Yes, in many cases you can. It is usually done through a transfer of ownership, funded either by savings, a mortgage, or a mix of both.
The main question a lender will ask is simple: can you afford to take the whole property on in your own name, and does the mortgage you need fit within their loan-to-value and affordability rules.
First, check where you are in the inheritance process
If the estate is still in probate and the property has not yet been transferred into the beneficiaries’ names, you will normally need the legal work to complete the inheritance position first. Once the ownership is clear, you can then transfer the property into your sole name as part of the buyout.
If the property is already registered in both your names, you are typically looking at a straightforward transfer of equity, alongside any mortgage borrowing you need.
How the buyout is usually structured
Most buyouts work in one of two ways.
If the property is mortgage-free, you can pay your sibling their share from savings, and your solicitor transfers the title into your sole name.
If you need to borrow, you take a mortgage in your sole name and use it to pay your sibling the agreed amount. Your solicitor then completes the transfer of equity at the same time as the mortgage is set up, so ownership and finance line up on the same completion date.
How lenders look at it
Lenders treat this much like any other mortgage application. They will look at your income, outgoings, credit profile, and the property value to decide what you can borrow and on what terms.
If you are planning to live in the property, this will usually be assessed as a residential mortgage. If you plan to let it out, it will usually need to be a buy-to-let mortgage, and the rental income becomes central to the lender’s calculation.
Valuation and agreeing the figure with your sibling
Even when it is “staying in the family”, you will want a clear, documented value so the buyout amount is fair and defensible. That might be an independent valuation, or a lender valuation if you are mortgaging, but it needs to be something you can both point to if there are later questions.
Legal work and why “free legals” can fall short here
Many remortgage products that include free legals are designed for a simple remortgage where ownership stays the same. They often do not cover the extra legal work involved in transferring the title from joint names into one name.
In practice, people in your situation often prefer to instruct their own solicitor for the whole job, then choose a mortgage deal on its overall cost rather than being steered by a “free legals” package that may not fit the transaction.
Stamp Duty and tax: the bit people miss
Buying out a sibling can sometimes trigger Stamp Duty, depending on what is being paid and whether there is any mortgage debt being taken on as part of the transfer. It is not always due, but it is common enough that you should have your solicitor confirm the position early.
Tax treatment can also vary depending on whether the property has been a main residence, whether it has been rented, and whether there is any gain between inheritance value and the point of transfer. You do not need to overcomplicate this on day one, but you do want the right professional advice before you lock anything in.
What to do next
If you want to move quickly, start with two parallel steps. Ask a solicitor what the cleanest legal route is based on the current ownership and probate stage, and ask a broker to sense-check how much you can borrow on your income and whether residential or buy-to-let criteria apply to your plan.
I believe you would benefit from speaking to one of our independent mortgage advisers. Please call on 023 8235 2300. They will be able to look at your situation and advise you accordingly.
