Conveyancing in Newcastle

What is involved in conveyancing in Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

Conveyancing is the term used by legal professionals for the process of buying and selling property and land. This involves all the essential paperwork and legal formalities to change ownership. A current homeowner intending to remortgage or one interested in a transfer of equity on their home will also need to engage a conveyancing solicitor in Newcastle. When you instruct a solicitor through Homeward Legal, they begin the process by initiating property searches, negotiating on the price, exchanging contracts and transferring the funds on completion day. Our Newcastle conveyancing solicitors are all fully qualified professionals - you can read more about the conveyancing services we offer here.

How do I get a quote for Newcastle-upon-Tyne conveyancing?

You can a quote in minutes with our online quote builder by providing some details about you and the property you are buying or selling. Or call our team on - we're open seven days for your convenience.

Why should I choose a Newcastle-upon-Tyne conveyancing solicitor through Homeward Legal?

We focus strongly on customer service and competitive pricing, making Homeward Legal the ideal choice for Newcastle conveyancing. We also:

• We always keep things simple, explaining everything in plain English with no unnecessary legal jargon to complicate conveyancing.
• We protect your finances with our no-completion protection. This means you won't pay any legal fees if your transaction fails to complete for any reason.
• The legal fee you are quoted for conveyancing in Newcastle will be exactly what you pay, with no hidden costs*.
• All the conveyancing solicitors on our nationwide panel are fully regulated under the Solicitors Regulation Authority or the Council for Licensed Conveyancers.
• We put customers first every single time. And we've got hundreds of positive Trustpilot reviews from satisfied customers who appreciate our care and service.

*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 Newcastle-upon-Tyne cost?

Your Newcastle conveyancing bill will depend on factors such as the value of the property. The total cost will include solicitors' fees, the cost of a surveyor and Stamp Duty Land Tax** when buying, Land Registry fees, searches and bank transfer fees. Check out our guide to average conveyancing fees in 2020 for information on the costs involved in conveyancing for a Newcastle property.

**In July 2020, Chancellor Rishi Sunak announced a stamp duty holiday on certain properties until March 31, 2021.

How much does the average property cost in Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

According to the latest data on sold house prices from the Land Registry, the average price of a home in Newcastle-upon-Tyne is £154,492. The average detached property sells for £300,443, while a semi sells for £178,295. Buyers will pay on average £149,535 for a terraced home with maisonettes and flats going for £105,834.

What will my council tax add up to in Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

The local authority is Newcastle City Council sets council tax rates for the city. All residential property is allocated into one of eight bands by the government - find out which band your property is in here.

For 2020-21, council tax bands and charges in the city of Newcastle-upon-Tyne are:

Check the council website for council tax bands and rates for other areas in the authority.

How good are broadband speeds in Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

Newcastle has been named as the Government's Accelerated Development Zones for superfast broadband, ensuring both business and residential users have access to the fastest connections. Using the postcode of your new property, you can check out the available broadband speeds using a number of different sites.

How do schools rate in Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

Newcastle boasts a large selection of state and independent schools to choose from, with 93 primary schools, 31 secondaries and 24 sixth form and further education colleges. According to Ofsted, 26 schools in the city are rated outstanding. Check where your local school stands on the government website.

Newcastle University and the University of Northumbria are also based in the city.

Newcastle-upon-Tyne has a long industrial history - should I worry about contaminated land when buying there?

By law, Newcastle City Council must keep a register of contaminated land within the city. This can include former industrial sites such as factories, steelworks, landfill and mines, as well as areas polluted by accidental spills, for example. Contaminated land is land considered a potential threat to human or wildlife as well as the environment. When you're buying property, your Newcastle-upon-Tyne conveyancing solicitor will ask for an environmental search to identify any possible contaminated land that could affect the sale.

Do I need a chancel liability search when buying in Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

Chancel liability is a historic liability affecting property across England and Wales and dating back to the Reformation in the 16th century. Find out more in our detailed guide. This liability affects land and property located within a historic Church of England parish that may have a financial obligation to pay for repairs to the church's chancel or altar. To ensure you're fully informed of any chancel repair liability, your conveyancing solicitor in Newcastle will order a chancel liability search. From there, you can make a choice on whether to go ahead with the purchase or to take out indemnity insurance to protect against future costs.

I intend to buy in a conservation area in Newcastle-upon-Tyne - what effect will have this on renovation plans?

Conservation areas are ones with special architectural or historic interest. They were first created in England in 1967 and there are now around 10,000 of them. In Newcastle, there are currently 12 conservation areas, including Brandling Village, Gosforth and Jesmond Dene. Any developments or renovations in conservation areas are more strictly controlled than in other parts of the city. That means any changes must have planning consent or permission so be sure of your plans before committing to a purchase. A local authority search will reveal any existing or historic planning consents or where none exist for work that has already been carried. The latter can be an issue, so your Newcastle conveyancing solicitor will advise on how best to proceed, whether that's by applying for retrospective planning consent or taking out indemnity insurance.

I need a conveyancing solicitor for buying property at auction in Newcastle-upon-Tyne - can you help?

We can definitely help with all property auction conveyancing in Newcastle. The law firms on our nationwide panel have the expertise and the experience needed to deal with conveyancing for property bought at auction. Our panel firms have successfully completed transactions for property bought from Auction House London, Allsop (commercial and residential), Award Property, Barnett Ross, Baxtons, Acuitus, Phillip Arnold Auctions, Countrywide Property Auctions and Drivers & Norris. We advise you to instruct a Newcastle conveyancing solicitor before buying at auction. This gives your lawyer time to examine the legal pack and to complete the transaction within the 28-day deadline.

What are transport links like around Newcastle-upon-Tyne?

Newcastle's transport links are extensive. Get around the city easily on the Metro, the urban rail system, that connects Newcastle with Sunderland, Gateshead and the Northumberland coast. The Metro also links to Newcastle International Airport and Newcastle Central Railway Station. Newcastle is on the East Coast Main Line with fast trains to London and the south and to Edinburgh, while the TransPennine Express connects the city with other destinations in the north and north-west. There's also an extensive local bus service via Arriva and Go North East. The A1(M) is the main route south, while the A1 continues north to Scotland.