Moving in Leeds with Koala
You won't need to visit us. ID checks happen in the Thirdfort app, forms are signed online, and your conveyancer messages you on WhatsApp as things move. Leeds estate agents can follow the sale too, so nobody has to ring round for an update.
Searches in Leeds
The local authority search for a Leeds address goes to Leeds City Council, which covers the whole district, from Otley and Wetherby down to Rothwell and Morley. Yorkshire Water handles the drainage and water search.
The south and east of the district sit on the old West Yorkshire coalfield, so homes around places like Rothwell, Garforth and Kippax often need a coal mining search. Along the Aire, from Kirkstall through to the city centre, we look closely at the flood search: the river flooded homes and businesses on Boxing Day 2015, and that history can affect insurance. Our guide to conveyancing searches explains what each one checks.
Things we look out for in Leeds
- Back-to-back terraces. Leeds has more back-to-backs than anywhere else in the country. They often share walls on three sides and have bins, yards or toilets across a shared street, so we check the title for rights of way and who maintains what.
- Student lets and HMOs. Parts of Headingley, Hyde Park and nearby streets are covered by planning rules that limit turning family homes into shared houses. If you're buying to let, we check the property has the right planning status and licence before you commit.
- City centre flats. Apartments around Holbeck, the Dock and the city centre are leasehold. We read the lease, the service charges and, for taller blocks, the fire safety paperwork lenders now ask for. Our leasehold vs freehold guide explains what to look for.
- Stone villages on the edge. Places like Otley, Horsforth and Bramhope have older stone homes, conservation areas and listed buildings, which can mean extra consent for changes.
Buying your first place in Leeds?
Lots of our Leeds clients are first-time buyers stepping up from renting in the city. Our first-time buyer checklist walks through everything from your mortgage in principle to collecting the keys.
