Transfer of Equity Conveyancing - Hodge Panel Requirements

This page was created to assist E&W property lawyers conducting Transfer of Equity conveyancing who are on the Hodge solicitor panel. It is not intended as an alternative to reviewing the CML handbook requirements for Hodge


As a conveyancer you must approve the transfer (which should be in the Land Registry's standard form) and, if Hodge require, the deed of covenant on their behalf. See below to see if Hodge have standard forms of transfer and deed of covenant

Does Hodge have a standard form of transfer of equity /deed of covenant?

No, to be drafted by you and sent to us for approval

When drafting or approving a transfer of equity, you should bear in mind that:

  • although the transfer should state that it is subject to the mortgage (identified by date and parties), it need give no details of the terms of the mortgage;
  • the transfer need not state the amount of the mortgage debt. If it does, the figure should include both principal and interest at the date of completion, which you must check (see below for where to obtain this);
  • there should be no statement that all interest has been paid to date.

If different from 1.11 of Hodge UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Part 2, contact point for finding out the debt amount:

Mortgage Lending Department,
Hodge,
One Central Square,
CARDIFF,
CF10 1FS

support@hodge.co.uk

As a conveyancer on the Hodge panel you must ensure that every person who will be a borrower after the transfer covenants with Hodge to pay the money secured by the mortgage, except in the case of:

  • an original party to the mortgage (unless the mortgage conditions are being varied); or
  • a person who has previously covenanted to that effect.

Any such covenant will either be in the transfer or in a separate deed of covenant. In a transfer, the wording of the covenant should be as follows, or as close as circumstances permit: "The new borrower agrees to pay the lender all the money due under the mortgage and will keep to all the terms of the mortgage." If it is in the transfer, you must place a certified copy of the transfer with the deeds (unless Hodge tell you not to in their CML part 2 requirements, please see below).

Does Hodge need to be sent the transfer of equity?

Yes, file the original with HM Land Registry, a certified copy of the transfer of equity should be sent to us as per 1.11a

If Hodge have agreed to release a borrower or a guarantor and their standard transfer form (if any) includes no appropriate clause, you must add a simple form of release. The release clause should be as follows, or as close as circumstances permit: "The lender releases ... from his/her/their obligations under the mortgage." You should check whether a guarantor who is to be released was a party to the mortgage or to a separate guarantee.

You must obtain the consent of every guarantor of whom you are aware to the release of a borrower or, as the case may be, any other guarantor.

You must only submit the transfer to Hodge for execution if it releases a party. All other parties must execute the transfer before it is sent to Hodge . See Hodge part 2 requirements for where the transfer should be sent for sealing. The UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Part 2 also gives Hodge approved form of attestation clause - see below:

If different from 1.11, Hodge contact point for obtaining execution of transfer equity:

Mortgage Lending Department,
Hodge,
One Central Square,
CARDIFF,
CF10 1FS

support@hodge.co.uk

What form of attestation clause does Hodge use?

Executed as a Deed by [ ] as Attorney for and on behalf of [Julian Hodge Bank Limited/Hodge Life Assurance Company Limited] in the presence of…

Find out how to order your redemption statement request from Hodge

For CQS-Accredited firms, click here for a CQS Client Care Policy