Frequently asked
Questions

We’ve organised our FAQs into sections to help you quickly find the answers you need. If you don’t find what you’re looking for, please feel free to contact us!

General

Please refer back to your welcome pack, their telephone number and email address will be in there.

Please visit the case tracker, you’ll need your case reference and property postcode to hand.

  • Download the App: If you have chosen to opt-in to the app, go to your device’s app store (compatible with phones, tablets, and iPads) and download the ONP Solicitors, or OnPoint app.
  • Sign In: Use your email to sign in. Check your inbox (including junk/spam folders) for a verification link.
  • Set a Password: Create a password with at least 12 characters, including a capital letter, lowercase letter, number, and special character.
  • Access Your Info: After setting your password, you’ll access your Welcome Pack, documents, and To-Do List.
  • If you need help, email us at onboarding@onpsolicitors.co.uk.

Conveyancing

We never advise clients to cancel their direct debit beforehand, as this can affect your credit score, therefore the ex-lender may take the payment. However, the lender should reimburse you, and we would advise you to speak to them to obtain a timescale, as this varies between lenders.

To comply with anti-money laundering regulations, we need proof of the source of any funds used for your property transaction. Please complete the source of funds questionnaire, which helps us determine the specific evidence required. The needed evidence may vary by case, as we must verify the origin of the funds to proceed.

We do not accept funds originating from countries identified by the UK or EU as high-risk third countries. A list of countries can be found here, and we currently include Russia, Belarus, China and Nigeria in this list. Equally, if we are unable to obtain enough evidence to identify the origin of the source of funds, we will not be able to accept this. We also do not accept Crypto-currency. If you have any concerns about where your money is coming from then please speak to your property lawyer.

Armalytix is a company we work with to conduct your digital source of funds and account verification checks.  This will save you time and effort in collating bank statements manually. Armalytix will prepare a financial information report; by connecting securely with your bank, they will not access anything without your permission. More information is provided in your welcome letter.

If you are having problems with the link provided, then please contact your property lawyer.

Remortgage

If you own more than one property after this transaction, you may be liable for Stamp Duty (in England) or Land Transaction Tax (in Wales). We will contact you during the process to gather details and determine if any tax is payable. Accurate figures can only be provided once all information is available. Please use these government websites, for England, and Wales, to check potential tax liabilities. We cannot offer tax advice. Please consult a qualified tax advisor or HMRC for assistance. Additional fees may apply if a tax submission is required.

Unless instructed otherwise, we require the following documents to meet UK Money Laundering Regulations:

  • One proof of identity – either a valid passport or valid photocard UK driving licence.
  • One proof of address (dated within the last three months) – either a utility bill, council tax bill, or bank statement

For non-UK residents, we need your photo ID and two proof of address documents, certified by one of the following:

  • Notary Public (with notarized seal)
  • Overseas lawyer listed on Gov.uk
  • British Embassy
  • Your own overseas lawyer (with full contact details and website for verification, plus a selfie holding your photo ID)

Once we receive your documents, we will perform electronic ID verification. A fee may apply and will be charged upon application completion. If you cannot provide these documents, please contact your case manager for help.

You can easily switch between properties on the app by clicking the tab located at the top left hand corner of the app.

After we confirm that completion has occurred, you can cancel your direct debit payments with your current lender. Your new mortgage lender will contact you about your first payment and any other details. For any mortgage-related queries, please contact your new lender directly. We’ll now apply to HM Land Registry to register your new mortgage, which may take over six months process. If there are any problems we’ll let you know.

We, ONP (O’Neill Patient Solicitors), handle the legal side of your remortgage. We ensure your new lender has first charge on your property and repay your existing mortgage. We don’t manage offers or valuations – your broker or lender does that. Once your documents are complete, we handle registration with the Land Registry and finalise repayment.

We aim to complete a standard remortgage within 28 working days of receiving your mortgage offer. Early repayment charges or additional legal work may affect this timeline. We will keep you updated as the process progresses.
You don’t need to send your Mortgage Offer; we receive it from the bank. If you have an existing mortgage, we’ll request a redemption statement to confirm your balance. Please return any required documents. We’ll review your offer for special conditions and contact you if further steps are needed.

An early redemption charge is a fee from your lender for repaying within your fixed term. If you know when your term ends, please inform us, and we’ll aim to complete the next working day if possible. If you’re unsure about any penalties or expiration dates, contact your current lender for confirmation.

If the statement differs from your expectations, first check for an early redemption penalty/charge. We request statements at various points in the process, so some may be for information only and not used for completion. We cannot query the statement with your current lender on your behalf. If you disagree with the figures, please contact your lender and inform us.
  • Questionnaire: This gathers important information early in the process. If you’re unsure about any questions, feel free to call or email us for help, or ask your broker or mortgage advisor. You can return this by email or post; we don’t need the original.
  • Mortgage Deed: This legal document registers your new mortgage. It must be signed by you and witnessed by an independent person over 17 who is not a relative. This document must be returned by post and cannot be dated.

This document must be signed by you and witnessed by an independent person over 17, who is neither a family member nor a resident of the property. Return the original signed deed to us by post at O’Neill Patient Solicitors LLP, 2 Stockport Exchange, Railway Road, Stockport, Cheshire, SK1 3GG. Please ensure the document is not dated.

Lenders vary in how quickly they process fund requests—some take as little as 2 days, while others may need up to 5 working days. ONP requires as much notice as possible, but we need at least a week after receiving all documentation to process the request.

Please do not cancel any direct debits with your current lender until we confirm that completion has occurred. This ensures that you continue making payments if there are any delays. Once we confirm completion, contact your existing lender or bank to cancel the direct debits.

We will request the mortgage advance from your new lender to be received one working day before the scheduled completion to avoid delays. Note that your lender may charge interest from the date we receive the funds.

Your surplus funds will be sent to the bank account you specify on the day of completion. Please allow one full day for processing; the funds should be in your account by close of business. Note that a bank transfer fee will apply, as detailed in your welcome pack.
  • If you are borrowing more than you owe: The fees will be deducted from the surplus funds due to you.
  • If the new loan does not cover the old loan in full: Fees will be added to the shortfall amount and will be explained and requested before completion.
With a free legals mortgage offer, your new lender covers the basic legal fees. However, any extra legal work required before completion may not be covered by the lender and could be your responsibility. Please review the additional charges documentation sent at the start of your application for details on potential fees. We will keep you informed about any extra fees that may apply during the process.

If you expect a shortfall, note it on your questionnaire. Once we have your offer and redemption figure, we’ll tell you the exact amount due, which must be paid before completion. Additional checks may apply, and we’ll inform you if needed.

Yes, please send a copy of your tenancy agreement as early as possible, we will need to ensure the tenancy agreement is acceptable to the lender.

We never advise clients to cancel their direct debit beforehand, as this can affect your credit score, therefore the ex-lender may take the payment. However, the lender should reimburse you, and we would advise to speak to them to obtain a timescale, as this varies between lenders.