Transfer of Equity Conveyancing - Virgin Panel Requirements

The content on this web-page was created to assist England and Wales property lawyers conducting Transfer of Equity conveyancing who are on the Virgin solicitor panel. It is not intended as an alternative to checking the CML handbook requirements for Virgin


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

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

No, but we'll provide you with our instructions. Our consent to the transfer will be required.

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 Virgin UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook Part 2, contact point for finding out the debt amount:

Customer Operations
Virgin Money
Jubilee House
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 4PL
or DX 60350 Gosforth 2
Telephone: 0845 604 4858
Fax.: 0191 279 4444.

As a conveyancer on the Virgin panel you must ensure that every person who will be a borrower after the transfer covenants with Virgin 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 Virgin tell you not to in their CML part 2 requirements, please see below).

Does Virgin need to be sent the transfer of equity?

Yes, just a certified copy.

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

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

Existing Mortgages
Virgin Money
Jubilee House
Gosforth
Newcastle upon Tyne
NE3 4PL
Solicitor Helpline: 0345 604 4858

What form of attestation clause does Virgin use?

Signed as a deed by ......................................
as attorney for Clydesdale Bank PLC

In the presence of
Signature of witness ......................................
Name of witness ......................................
Address ......................................
......................................

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