partner to a mortgage?
The main fees and costs to consider include solicitors’ fees, because you need one to complete the legal side of adding a new person to a mortgage. You’ll also have lender’s fees potentially, depending on the most appropriate product.
You may also have valuation fees, and the lender may charge an early repayment penalty if you want to come out of a rate early. Your mortgage broker may charge a fee as well.
There is also potentially stamp duty if you’re adding someone to a mortgage. You’d need to speak to a specialist tax advisor to get full advice on that.
Not all these fees are applicable for everyone – it will depend on your personal scenario. If you’re staying with your current lender, for example, it could be solely solicitor’s fees and stamp duty that you need to pay.
Will my partner be credit checked in the process of being added to my mortgage?
Yes, your partner will be credit checked. When you’re adding them to the mortgage, the lender will typically conduct a credit check, similar to a new mortgage application. This is just to ensure that the mortgage remains affordable for all parties involved.
Will my partner need to provide proof of their income to be added to my mortgage?
In most cases, yes. Your partner will need to prove their income to be added to the mortgage. That’s because lenders want to assess their ability to meet the mortgage repayments alongside you, through standard credit and affordability checks.
It may be that the mortgage is affordable without their income. But typically the lender will want sight of their income figures.
Do we have to be married for me to add my partner to my mortgage?
No, you don’t have to be married. You might be adding on a partner, but lenders will often allow joint mortgages for unmarried couples, friends or family. A lot of lenders accept anyone on a joint mortgage now.
Do you need a solicitor to add someone to your mortgage?
Yes, you will need a solicitor to carry out the legal side of the process. The solicitors that act for property transactions are usually referred to as conveyancers, and they’ll handle the legal aspect of adding someone new to your mortgage.
They’ll ensure that the property title is updated with the new owner’s names, and that all the legal documents are filed correctly. They also check both parties understand their legal rights and responsibilities. It’s a very important step, so you will need a solicitor.
How long does it take to change the name on house deeds?
The request will be sent by the solicitors to the Land Registry on completion of the mortgage.
Unfortunately, there aren’t any specific timescales. As we speak today in July 2025, there is a backlog – timescales are around seven months at the moment.
The solicitors will send your request over to the Land Registry as soon as you complete and it will be turned around as soon as possible.
YOUR HOME OR PROPERTY MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON A MORTGAGE OR OTHER DEBT SECURED ON IT.
THERE MAY BE A FEE FOR MORTGAGE ADVICE. THE PRECISE AMOUNT OF THE FEE WILL DEPEND UPON YOUR CIRCUMSTANCES, BUT WILL RANGE FROM £99 TO £999 AND THIS WILL BE DISCUSSED AND AGREED WITH YOU AT THE EARLIEST OPPORTUNITY.
ASSET HARBOUR MORTGAGE AND PROTECTION LIMITED TRADING AS ASSET HARBOUR MORTGAGE AND PROTECTION ARE AN APPOINTED REPRESENTATIVE OF HLP PARTNERSHIP LIMITED, WHICH IS AUTHORISED AND REGULATED BY THE FINANCIAL CONDUCT AUTHORITY.