Your guide to Remortgage.

National Firm. Local Values. Contents 1. What you can expect from GWlegal 2. The Remortgage Process: Summary 3. The Remortgage Process: Explained 4. Identification 5. Our Fees 6. Special Cases 7. Amber Searches Limited and Insurance Arrangements 9. Testimonials 10. The GWaccount

11. Everyday Legal

12. Premier Client Club 13. Recommend a Friend What you can expect 1 from GWlegal

With over 30 years of experience dealing with You’ve decided remortgaging GWlegal have a fantastic team of legal to remortgage, experts in place to make your remortgage progress so let’s get smoothly and efficiently. everything sorted as quickly as possible!

A remortgage is where By trusting your remortgage With the help of this brochure, the owner of a is to GWlegal, you’ll get: we’ll take you step-by-step changing from one lender through your remortgage. to another. It can be a bit • The whole process confusing, that’s why it’s really explained from the start The first section explains important to have the best what happens in the in the business helping you • Friendly and knowledgeable remortgage process, outlining along and making the whole staff who are available what you need to do and process as simple and as 9.15 – 5.15 Mon - Fri what we’ll do for you. straightforward as it can be. • Fixed costs, so no nasty The second section, hidden surprises. contains general terms and conditions as well as specific ones relating to your remortgage such as how we use your information, our complaints procedure and information about fees.

We appreciate that there is a lot of information to take in, but please take the time to read it all. It could be instrumental in helping you remortgage sooner. The Remortgage 2 Process: Summary Acknowledge your instruction by sending you a Terms of Business letter and Mortgage questionnaire.

To make things easier, next Complete all necessary paperwork inc. your building insurance schedule and return to to each step there are some us with ID as quickly as possible. circles, so you can mark each one off every time you Request initial redemption statements from move a step closer to your your existing lender(s) and the title and remortgage. It’s simple; details of freeholder (if leasehold). every step highlighted in teal involves you and everything Receive your mortgage offer else you can just leave to us. and send documents to you.

Sign your documents and return to us

Request any searches required by your lender and request an up-to-date redemption statement.

Make sure all conditions are satisfied.

Set a completion date

For more information about our arrangement with your Report on the title to your Introducer, please read the lender and request funds. referral paragraph in our Terms and Conditions which are located at the back of the Inform all parties of the completion date. brochure.

Receive funds from and confirm redemption amount with your lender.

Confirm figures with you and your Introducer, if applicable

Finalise completion.

Release funds, pay you any balance due and pay your Introducer, if applicable

Enjoy your remortgage! The Remortgage 3 Process: Explained

There are 3 key areas that you need to know about and understand – because they involve you. All the other, complicated stuff, you can just leave to us.

Signing the mortgage Receiving your funds Confirming the details

Some lenders require you to Once the transaction has been When we receive your sign your mortgage deed in completed, we will forward mortgage offer, we’ll send you front of a solicitor. Any local any remaining balance to you. the details and conditions of solicitor can witness this, This will be net of any fees, your mortgage. It is important though some may charge a disbursements and VAT that that you read these in detail small fee. You will need to take have been incurred during the and ask your Introducer if you photographic proof of identity process. are unsure about any of these with you. conditions.

With regards to the redemption figure (the final figure to settle your previous mortgage inc. all charges and interest), we’ll assume the figure we receive from your existing lender is correct (we do not have the facilities to check these figures or know whether any penalty or added interest is justified). If you are in any doubt, then you must ask the lender directly to check their figures before completion. In any case, you should never cancel any standing order or direct debit to your lender until we confirm the has been cleared and any charges have been paid in full. Identification 4

We must check the identity We will also need to carry out of all our clients under the an additional electronic check Money Laundering Act 2007 of your identification. This for any regulated work that we is because we have not met do. We do this by obtaining you face to face and we want Photo ID and Proof of to make absolutely certain Residence identification. that you’re not the victim of . For the majority of clients using the services of an We take fraud very seriously Introducer, their Introducer and incorporate many anti- will provide us with the fraud measures into our appropriate documentation. procedures. We hope you feel There may be a small number reassured by our approach. of cases in which we still need to ask you to provide us with There may be rare exceptions original ID. to the above but we’ll let you know as soon as we can if If you have come to us directly, that’s the case. we will require you to send us original ID through the post.

