Remortgage free legals

All remortgages require a level of legal work. When remortgaging to Santander, clients can choose to use our free legal service, where we’ll cover the standard legal costs for registering our legal charge over the property and redeeming any existing mortgage.

Let's take a look at the process

  1. Offer issued.
  2. Your client's free law firm is appointed.
  3. Within 1 working day, your client will get an email or SMS from the law firm appointed inviting them to ‘Track my case’.
  4. Your client stays connected with the law firm to keep their application active.

Important deadlines

  1. If there's no response within 2 to 4 working days, a reminder is sent to the client.
  2. If there's no response by day 5, the law firm will post your client a questionnaire about their property and current mortgage.
  3. If there's no response by day 10, the case will be cancelled.

You can view the process flow here

We'll arrange and pay for the cost of the standard legal work involved in transferring the mortgage and we'll also check the Assured Shorthold Tenancy (for Buy to Let cases).

Your client will need to pay for the following additional fees if they apply:

  • For leasehold properties - the landlord's registration fee for registering the mortgage with the landlord in accordance with the terms of the lease.
  • If the title to the property is unregistered - the additional land registry registration fee.
  • In Scotland where the deeds are currently recorded on the sasine register.

Also if any additional work is needed, which is not normally associated with a remortgage, this will be at your client's own cost. Your client will be advised of the cost of additional work before any work is carried out.

  • If your client pays off their mortgage before the end date on the benefit package, they'll need to repay a maximum of £200 for the remortgage legal work.
  • The benefit end date is shown on our latest mortgage rates page and within the 'Benefit packages' section of our rate bulletins.
  • The repayment of the benefit is in addition to any product early repayment charge that may apply.
  • If any additional works are required, then your client will get a letter to advise of the additional work and costs. Confirmation that your clients are happy to proceed is required before any additional works are carried out. 

The free legal service typically takes around 12–14 weeks, although timescales may vary depending on the complexity of the case.

It’s important to confirm your client’s preferred completion date early and submit the remortgage application as soon as possible.

Prompt return of any requested documentation by the client can help speed up the process. Even if completion is some time away, returning paperwork to the law firm as early as possible can help avoid delays closer to completion.

LMS (Legal Marketing Services)

If you're using one of the LMS panel law firms, you'll have access to the Service Tracking and Reporting System (STARS). It's an easy to use system that's designed to help you:

  • keep up to date with the progress of your client’s remortgage application,
  • look at individual cases and their current status, and
  • see the contact details of the law firm handling your client’s remortgage. Plus, any notes the law firm have added.

Accessing STARS

To access STARS, please login here

  • Use your introducer code and password to log on.
  • This code must be in upper case and mustn’t contain any spaces. For example, PUVG123456789.
  • The first time you log on, you’ll also need to use this code as your password. You’ll then be asked to choose a new password. Please note this is case sensitive.

Enact Limited

If you're using one of the Enact panel law firms and you have any legal queries, please call the Enact Customer Service Team on 0344 244 2962.

Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 8pm and Saturday 9am to 5.30pm.

You can also send an email to remobrokerupdates@enact.co.uk

Optima Legal

If you're using one of the Optima Legal panel law firms and you have any legal queries, please call the Optima Legal Customer Service Team on 0344 571 6431.

Lines are open Monday to Friday 9am to 5.30pm.

You can also send an email to santander@optimalegal.co.uk

Your client will get £250 cashback on completion (which is paid to their conveyancer), as a contribution towards legal costs if they decide to pick their own solicitor. At Santander, your client always has the option to pick their own solicitor which is handy if their case isn't straightforward.