Buying on the Newcastle and Gateshead quaysides: what to check

Start with the daily route

A view of the river is only one part of a good home. Compare useful floor area, natural light, storage, access to the building, outdoor space and the journey you will actually make. Visit at a time that reflects your routine if possible. Check the exact entrance and address: a marketing map pin may show only an approximate area.

The quaysides sit on opposite sides of the river, so the relevant local authority for planning and searches depends on the property address. Newcastle City Council has a planning search; Gateshead Council has its own planning search. An online application list is useful background, but Newcastle Council warns that it is not a substitute for a formal land charges search in a property transaction. Ask your conveyancer to carry out the appropriate searches.

Understand the ownership and continuing costs

For a flat, ask for the tenure and remaining lease term, current service charge, what it covers, any reserve fund, ground rent if applicable, and the arrangements for insurance, parking and shared facilities. Ask whether major works are planned or recently completed. The government’s leasehold guidance explains why future service charge changes and major works deserve attention. Your conveyancer should review the lease and management documents for the property you intend to buy.

Do not assume a parking space, balcony, roof terrace or storage room is included merely because it appears in a photograph. Confirm the rights and any restrictions.

Inspect the building as well as the flat

At a viewing, see how the entrance, lift, corridors, waste storage and access control work. Compare the floor plan with the home itself. Request the EPC and ask for relevant building safety information through the seller and conveyancer. Take a second look if your first visit was brief or at an unrepresentative time.

Verify nearby changes

A new development or a planning proposal could affect a view, access or the feel of a street. Search the correct council’s planning records by address and nearby site, then discuss material findings with your conveyancer. Plans and proposals can change; distinguish an application from an approved scheme and from work already underway.

Be ready for a useful offer conversation

Set a budget that includes the purchase price and continuing costs, speak to your lender or broker, and choose a conveyancer. When you ask to view, tell the agent the questions that matter to you. An offer is easier to assess when the seller understands your funding, chain and preferred timing.

Browse North East properties, and ask 10 Homes for the latest confirmed facts on a particular listing.