Conveyancing in Washington
Conveyancing describes the legal transfer of property ownership, and includes all the administrative and legal work carried out by a solicitor. If you need a solicitor for conveyancing in Washington, we can help you with fast & proactive conveyancing from a national panel of conveyancing specialists.
We have helped clients in Washington and throughout Sunderland with buying, selling, buy-to-let, Help to Buy, Right to Buy, shared ownership, new build, leasehold, lease extensions, remortgage and transfer of equity.
Other areas covered: Gateshead, Newcastle Upon Tyne, South Shields, Sunderland and Tynemouth
Buying property in Washington
A large town in Tyne and Wear, Washington is known for the Washington Old Hall, the ancestral home of George Washington.
With good road links via the A1(M), Washington is well-connected to Newcastle and Sunderland. The town has a population of approximately 67,000.
Council Tax in Washington (2023/24)
Washington is in Sunderland City Council.
| Band | Amount |
|---|---|
| A | £1,266.09 |
| B | £1,477.10 |
| C | £1,688.11 |
| D | £1,899.13 |
| E | £2,321.16 |
| F | £2,743.19 |
| G | £3,165.22 |
| H | £3,798.26 |
What does a Washington property lawyer do?
A conveyancing solicitor plays an essential role during a property purchase, and steers the buyer through the legal aspects of buying a home.
Your lawyer will raise enquires of the seller, order searches, review contracts and complete any post-sale actions, including paying Stamp Duty.
Washington conveyancing solicitors may also undertake searches for historic mining and industrial activity and flood risk.
Are you funding your home purchase with a mortgage?
During the conveyancing process, your solicitor also has to take care of legal matters for your mortgage bank.
If your lawyer isn't accepted on your mortgage provider's panel, it could take weeks longer to complete your purchase.
Over 100 banks and specialist lenders have approved our chosen panel solicitors, so we can help you complete your Washington transaction smoothly.
Read more:
Conveyancing for buying a property
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Approved by over 100 more
We can also assist buyers in Washington with conveyancing for:
When purchasing a home in a conservation area, your solicitor or licensed conveyancer will need to check for restrictive covenants, including access rights or business use restrictions. Conservation areas in Washington and the Sunderland local authority include:Buying in a conservation area
Roughly 500,000 listed buildings exist in England and Wales, and around 390 of which are in Sunderland City Council. Listed buildings and properties in and around Washington include: Our specialist panel of solicitors will offer guidance on the legal duties your ownership will impose. Examples include maintenance of historic features, and consent for any alterations that might change the character of the property. Read more:Buying a listed building
Buying a leasehold property
Buying a leasehold property in England or Wales can be complex. The numerous common problems awaiting an uninformed buyer can include legally technical issues like and unfair clauses in the lease.
Your conveyancing solicitor will look into all potential issues with the lease and report back to you.
Read more:
What you need to know about buying a leasehold property
Should I be wary of buying a leasehold house?
Should I buy a property with a short lease?
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Selling property in Washington
For the sale of a Washington house or flat, your solicitor will prepare the necessary documentation, such as property information forms and the sale contract.
A seller's solicitor's duties include answering the buyer's solicitor's enquiries and sorting out potential snags.To ensure the transaction is straightforward, your solicitor will liaise with key parties, such as agents, managing agents and lenders.
Does a leasehold property take longer to sell?
Yes, compared to freehold conveyancing. Sale conveyancing for a leasehold property can result in long delays.
The buyer's solicitor will need to review these documents, such as an up-to-date statement of service charges. Typically, delays are due to the time needed by your lawyer to get these documents together.
The seller's solicitor should start this process even before you have found a buyer, as this information could take several weeks to collect if it is difficult to contact the managing agent or they are slow to respond.
Read more:
Selling a leasehold flat? What to do before going on the market
Conveyancing for selling a property
Remortgaging a property in Washington
Latest Bank of England base rate now at 5.25% (22 January, 2025)
You should verify the remortgage solicitor you have chosen is on your lender's legal panel before you instruct.
Our partner panel solicitors are on the solicitor panels of over 100 mortgage lenders, so whether you are changing to a 30-year mortgage with Virgin Money or moving to an interest only mortgage with Swansea Building Society, we can help your remortgage complete quickly.
Read more:
Find out if our panel solicitors can act for your mortgage lender
Get a remortgage conveyancing quote
Transfer of equity
Whether you are tax planning for the future, transferring the ownership of a property (in part or in full) to your children or buying out a co-owner, you will need to work with a conveyancing solicitor to handle the transfer of equity. Your solicitor will handle the legal side for a guaranteed fixed fee.
Read more:
Transfer of equity Stamp Duty calculator
Get a transfer of equity conveyancing quote
How much should I budget for conveyancing in Washington?
Legal fees
Your conveyancing solicitor's quote should clearly detail the legal fees, including VAT, that you pay when the property transaction is complete. These fees are paid to your conveyancing solicitor for the work they complete during your transaction.
Disbursements
Disbursements are fees that your conveyancing solicitor will have to pay on your behalf for third-party services. Third-party disbursements include Local authority searches, Stamp Duty or a plan search.
Is it a fixed fee quote?
If you are comparing conveyancing quotes, watch out for additional charges. Some solicitors' quotes may include additional charges in the small print. This can lead to an inflated final bill.