Our requirements are as follows: We require one of the following List one: List two: forms of identification per Photo I.D. Proof of Residence person from list one and two from list two here: • Valid passport • Utility bill Important • Valid photo driving • Bank or credit card licence with current statement Any photo ID must be clear address and legible otherwise you may • Official government/ be required to resubmit. • A current, signed agency correspondence passport issued by a Non Any proof of residence EEA Country with either identification must be dated a passport stamp or a within 3 months of the file letter from the Home instruction. Office giving an indefinite right to reside in the UK. Please ensure when sending or returning items by Special/ Recorded Delivery, your full reference number is quoted on the envelope. Our Fees 5

In addition to our remortgage Also you may also need to pay Depending on your fees you will need to pay some or all of the following: remortgage, there may also be all or some of the following a need for additional searches disbursements: • Telegraphic Transfer to be carried out. This may include environmental, local • Local Search facility fee • Buy-to-Let fee and drainage searches (fees vary). • Land registry fees • Leasehold fee • Deed of postponement fee • Official copies fee • Indemnity premium • Bankruptcy search fee • Electronic Identification • Official search fee Fee

• Transfer of Equity fee

We will advise you of these costs when necessary. You can also ask a member of staff to confirm your costs at any point during your case. Special Cases 6

In some instances, specific If the situation has arisen rules and requirements because of a divorce and you • New Co-owner: may apply. have separate solicitors acting in this matter, please tell us as If you are the sole owner of Examples include: soon as possible so we can the property and wish to add liaise with them. another person to the deeds, • Removing a Co-owner: you may need to get the agreed • Voluntary Transfer transfer documents witnessed This is where you currently Indemnity Policy: by an independent solicitor. own a property with someone else and you wish to buy them Your new lender may require The current owner must sign out and would require a Transfer us to take out a policy to a statement which states they of Equity. protect them in case you (and/ understand the steps being or your co-owner) are declared taken and that the transfer is In a case such as this, you will bankrupt within 5 years of not being done to prejudice any be taking out a new mortgage transferring the property to creditors. just in your name. We can you. The cost of this policy is only act on your behalf; your £160. The new co-owner can get co-owner will need to take their documents witnessed by independent legal advice. Please note: this policy protects anyone with the exception of the lender only, not you. family members. Amber Searches Limited and 7 Insurance Arrangements

Amber Searches Limited you must take separate almost certainly you will have to independent legal advice. pay a higher premium than that We arrange searches and/ which we are able to obtain. or insurance products via Amber Searches Limited will You may be wondering why we a company called Amber regularly review the insurance are using a separate company Searches Limited which is a market to ensure that a rather than dealing directly limited company wholly owned competitive premium is being with suppliers of specialised by the partners of GWlegal obtained for the policy. This search products. The reason (Goldsmith Williams). As a also includes negotiation of is that we believe that doing business, Amber Searches terms, cover and premium rate so provides a better and more Limited does charge for its where necessary to ensure efficient service for you as services and as such there that a continuing competitive the company is a specialist in is an element of profit which product is maintained. negotiating and processing benefits the partners of cases on behalf of clients. GWlegal (Goldsmith Williams). As we are acting in your best This is a separate business, interests at all times, we do Amber Searches Limited which means that you do not wish to point out that you have carries out several duties in get the statutory protection a choice either for us to arrange relation to administering the that a Solicitors client would policy(ies) or you are free to above insurance products. If have under the SRA Code of arrange them yourself. To you would like a breakdown of Conduct. If you have any do so, you will need to consult the processes involved please concerns about our relationship an insurance Introducer and let us know. Amber Searches with this separate business or Limited is regulated by the are concerned that we may not FCA under number 308486. be acting in your best interests 8

Local Search Insurance owner during your occupation. of the remortgage fee earner It is because you will not be and the management charge of If a local search is required by protected under the policy that Amber Searches Limited. As your new lender, we intend the premium for it is low. We it is a business, there is also to use our local search facility are more than happy, having a profit element on the part which, by special arrangement, stated the position to be as of Amber Searches Limited, does not require any payment above to provide you with a which is then recharged by on account and should be copy of the terms of the policy GWlegal for their management quicker. We believe that our for your information. It may be charges in providing office facility is sufficient to protect the case that having seen the and other resources to your interests and provides policy you may wish to extend Amber Searches Limited. benefits to you. If you are the cover to protect yourself We will conduct a full happy for us to do this then against some potential defect. If investigation of the title to we do not need any payment that is the case then this would the property and associated on account. We will share be at an extra cost to you and conveyances to establish if the your details with Amber you would need to contact title is suitable security for the Searches Limited for this an insurance Introducer who lender’s purposes. Checks are purpose. If, alternatively, you is regulated by the Financial made include a review of the want us to arrange a full local Services Act to act for you as official copies, conveyances, search outside this facility we are not regulated to do so. restrictions, covenants as or indeed source a personal well as a full review of any search through a third party Our local search facility covers associated to identify the organization or your lender other potential areas for need for a policy and will then will not accept this facility, then delay, for example, where the liaise with Amber Searches we will be happy to do so but lender requires a deed of gift Limited and communicate with will have to charge an extra policy to be put in place. In the Underwriter of the policy £75.00 plus VAT to arrange this that event there will be an regarding any case specific and in addition we will need a additional charge made by queries in order to ensure that payment of £200.00 on account Amber Searches Limited to the policy obtained is fit for the from you by return, payable to place the policy on risk which purpose that it is intended. Goldsmith Williams. Making will include the cost of the these separate arrangements search, the premium for the may very well delay us in insurance and the admin costs completing your remortgage of Amber Searches Limited. but is entirely your choice. As above, we are more than happy to source an alternative It is important for you to facility for you but we will understand however that the charge an additional £75.00 benefit of this policy is for your plus VAT for arranging this on lender only and not for you. each and every policy. Making This is because you are already these separate arrangements living in the property and may very well delay us in therefore it is only reasonable completing your remortgage to assume that you are already but it is entirely your choice. aware of any of the issues that The premium cost ranges the policy covers having either between £10.00 and £30.00 investigated them through which is included in the overall your solicitors when you charge of £60.00. The balance purchased the property or they of the cost is comprised of have come to your notice as administrative costs on the part Testimonials 9

