This can be a very confusing legal term, but with the right advice it can be made much simpler. Here is a guide to the basic points and where to go to for advice.
Why Does It Occur?
This can occur for a variety of different reasons. It may be that you have just got married and your spouse wants to transfer some of the equity in their home to you, or a divorce could lead to you being brought out of a property or buying out your ex. In some cases, parents gift their children equity in their property while they are still alive.
Who Can Give Advice?
There are a few professionals you might need to ask for advice depending on what your personal situation is.
Conveyancer
A conveyancer will make sure that the legal aspect of the transfer is done correctly. Using an experienced property conveyancer such as https://www.samconveyancing.co.uk/news/conveyancing/transfer-of-equity-process-3894 can take the headache out of the process for you and will make sure that it will be as smooth as possible. Although you may not always need to use a conveyancer, obtaining independent legal advice is very important as they will be able to let you know what you are getting involved in and answer any questions you may have.
Estate Agent
An estate agent can let you know how much the property is worth. This is good to know if equity is being transferred to you. However, it is imperative if you are being brought out of a property or buying another party out. You will want to know how much the property is worth so that you can make sure you receive or give a fair amount of money as a settlement. It is often a good idea to get quotations from three different estate agents, as they may not all agree exactly. A fair price is usually considered to be a figure that is somewhere in the middle of what you have been quoted by the estate agents.
Accountant
There may be tax implications involved with this process, and it is important to know what they are. This is especially true in the case of a parent gifting equity to a child. You will need to know what these implications are and what they will cost you so that you can make provisions. Visit an accountant as part of this process and they will be able to advise you on any tax aspects you need to know about before you go ahead.
This is a basic guide, but please seek professional advice for more in-depth information about this. It is worth getting good advice before proceeding.
