Simon Priestley
Founder and solicitor
SRA no. 31264County Durham
Property solicitors in Durham
We act for buyers and sellers across Durham City and County Durham from our Newcastle office, with a fixed quote and plain-English advice.
Photo: Les Hull, CC BY-SA 2.0 (links open in a new tab)
Local facts
- Local authority
- Durham County Council
- Main areas
- Durham City, Chester-le-Street, Seaham, Consett, Bishop Auckland, Newton Aycliffe
Local search times
13 working days on average for a local authority search from Durham County Council.
Search times: SearchFlow, April 2026.
Our office
Unit 10, The Spire, Pilgrim Street, Newcastle upon Tyne NE1 2DS
Our office is at The Spire on Pilgrim Street, Newcastle, a short journey up the A167 or by train. Monday to Friday, 9am–5:30pm.
Local knowledge
Things to know when moving in Durham
Every area has its own quirks. These are the ones we look out for here.
Former coalfield
Much of County Durham is former coalfield, so a coal mining search is usually recommended. We order it and explain the results.
Student housing in Durham City
Parts of Durham City have planning controls on turning family homes into shared houses (an Article 4 direction). If you’re buying to let, we check this early.
Historic centre
Durham City’s historic centre has listed buildings and a conservation area. We check for any limits on alterations before you commit.
Local market
House prices in Durham
Average price
£140,788
Up 4.9% on a year earlier. August 2026.
Homes sold
7,123
In the 12 months to June 2026. Recent months are still being counted, so this is a minimum.
Value of sales
£0.97bn
Estimated from the number of sales and the average price over the same 12 months.
| Property type | Average price, August 2026 |
|---|---|
| Detached | £238,105 |
| Semi-detached | £141,657 |
| Terraced | £117,275 |
| Flat or maisonette | £79,042 |
| First-time buyer average | £125,556 |
Source: HM Land Registry, UK House Price Index. Contains HM Land Registry data © Crown copyright and database right 2026, licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Research the area
Get to know Durham
Before you commit, look at the schools, transport links, crime and broadband for the street you’re moving to.
Research Durham
Enter a postcode to see the schools, transport, crime, broadband, flood risk and more around the home you’re moving to.
Or see the guide to Durham (opens in a new tab).
Found the right home? See what your move will cost, in a minute.
Get a quote
Ruth Beeton
Founder and solicitor
SRA no. 404622Your local solicitors
Serving Durham
Our team, led by founding solicitors Simon Priestley and Ruth Beeton, handles moves across County Durham and the wider North East.
Meet the teamLocal reviews
From movers in the North East
11 reviews on Google (opens in a new tab) · as of 4 November 2026
“We recently sold our property and had the pleasure of working with Michael and the team… From start to finish, the service was absolutely exceptional. The process was smooth and efficient, with regular updates that kept us fully informed every step of the way.”
“Great company, exceptional at handling the council on our right-to-buy property… [They] were fully transparent over costs and we’ve had absolutely no issues getting hold of anyone or being updated along the way.”
“Excellent team… Many thanks to Ruth, Margaret, Amy and the team who made my purchase as a first time buyer seamless. Regularly checking in and keeping me up to date and answering any queries I had promptly.”
Questions
Moving in Durham
Yes, from Durham City to Seaham, Consett and Bishop Auckland. Most of the work happens by phone, email and online.
Check whether the property already has permission to be a shared house. We look at the planning position and the local search before you commit.
Durham County Council. We order it for you as part of the conveyancing.
Prefer to talk?
Speak to our Durham team
Leave your number and we’ll call at a time that suits you. No obligation, and we’ll give you a fixed quote on the call.