We are committed to providing excellent service and are continually looking for ways to improve. We monitor our service using client satisfaction questionnaires and feel that the amount of positive feedback we receive from our clients reflects our high standards.

“ I found your service very “ From start to finish the “ Very happy with the speedy professional, efficient and process was smooth, well service and prompt action. A clear compared to my co-ordinated and a pleasure very smooth remortgage” previous solicitor. I will be to deal with.” recommending you to others ”

Mrs Rose, Greenwich Mr Taylor, Liverpool Mr Mcdermott, Dorset The GWaccount 10 Stay up to date with your case as well as upload documents, make payments and ask any questions you have…even when the office is closed with your own GWlegal account.

By creating an account, you’ll be able to:

View and update account details Make payments relating to a case View case progress Leave feedback Send messages relating to a case Upload documents

We believe that by enabling you to have access to your case and understand the key milestones which have been or need to be completed will not only improve your experience but also help speed up your case.

 Set up your account at gw.legal/account Everyday Legal 11 Free legal help from GWlegal

Whilst you need our assistance in your current case, not every legal issue needs the professional advice of a solicitor. Often you can handle the situation on your own – you just need a few pointers.

That’s what Everyday Legal, our free advice service, is all about… equipping you with the right information so you can solve the problem yourself whether it’s reclaiming unfair charges, resolving disputes or wanting to know your consumer rights.

Topics include:

• Energy bill refunds • How to claim for pothole damage • Resolving property boundary disputes • Your legal rights when buying a used car • Dealing with noisy neighbours.

Everyday Legal is available on our website at gw.legal Premier Client Club 12 At GWlegal, we value loyalty. This is why we created our Premier Client Club – to reward customers who, having already benefitted from our services, come back when they need a solicitor again.

As a member, you’ll benefit from all this:

Standard fees for any future Fees for any Wills and or remortgage Power of Attorney work* services*

But it isn’t just you who can benefit from these discounts! Recommend family and friends to us as we’ll extend these discounts to them too. Now you can’t say fairer than that!

Premier Client Club costs just £40 (+VAT) and could more than pay for itself in just one future transaction.

You’ll be given the opportunity to join during your current case with us. Please visit gw.legal for more information.

* not including VAT/Disbursements Recommend a Friend 13 Impressed by our service? We sure hope so! Then why not recommend us to your friends and family and earn up to £250 for your effort.

How much could you earn?

Service You get Conveyancing Up to £100^

Remortgage £25

Wills £20

Personal Injury £250

Financial Claims (PPI) £50

It’s so easy to recommend us to family and friends. Simply log on or create a GWlegal account by visiting gw.legal. Click on the Recommend a Friend button and simply enter your friend’s email address and the service you are recommending. Hit send and off it goes to your friend’s inbox.

You can then keep an eye on if they follow your recommendation and take up our services, and ultimately if and when you’ll get paid, through your own personal dashboard.

Don’t forget, if you’re a Premier Client Club member, your relative or friend will also be entitled to discounts on our services*. Might be worth mentioning that to them as an extra incentive!

^Earn £50 for a single sale or purchase case and £100 for a combined sale and purchase case *Premier client club members and their family and friends are entitled to 25% of our conveyancing and remortgage fees and 10% of our Wills service. Not including VAT and disbursements If our dedicated team of experts can offer any assistance we’d be delighted to hear from you  0345 373 3737  gw.legal

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0162/041/201019

GWlegal | 20 Chapel Street | Liverpool | L3 9GW GWlegal is the trading name of GWLAWYER LIMITED who are registered in England & Wales under company no. 11173746. Registered office as above where a list of members is open for inspection. Authorised and regulated by the Solicitors Regulation Authority under number 662544. Calls charged at national rate.