Find a Lender-Approved Local Conveyancer in County Durham

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Cheap conveyancing in County Durham does not necessarily mean low quality - but the odds are stacked against you

Reasons to use our County Durham conveyancing solicitors

  • 1 Solicitors that specialise in conveyancing in County Durham are familiar with the local issues specific to County Durham and therefore you may benefit from better advice and expeditious conveyancing.
  • 2 Regardless alternative solicitors tell you it just might be necessary to visit your lawyer to execute documents. Too many 3rd parties are already with an interest in a homemove without having to include the postman into the pot.
  • 3 Property lawyer conveyancing solicitors have extremely good personal connections with County Durham selling agents and work very closely with them and local surveyors so as to ensure transactions proceed expeditiously.
  • 4 Cut price packages from online conveyancers might be tempting. However, these firms are often based hundreds of kilometers away with limited appreciation of the factors that affect property transactions in County Durham
  • 5 County Durham property lawyers will be familiar with the local Land Registry Office, Local Authority and property agents

Examples of recent conveyancing in County Durham since March 2025*

Recently asked questions about conveyancing in County Durham

I am purchasing a property mortgage free in County Durham. I have lived for the previous dozen years in County Durham. Conveyancing searches are expensive. Given that I know the area and road intimately must I have all the conveyancing searches?

Provided that you do not need a mortgage, then almost all of the County Durham conveyancing searches are non-obligatory. Your lawyer will 'advise', perhaps strongly, that you should have searches completed, but he is duty bound to do this. One thing to take into account; if you are likely to dispose of the house at a future date, it will be of importance to your prospective buyer what the searches determine. Sometimes premises with day to day issues can still throw up negative search results. A good conveyancing solicitor in County Durham will provide you some sensible guidance in this regard.

I am told that my conveyancing solicitors will need to check that the building insurance for my purchase of a house in County Durham. My lender is Virgin

Virgin have specific requirements as set out in the UK Finance Lenders’ Handbook. As of 7/6/2025, the requirements read as follows :

We previously chose conveyancing lawyers based in County Durham on the Bank of Ireland solicitor panel. They are now charging me a further charge for the legal aspects of the Bank of Ireland mortgage. Is this a supplemental conveyancing fee set by Bank of Ireland?

As unfair as it may appear, as long as it’s in their Terms and Conditions or estimate then yes your solicitor is entitled to charge a fee for this. The charge is not set by Bank of Ireland but by your County Durham conveyancer. Some firms on the Bank of Ireland panel will quote an ‘acting for lender’ fee and others do not.

We were going to get a OIP from Clydesdale this week so we can work out what to offer on a property we like as otherwise we only have online calculators to go by (which aren't taking into account credit checks etc). Do Clydesdale recommend any County Durham solicitors on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel, or is it better to find our own lawyer?

You will need to appoint County Durham solicitors independently although you'll need to choose one on the Clydesdale conveyancing panel. The solicitor represents both you and Clydesdale through the process.

I am currently in the process of buying my council flat in County Durham. I have a mortgage agreed with RBS. Conveyancing is not something I have any knowledge of. Can I proceed without a solicitor easily? I think we can but we keep being told I should have one. Any advice?

It is not advisable to proceed with a house purchase without a solicitor. The council's solicitor are not acting for you. You need a solicitor for a number reasons. One of which is to verify what plans the Council have for repairs and refurbishment for the next five years. Many leaseholders have been stung for contributions of thousands of pounds. In any event, if you are getting a mortgage with RBS, you will need to appoint a solicitor on the RBS conveyancing panel.

The estate agent has sent us the confirmation of our purchase of a new build flat in County Durham. Conveyancing is necessary evil at the best of times but I have never purchased a new build flat before. Can you give me some examples of some of the questions asked in new build conveyancing.

Here are examples of a selection of leasehold new build enquiries that you can expect your new-build leasehold conveyancing in County Durham

    Will the freehold then be transferred for a nominal consideration (not exceeding £100) to the Management Company? There must be mutual enforceability of lessee’s covenants. Investor purchasers must be able to freely grant unsecured tenancies at market rents without requiring any consents. Please supply a car parking plan. If there are lifts in the building, please confirm that the owners of flats on the ground and basement floors will not be required to contribute towards the cost of maintenance and renewal.

I'm remortgaging my primary home to a buy to let loan with Barclays and intend to use the remaining equity as a down payment on another house. The location we are talking about is County Durham. Will your solicitors be able to act for both sets of banks and link together the transactions?

Make use of our search tool on this site to ensure that the solicitors are approved by both banks. Assuming that they are your solicitor should be able to connect the two transactions but you should have a chat with you solicitor and specify your desired outcome and needs.

I today plan to offer on a house that appears to be perfect, at a great figure which is making it all the more appealing. I have just been informed that the title is leasehold as opposed to freehold. I am assuming that there are particular concerns buying a house with a leasehold title in County Durham. Conveyancing lawyers have not yet been appointed. Will they explain the issues?

Most houses in County Durham are freehold and not leasehold. This is one of the situations where having a local conveyancer who is familiar with the area can help the conveyancing process. We note that you are buying in County Durham in which case you should be looking for a County Durham conveyancing solicitor and check that they have experience in advising on leasehold houses. As a matter of priority you will need to check the number of years remaining. As a leaseholder you will not be at liberty to do whatever you want with the house. The lease comes with conditions such as requiring the freeholder’sconsent to conduct changes to the property. You may also be required to pay a maintenance charge towards the upkeep of the communal areas where the property is part of an estate. Your lawyer should appraise you on the various issues.

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Sample of conveyancing solicitors in County Durham regulated by the SRA

It is important to note that the listed firms do not limit their work for conveyancing in County Durham but also conveyancing throughout England and Wales.

  • Smith Roddam, 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7PG
  • Hewitts, 207 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7EL
  • C W Booth & Co, 5-7 Cockton Hill Road, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 6EN
  • The Barrington Law Partnership, Barrington Chambers, Victoria Avenue, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7JH

Residential Landlord and Tenant Conveyancing solicitors in County Durham

The list below is a small selection of solicitors in County Durham practicing in landlord and tenant law and on the regulations governing different types of tenancies. This may include advice on Leasehold Valuation Tribunal proceedings

  • Smith Roddam, 56 North Bondgate, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7PG
  • Hewitts, 207 Newgate Street, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7EL
  • The Barrington Law Partnership, Barrington Chambers, Victoria Avenue, Bishop Auckland, County Durham, DL14 7JH

Home selling conveyancing in County Durham almost always consists of the following:

  • Taking instructions from the appropriate parties
  • Collating the documents evidencing the title to the property
  • Drawing up the contract and associated documents
  • Sending draft papers to the conveyancer representing the purchaser
  • Negotiating contracts and replying to supplemental enquires from the buyer’s conveyancer
  • Finalising the transfer document
  • Responding to requisitions prepared by the buyer’s conveyancer
  • Carrying out the key stage of exchanging contracts and then completion formalities
  • Receiving sale proceeds and transferring funds to the owner, the estate agent and repaying the mortgage (where relevant)

*Source acknowledgement: House price data produced by Land Registry as well data supplied by Lexsure Ltd.

© Crown copyright material is reproduced with the permission of Land Registry under delegated authority from the Controller of HMSO.