Who needs the certificate on a Santander JBSP mortgage
A JBSP arrangement lets someone, most commonly a parent boosting a child's affordability, join the mortgage without becoming an owner of the property. The supporting borrower is fully liable for the whole debt, but has no ownership interest, no right to a share of the property's value, and no easy way out of the arrangement if circumstances change.
Because that is liability without benefit, Santander requires every joint borrower who will not be a legal owner to be advised by a solicitor who is independent of the purchase, and to sign its consent form only once advised. The proprietor, the person on the deeds, is represented by the conveyancer and does not need a separate certificate. If two people are supporting one application, both need the advice.
The Santander process, step by step
Santander's requirement usually surfaces as a JBSP consent form sent to the supporting borrower during the application, alongside the instruction to take independent legal advice before signing it. Do not sign the form at that point: the advice is meant to come first, and your solicitor will tell you when and how to sign.
You then choose an independent solicitor, one who is not acting for the buyer on the purchase, and book the ILA appointment. Send them the unsigned consent form and your mortgage offer in advance, along with photo ID and proof of address for their onboarding checks. The appointment itself is typically a 20 to 40 minute video call: the solicitor takes you through the consent form and the offer, explains the full extent of your liability as a supporting borrower, and confirms you are acting freely.
Once satisfied, the solicitor signs the certificate of independent legal advice and it goes back to Santander, which accepts certificates issued by SRA-regulated solicitors after remote appointments. With the documents in order, the certificate is commonly signed the same day as the meeting, and the application moves on to completion.
How to stop the ILA step delaying completion
Book the solicitor the moment Santander raises the requirement rather than when the completion date is looming. The appointment needs the consent form and mortgage offer in front of the solicitor, so having both ready, plus your ID documents, is what makes a same-day certificate realistic.
If your completion date is already close, filter the comparison for Express (24h) or Fast-Track (48h) service; JBSP certificates are among the most common urgent ILA requests and solicitors are used to turning them around fast.
What it costs
ILA for a JBSP borrower is a fixed-fee service, typically £150 to £250 per person at standard turnaround and more for 48-hour or 24-hour service. The conveyancer handling the purchase cannot give the advice, because they act for the owner, so a separate firm is always needed.
Every solicitor on ILA Comparison shows a fixed price for JBSP work upfront, so you can compare fees and turnaround times before booking anyone.
Need an ILA certificate for joint borrower sole proprietor?
Compare fixed prices and turnaround times from SRA-regulated solicitors who offer exactly this advice, and contact them directly.
Compare solicitorsFrequently asked questions
Does Santander accept independent legal advice by video call?
Yes, remote video appointments are standard for JBSP ILA and Santander accepts certificates issued by SRA-regulated solicitors following them. Most supporting borrowers complete the whole process without visiting an office. If you prefer to meet in person, you can filter the comparison for in-person availability.
Should I sign the Santander JBSP consent form before the appointment?
No. The point of the requirement is that you are advised before you commit, so keep the form unsigned and send it to your solicitor ahead of the meeting. They will take you through it, and tell you when and how to sign once the advice is complete.
Can the conveyancer doing the purchase give the advice?
No. The conveyancer acts for the property owner, so they are not independent for this purpose. The supporting borrower needs a solicitor from a different firm; that is what Santander's independent legal advice requirement means in practice.
What documents will the solicitor need?
The unsigned Santander JBSP consent form, your mortgage offer, photo ID (passport or driving licence) and proof of address such as a recent utility bill. Sending everything before the appointment is what makes a same-day certificate possible.
Does this apply to properties in Scotland?
The solicitors listed here are SRA-regulated in England and Wales, and this guide describes the process for properties in England and Wales. Scottish property transactions are governed by Scots law with its own advice requirements, so a Scottish solicitor is needed there.
This guide is general information about how independent legal advice works in England and Wales, not legal advice on your situation. Lender requirements vary; always check your offer conditions. For advice you can rely on, speak to an SRA-regulated solicitor.