Tailored property advice backed by 115 years of experience

Tailored property advice backed by 115 years of experience

Claire Simmons, Partner and Head of Residential Conveyancing at Hay & Kilner, leads one of the North East’s most trusted residential property teams. With decades of experience, Claire is committed to delivering a personal, tailored service to every client, recognising that no two property transactions are the same.

A team you can trust

Hay & Kilner’s residential conveyancing team comprises six specialists with over 115 years’ combined experience. The team holds the Law Society’s Conveyancing Quality Scheme (CQS) accreditation, a recognised benchmark for quality and client care.

Guiding you home with confidence

Their high net worth conveyancing team is equipped to handle a wide range of complex and high-value transactions, including:

• Freehold and leasehold sales and purchases
• Leasehold arrangements
• First registrations
• Deeds of variation
• Properties with private water or sewerage systems
• Declarations of trust

Comprehensive services

The team advises on all aspects of residential property and mortgage-related matters, including:

• Mortgages & remortgaging
• Powers of Attorney
• Shared ownership
• Transfers / Deeds of Gift
• Buy to Let & Right to Buy
• New-build and auction properties
• Help to Buy schemes
• Investor/portfolio sales and purchases
• First registration of unregistered land
• Complicated title issues

The power of relationships

Claire and the team pride themselves on building long-standing relationships.
“We don’t rely on referral arrangements. Most of our work comes through returning clients, recommendations, and cross-referrals from within the firm."

Continued growth

In response to rising demand, the team is expanding, with the recent addition of a new paralegal and another solicitor and paralegal joining soon, further strengthening their capability to deliver responsive, high-quality services.

What you can expect

Whether you’re a first time buyer or embarking on a more complex property transaction, you can be assured of:

• Direct access to an experienced conveyancer
• Friendly, efficient and personal service
• Clear explanations throughout the process
• Transparent pricing with no hidden costs
• Regular progress updates at every stage

What clients say

The team consistently receives excellent feedback from clients and referrers alike. Common themes include:

• Professional, supportive service — especially during high-pressure or complex transactions.
• Excellent communication — clients are kept informed and can easily reach their solicitor.
• Speed & efficiency — transactions are handled promptly and proactively.
• Friendly, approachable team — particularly valued by first-time buyers.
• Attention to detail — ensuring smooth, accurate outcomes.
• Problem-solving mindset — calm and solutions-focused, even in challenging cases.

The Hay & Kilner way

At Hay & Kilner, we pride ourselves on being a modern and progressive full service law firm.

More than just lawyers, we combine our expertise with a refreshing and personable approach. We speak your language, explaining, guiding and supporting you through the entire legal process when you need it most.

And with 80 years of experience, we are proud to have built a strong reputation in the market delivering high quality legal services and outstanding client care. Quite simply, we put you first.

Get in touch to find out how Hay & Kilner can support your property journey.