Moving in Nottingham with Koala
Everything happens online, from the ID check to signing the contract. You'll know your conveyancer's name from the first day, and you can message them on WhatsApp instead of waiting on hold.
Searches in Nottingham
Inside the city boundary, the local authority search goes to Nottingham City Council. Many addresses people think of as Nottingham, like West Bridgford, Arnold or Beeston, are actually in Rushcliffe, Gedling or Broxtowe, so the search goes to that borough council instead. Severn Trent handles the water and drainage search.
The north and west of the county, from Hucknall out to Eastwood, sit on the Nottinghamshire coalfield, so a coal mining search often applies. Close to the Trent, we look carefully at the flood search too. Our guide to conveyancing searches explains what each one checks.
Things we look out for in Nottingham
- Caves. The city stands on soft sandstone with hundreds of man-made caves cut into it, some under homes and gardens. If a survey or the title mentions one, we find out who owns it, who's responsible for it and whether your lender is happy.
- Student lets. Nottingham City Council needs planning permission before a family home becomes a small shared house, so if you're buying a let in Lenton or near the universities, we check its planning status and licence first.
- Lace Market flats. Many of the old lace warehouses are now leasehold apartments in listed buildings. We read the lease and the management pack, and check what consent you'd need for changes. Our leasehold vs freehold guide explains what to look for.
- New homes by the river. Newer developments along the Trent and the canal often come with estate charges for shared spaces, which we explain before you commit.
How long will it take?
Most moves take 8 to 12 weeks, but every one is different. Our guide to how long conveyancing takes breaks down each stage.
