Conveyancing Solicitors in Cumbria

Why you don't need a conveyancer based in Cumbria

In the past, most people tended to use their local solicitor for their conveyancing. You would visit their nearest office, and all documents would be hand-produced and posted or delivered by hand.

That service came at a price, however, and the truth is that it is no longer needed. With modern technology such as scanning, emailing and even Skype or Facetime video calls there is no need to use your local solicitor. Your conveyancer can be based anywhere and still provide a great service - even if he or she is in an office many miles away from Cumbria or perhaps not even in Cumbria.

We have successfully dealt with thousands of conveyancing transactions all over the country, even with clients from the other side of the world. It is not unknown for us to talk to clients outside the UK using Skype – we even once had clients in Thailand talking to us through an interpreter in New Zealand!

There will be no need for you to visit our offices or hand deliver documents – in fact, you need never leave your home. Our conveyancers will talk you through the whole conveyancing process via phone and email, and everything works just as smoothly as it would if we were just down the road.

Online Conveyancing in Cumbria

Online conveyancing refers to the fact your conveyancing can now be carried out entirely over the internet thanks to technology such as email and video chat. This means there is no longer any need to meet face-to-face for your conveyancing as you can get exactly the same quality of service by handling the entire process online.

The advantage of online conveyancing is it lets you choose the best, most competitively priced conveyancing firm in the country, while also being able to deal with your conveyancing at your convenience. There is no need to take time out of work or go out of your way – you can do everything from your own home in your own time.

When dealing with your conveyancing online, we have exactly the same legal obligations to you as if we were meeting in person. The conveyancing process is exactly the same and involves all the same checks, searches, insurance and protections to ensure you get a safe, reliable conveyancing service.

Search Fees in Cumbria

Every local authority is different. We use an excellent, trusted national search provider, which means we can offer reliable property checks and searches to clients in Cumbria and all over the country. As a result, we can provide a service we are happy with and which we know is properly insured and protects your interests.

What is the process to instruct us for your conveyancing?

First, fill in our conveyancing quote form for conveyancing in Cumbria. You can find the links at the top of this page.

Our helpful conveyancing support team will then guide you through the initial stages and, once your conveyancing file is opened, your Cumbria conveyancing solicitor and their small team will deal with the legal side of the conveyancing transaction. You'll be given direct contact details for your conveyancing lawyers and they'll keep in touch with you every step of the way.

Whether you're moving to Cumbria or away from Cumbria, our conveyancing team can help you do so with the minimum of fuss and inconvenience.

Fees for conveyancing in Cumbria

Our fees are transparent and, so long as the situation does not change (for example so long as your property doesn't turn out to be leasehold when we thought it was freehold) the fee we quote is the fee you will be charged.

We don't add extras on for things like photocopying, postage, or the like. Those are our overheads and we don't pass them on to you.

All our conveyancing fees are dependent on the nature and value of the transaction, so we naturally charge a bit more for more complicated and high value work. However, the fee charged will be the same for a customer in Newcastle as it would be for someone in London, or indeed in Cumbria.

There are some aspects of our conveyancing fees we can't change. Fees charged by other bodies such as HM Land Registry, or by HMRC for Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) are out of our control and should be the same whichever conveyancing company you use.

Introduction to Cumbria

Cumbria is a non-metropolitan county in the North West of England on the border with Scotland, neighbouring the counties of Lancashire, North Yorkshire, County Durham and Northumberland. The country has a population of around 497,900 based on mid-2016 estimates, with the majority of residents living in the city of Carlisle and large towns such as Barrow-in-Furness, Kendal, Workington and Whitehaven.

Cumbria is a mainly rural county containing the Lake District, including the Lake District National Park (a UNESCO World Heritage Site) while part of south-east Cumbria is within the Yorkshire Dales National Park. Cumbria is well known for its mountainous terrain, being home to every peak over 3,000 feet above sea level in England. Most prominent of these is Scafell Pike which, at 3,209 feet, is the highest point in England.

The economy of Cumbria is heavily dependent on tourism, the Lake District National Park alone attracting nearly 16 million visitors a year. It is estimated that tourism adds over £1 billion a year to the Cumbrian economy. Major attractions include Lake Windermere, Whinlatter Forest park, Tullie House Museum and Art Gallery, Carlisle Cathedral, Sizbergh Castle, Muncaster Castle, Carlisle Castle and the Beatrix Potter Gallery.

Carlisle

Carlisle is a city and county town of Cumbria. It is also the administrative centre of the wider City of Carlisle borough. According to the 2011 census, the city has a population of 75,306, making it the largest settlement in the whole of Cumbria.
The city is located at the confluence of the rivers Eden, Caldew and Petteril.

