Conveyancing in Durham

What does conveyancing in County Durham involve?

When you buy, sell, remortgage or transfer equity from a property, conveyancing is the term used for all the paperwork and legal formalities involved. When buying a home, a Durham conveyancing solicitor will request searches, negotiate the price, exchange contracts and transfer the funds on completion day. Our Durham conveyancing solicitors do all the legal legwork on your behalf. Find out more about Homeward Legal's conveyancing services.

How do I get a quote for conveyancing in County Durham?

Our online quote builder gives you a quote for your transaction of choice in minutes. Simply enter a few crucial details about you and the property involved. We are also available seven days a week on . Why not arrange a callback at a time that's convenient to you?

Why should I choose a County Durham conveyancing solicitor through Homeward Legal?

Homeward Legal is here for you when you need conveyancing in County Durham. Here is why you can depend on us:

• The legal fee you are quoted for conveyancing in Durham will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs*.
• Our offer of no-completion protection ensures you have no legal fees to pay if your move fails to complete for any reason.
• We only work with fully qualified professionals who are regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers or the Solicitors Regulation Authority.
• We always use plain English with no jargon, ensuring each part of the conveyancing process is easy to follow.
• The hundreds of positive reviews Homeward Legal has received on Trustpilot are a sure sign of the excellent customer satisfaction we provide.

*Your quote from Homeward Legal will cover common conveyancing costs in line with the information you've provided to us. Depending on the specific circumstances of your transaction, and after discussion with your solicitor, there may be additional non-standard fees which would be in addition to the fee quoted by Homeward Legal.

How much does conveyancing in County Durham cost?

Each conveyancing transaction is unique, meaning there is no set price. The final bill for conveyancing in Durham depends on such factors as the property's value and whether it is leasehold or freehold. For example, when buying, your Durham conveyancing costs will include searches, Land Registry fees, solicitors' fees, bank transfer fees, Stamp Duty Land Tax* and more. You can find out more in our guide to average conveyancing fees in 2020.

*In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a stamp duty holiday, which applies to properties up to a value of £500,000 in England and Northern Ireland until March 31, 2021.

Where are County Durham's best home-mover destinations?

Durham city is one of the key property hotspots in the county, along with Chester-Le-Street, Newton Aycliffe and Bishop Auckland. Within the historic county boundaries are such well-known locations as Darlington and Hartlepool.

Meanwhile, the market town of Barnard Castle attracts interest of all kinds, while Stockton-on-Tees is another market town with a fine reputation. Willington, Ushaw Moor and Easington Colliery are all up-and-coming locations for savvy home buyers.

How much is a typical property in County Durham?

Property within the city of Durham may be among the most expensive in the county, but this is an area with very affordable homes for those keen to seek them out. The most recent data from the Land Registry shows that the average property sells for £102,431 in County Durham.

Will buying a leasehold property slow down conveyancing in County Durham?

There are two main types of property tenure in England: leasehold and freehold. There are around four million leasehold properties across England and Wales, mostly flats and apartments but many houses, too. In leasehold, the property owner only owns the building with the land legally belonging to the freeholder or landowner. The land is then leased on a long-term basis from the freeholder, usually for decades or even centuries. The added complication of different land ownership means that conveyancing for leasehold in County Durham can occasionally be held up while the solicitor makes specific enquiries. Our detailed guide to buying leasehold has all the information you need.

Which council is responsible for schools in County Durham?

Four separate unitary authorities cover the historic boundaries of County Durham. Durham County Council covers the non-metropolitan areas, while Darlington, Hartlepool and Stockton-on-Tees each has its own borough council. Each of these councils is responsible for education within its boundaries. County Durham also has a selection of independent, academy and church schools. Find out how schools and colleges across the county are rated by Ofsted on the government's school comparison website.

Is there a flood risk to property in County Durham?

With a hilly landscape, wide rivers and a coastal border, County Durham is - like most areas of England - at increased risk of flood. Heavier rainfall and greater storms have caused problems across the county in recent years. To ensure you are fully informed of any potential problems, ask your County Durham conveyancing solicitor to instruct a flood-risk search. The Environment Agency's guide to flood risk across England is a useful resource to show which areas are susceptible to flooding.

What kind of searches will I need for conveyancing in County Durham?

Your Durham conveyancing solicitor will outline the essential conveyancing searches. Here are some of the most important:

• Local authority search: Provides information on planning and on conservation areas, important when buying in Durham because the whole of the city centre is a conservation area.
• Environmental search: Details contaminated land and pollution, particularly on former industrial sites and brownfield land development.
• Mining search: A crucial search for any County Durham property purchase because of historic mining activity, which will reveal the location of mine shafts and tunnels.
• Chancel repair liability search: Reveals if the property is responsible for this rare historic charge covering repairs to the local Church of England.

What are transport links like in County Durham?

County Durham is well served by both public transport and good road links. Durham enjoys direct rail links with London and Edinburgh via the East Coast Main Line. Express trains whisk passengers from the capital to Durham in just three hours. Cross-Country Trains offer services to Darlington, Durham and Chester-Le-Street, while the TransPennine Express connects the county with Scotland and the north-west.

The A1(M) is the motorway artery through the county, connecting north and south, while the A68 and A66 connect to neighbouring counties to the west. Find out more about public transport via Durham County Council.