Mortgaging for extension work - solicitor help

[Pinkfizzy]

Hi I am raising a mortgage to fund extension work and need a solicitor. Do I need a local one or are there long distance specialists? Any recommendations? Also how much might they charge? It shouldn't be a percentage of house value should it, as we aren't talking about conveyancing?

I'm not an expert but I don't think you need a solicitor - you need an independent mortgage advisor. They'll find you the best rates for your own individual circumstances.

I did this recently, but just extended the current mortgage. They sent a valuer around then let me know if they were prepared to lend what we wanted.
If you don't currently have a mortgage, either do some research on mortgage deals available of go to an IFA. Again all they'll do is check your credit history and value the house (AFAIK). As you will have had a solicitor involved when you initially bought the house, there's no need for the same checks etc to be repeated.

Thank you all.

I am using an IFA & she said that we needed a solicitor. Bit surprised. We are doing a new mortgage having not had one for a little while.

I'm also baffled as to why you would need a solicitor when it's just a secured loan at the end of the day. As long as the mortgage company are happy with the value of the property and your ability to meet the repayments, that's usually it. Are there any weird complications to do with leaseholds or planning permission that you're aware of?

Nothing unusual

I have since discovered that I need a conveyancer, so not necessarily a solicitor, & apparently it's to ensure that our house deeds have the mortgaging bank's charge upon it lodged.

Still surprised though, but I haven't done this in nearly two decades...

Is this the same type of solicitor work that needs doing when you remortgage? Again, no transfer of ownership, just a different charge to be registered and money to be moved around. When we remortgaged, the bank to whom we were remortgaging had a "recommended" firm (the "recommendation" was pretty strong!).

Yes spot on.

We have some online conveyancing quotes as locally most friends were very disparaging about their solicitors.

This is really strange to me, I can't remember ever engaging a solicitor when I've remortgaged.

We remortgaged to pay for an extension and just did it through the building society. No solicitors needed.

I think you need a new ifa.

Is it because you don't currently have a mortgage to add on to? So this mortgage is just for the building work? I didn't realise you could do that! Thought you would just get a loan tbh.

Precisely, Nikki!

It's cheaper to get a mortgage, even with the fees, and fixed for 5 years, by which time it should be paid back.