While some are struggling to get mortgages they can barely afford, another group of people are looking forward to their final modest mortgage payment. One Family Money reader, Mr G.R., took out a 20-year mortgage in 1981 and he wants to know what the procedure is once it's paid off. Mr G.R. is one of 26,241 people who received home loans in 1981, when the average loan was £17,112.

In general, the customer service department of the financial institution notifies the security department when a mortgage has been repaid. That department then contacts the customer in writing to let them know that an endorsement has been placed on the mortgage deed under seal, showing that the money has been repaid. This is known as vacating the mortgage.

Then the customer and lender have to arrange to return the mortgage deeds and any other documents relating to the property to the owner. No fee is charged for this handover.

The mortgage-holder can either collect the relevant documents from the lender and look after the registration of the vacated mortgage themselves or they can pay the lender's solicitor to process it.

The financial institution charges a nominal fee for this service - with the EBS it's £25. The process can involve many documents that relate to the property, including some or all of the following:

The original mortgage deed or copy, with endorsement under seal on it;

Land certificate or title deed;

Purchasing contract;

Any planning documents relating to the property;

Requisitions on title;

Searches on title.

Most Irish property is on registered land and is in the register of titles with the Land Registry Office. This is where a record is kept of all the details relating to a property and this is where most home owners need to bring their vacated mortgage and other documents.

Much of the older urban property is on unregistered land and there are actual deeds that prove ownership of the property. Those who have title deeds need to bring their documents to the Registry of Deeds in the Kings Inns Buildings in Henrietta Street, Dublin.

The home owner must present their vacated mortgage to whichever office applies to their property, and the office records the fact that the lender no longer has a charge on the deed. The fee for this service is £20 in the Land Registry Office and £12 in the Registry of Deeds.

It is the individual's responsibility to ensure that all the property documents are kept in a safe place. There is the option of leaving them with a solicitor but not every solicitor wants to take in every client's documents. Otherwise, they can be left in a safe or in a bank safety deposit box.

Land Registry Offices:

Irish Life Centre, Dublin 1. Kildare and Wicklow

Setanta Centre, Dublin 2. Dublin, Galway, Mayo, Sligo, Clare, Roscommon.

Chancery Street, Dublin 7. Meath, Westmeath, Cavan, Louth, Donegal, Leitrim, Longford, Monaghan.

Cork Road, Waterford. Waterford, Wexford, Carlow, Offaly, Laois, Cork, Kerry, Limerick, Tipperary, Kilkenny.

Register of Deeds:

Kings Inns Buildings, Henrietta Street, Dublin.