Carlisle began to develop substantially during the Industrial revolution, mainly through the production of cotton. This increase in industry also led to an increase in population, as jobs shifted from rural farms to the city.  Nowadays, manufacturing has died down significantly, however notable manufacturing firms that still exist in the area include Carr's of Carlisle, Kangol and Crown Holdings.

Carlise’s economy is now much more reliant on the service sector, like much of the rest of the UK. Eddie Stobart Ltd has its headquarters in Carlisle and employs around 600 staff. Other significant employers include Cavanagh & Gray, who are part of Northern Foods. On top of this, there are a number of light industrial estates and business parks located on the fringes of Carlisle.

Carlisle United is the town’s most prominent sports team who play out of their home ground, Brunton Park, which has a capacity of 18,202 people. The city is also home to a number of smaller sports teams, including Carlisle City F.C., Carlisle RFC and Cumberland County Cricket Club.

Carlisle is linked with the rest of England and Wales via the M6 motorway, and to Scotland via the M74A74 towards Glasgow. The A6 links the city with Penrith and Luton. Carlisle Railway Station is  on the West Coast Main Line. There are 8 platforms at the station with regular services to London Euston and Glasgow, as well as various other locations including Birmingham New Street, Newcastle Central and Leeds.

Barrow-in-Furness

Barrow-in-Furness (normally referred to locally as ‘Barrow’) is a coastal town in south east Cumbria with a population of 56,745 according to the 2011 census making it the second largest settlement in the county.

The town is in an attractive location, being at the tip of the Furness peninsula, near to the Lake District and bordered by Morecombe Bay. This makes it a popular spot with tourists visiting Cumbria with the town often referred to as the “gateway to the lakes”. Popular tourist attractions include the Dock Museum, North Walney Nature Reserve and the South Lakes Safari Zoo.

Barrow-in-Furness railway station provides links to Whitehaven, Workington and Carlisle, while the town is also well served with buses and is connected to the M6 by the A590. The town also has an airport offering flights to UK destinations such as Bristol, Glasgow, London and Manchester.

Kendal

Kendal is a town in south Cumbria, in the county’s South Lakeland District, around 8 mules south east of Lake Windermere. The town has a population of 28,586 based on the 2011 census and is Cumbria’s third largest settlement.

The town is a major destination for tourists, partly due to its Lake District location, but also due to the associations with the famous Kendal Mint Cake. Local places of interest include Kendal Museum, Abbot Hall Art Gallery, Castle Howe, Kendal Parish Church and the Museum of Lakeland Life.

Kendal railway station provides services to Windermere and Oxenholme from where connections can be made to other major locations in the area and throughout the UK. The town is around 8 miles from the M6 making it easy to reach by road, with good local bus connections and regular long distance coaches from London and other locations.

Workington

Workington is a town on Cumbria’s east coast around 32 miles south west of Carisle. It had a population of 25,207 at the time of the 2011 census. While traditionally relying on coal and steel production, the local economy is now mainly driven by tourism and retail.

The Cumbrian Coast Line provides regular rail services to Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness, as well as some services to Lancaster and Preston. The town also has good bus links with the rest of the local area and further afield in Cumbria, including Cockermouth, Penrith, Maryport, Whitehaven and Thornhill.

Whitehaven

Whitehaven is a small town and port situated on the coast of Cumbria with a population of 23,986 according to the 2011 census. Thanks to its location halfway between Cumbria’s two largest settlements  - Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness – Whitehaven is popular with commuters to both. The town is also close to the Sellafield nuclear complex which provides employment for many local residents.

The town was once an important port with a busy harbour. Whitehaven experienced a period of high prosperity during the late 19th century due to the discovery of haematite in a local area. Heavy industry in the area has declined since then, as with much of the rest of Cumbria, however Whitehaven harbour has undergone various recent regeneration schemes, including an £11.3 million regeneration development in 2003 and also £5.5 million in 2007. A 40m high crows nest has been developed as well as a new wave light feature that changes colour dependent upon the tide.

The town’s economy is heavily reliant on the nearby Sellafield Nuclear Complex, one of the largest in the country. Whilst the plant is not in Whitehaven itself, a large proportion of the town's population commute to it making it the areas biggest employer.

Tourism also plays a large role in the Whitehaven economy, is part due to the bi-annual Maritime Festival. Started in 1999, the festival’s attractions include tall ships, air displays, firework displays and street entertainment. In 2013, the Maritime Festival attracted around 350,000 people.

Whitehaven also has an exceptionally rich railway history. Many railway lines used to travel through the town and surrounding area transporting coal, iron and gypsum to the harbour from where it would be shipped around the world. As the industry declined, so did the railway links, and currently there are just two stations in the town: Whitehaven and Corkickle. Whitehaven serves the town itself, and provides services to areas such as Carlisle, Barrow-in-Furness, Lancaster and Newcastle, whereas Corkickle serves the suburbs of the town as well as to Carlisle and Barrow-in-Furness.