Manchester is Britain's third largest city after the capital and Birmingham, and it is also historically one of the oldest with evidence of early settlements before it expanded dramatically in the industrial revolution as a centre for textiles. A major focal point for culture, Manchester has a large international airport and good rail, tram and road systems.
So, if you are planning on buying a bungalow in Beswick, or selling a leasehold flat in Northenden, or simply wishing to free up some of the equity in your detached home in Parrs Wood, Homeward Legal's team of expert conveyancing solicitors are waiting for your call to help and guide you through the process.
Our knowledge and experience of Manchester, its housing market and how the purchase and sale of properties are affected by the legal issues that commonly arise mean that you can be assured of a top-quality service at value-for-money price.
We're open 6 days a week for your convenience, so call us now on to get your free, no-obligation quote.
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Why choose Homeward Legal for your conveyancing in Manchester
We've established an excellent reputation you can trust and helped over 30,000 customers in the past 13 years.
Our residential conveyancing solicitors are regulated under the Solicitors Regulation Authority (SRA) and Council for Licensed Conveyancers (CLC).
Fixed Legal Fee policy
No hidden costs - the legal fee you get quoted is definitive.
No-Completion, No-Fee policy
You won't pay any legal fees if your move falls through for any reason.
Search & survey protection
You won't pay for your next search and survey if your transaction falls through.
Complete support
Dedicated customer service from start to finish. We are open 6 days a week.
Local knowledge
Solicitors with offices across England and Wales.
Simple & straightforward
No confusion with legal jargon - just plain and simple English.
Excellent, friendly service
So far so good, straight forward process with competitive pricing.
Chris has been brilliant, really helpful and friendly, made me feel reassured during a difficult time and didn't make me feel pressured.
Would definitely use this service again.
Current market trends in Manchester
Once you have confirmed your plans to buy your next home in Manchester, you'll want to know everything you can about the area you want to move to and the specific issues that might affect your purchase. Therefore, if you are considering buying a modern home on one of the housing estates built in Wythenshawe to support the influx of financial and other companies, or you want to take advantage of the more rural aspect that Crumpsall offers as well as the proximity of the city centre, or perhaps you like the history and urbanisation that is reflected in Withington, the conveyancing team at Homeward Legal fully understands your needs.
- Average property price: £250,000-£266,000 (all property types)
- Most active areas: City centre, Ancoats, Salford Quays, and Didsbury
- Typical conveyancing timeframe: 8-12 weeks for standard transactions
- Annual price growth: +5% to +8% year-on-year (varies by area)
Sources: ONS, Plumplot, Homeward Legal internal data
Updated July 2025
Essential local searches for Manchester properties
When buying property in Manchester, specific local searches are important due to the city's industrial heritage, ongoing regeneration projects, and diverse geographical characteristics. Our conveyancers conduct comprehensive investigations including:
Local authority searches
Manchester City Council maintains the local land charges register and handles planning permissions, building regulations, conservation area controls, and development restrictions that might affect your property.
These searches reveal planning permissions, building regulations compliance, conservation area restrictions, and major regeneration plans including the Northern Gateway, Ancoats, and city centre developments. Manchester's rapid development means understanding planning proposals is of importance for future property values.
Learn more about local authority search >
Environmental searches
Critical in Manchester due to the city's significant industrial heritage, including former textile mills, chemical works, and manufacturing sites throughout the city.
Environmental searches identify contamination risks from former industrial activities, air quality concerns, and ground stability issues. These are particularly important given Manchester's history of heavy industry and the potential for contaminated land from former factory sites and industrial processes.
Learn more about environmental search >
Water and drainage searches
Essential for Manchester properties due to the River Irwell, River Medlock, and numerous waterways running through the city. Manchester has experienced flooding events, with areas near rivers and in low-lying parts of the city being particularly susceptible.
Our searches assess flood risk from rivers, surface water, and drainage systems, particularly important in areas near the city's waterways and in developments built on former industrial sites where drainage may have been altered.
Learn more about water and drainage search >
Mining searches
Manchester sits in an area with historical coal mining activity. Mining searches check for potential subsidence from former mine workings beneath the property.
Location resources for Manchester property transactions
Online tools for researching Manchester properties, planning history, and local considerations.
- Manchester City Council Planning Portal - Search planning applications and building regulations in Manchester
- Land Registry price paid data for Manchester - Search property sale prices and ownership records
- Manchester City Council environmental information - Local environmental data and contaminated land information
- Manchester open data portal - Access to local geographic and planning data
- Transport for Greater Manchester - Transport connections and Metrolink services
Our conveyancing services in Manchester
From purchase to remortgage - we handle it all
Buying a property in Manchester
Legal fees starting from £564 (inc. VAT)
- Manchester City Council liaison - Comprehensive searches with Manchester City Council's specific planning and development requirements
- Industrial heritage searches - Contamination assessments and environmental compliance for former textile mills and manufacturing sites
- Planning permissions verification - Confirming development rights and planning restrictions for your Manchester property
- Canal and river flood considerations - River Irwell and waterway flood risk assessments for low-lying and riverside properties
- Mining subsidence searches - Essential investigations for former coal mine workings affecting property foundations
- Completion coordination - Managing exchange and completion dates in the competitive regeneration property market
Your Manchester conveyancing solicitor handles industrial heritage searches, mining subsidence assessments, and canal flood considerations.
Learn more about buying a property Or get an instant quote ->Selling a property in Manchester
Legal fees starting from £552 (inc. VAT)
- Property enquiry responses - Comprehensive answers to buyer solicitor questions about industrial heritage and regeneration benefits
- Industrial heritage certificates - Environmental clearance and contamination search results for former mill and factory areas
- Planning documentation - Providing development history and regeneration compliance for buyer enquiries
- Mining clearance documentation - Subsidence search results and structural certificates for buyer confidence
- Legal documentation - Comprehensive contract preparation and property information compilation for smooth Manchester sales
- Completion coordination - Managing exchange and completion timing in the competitive regeneration market environment
Your Manchester conveyancing solicitor manages industrial heritage documentation, mining clearance certificates, and regeneration compliance.
Learn more about selling a property Or get an instant quote ->Buying and selling a property in Manchester
Legal fees starting from £1024 (inc. VAT)
- Chain coordination - Managing your sale and purchase transactions with careful Manchester market timing
- Manchester City Council experience - Handling council requirements for planning permissions and legal compliance
- Industrial heritage management - Managing contamination assessments and environmental documentation where relevant
- Mining documentation coordination - Managing subsidence searches and mining clearance documentation where relevant
- Planning compliance verification - Ensuring development permissions align across your transactions
- Completion timing management - Managing exchange and completion dates to meet your moving requirements
Your Manchester conveyancing solicitor coordinates transactions with industrial heritage and regeneration market expertise.
Learn more about buying and selling a property Or get an instant quote ->Remortgaging in Manchester
Legal fees starting from £283 (inc. VAT)
- Legal documentation compilation - Gathering all required property certificates and legal papers for mortgage applications
- Property verification - Confirming existing certificates and legal papers meet new lender requirements
- Lender coordination - Efficient liaison between existing and new mortgage providers for settlement requirements
- Mortgage discharge preparation - Arranging settlement of existing mortgage and managing fund transfers
- Land Registry updates - Updating records with new mortgage details and finalising registration
- Legal completion - Finalising the remortgage process and ensuring smooth completion
Your Manchester conveyancing solicitor handles lender coordination and legal documentation for seamless remortgage completion.
Learn more about remortgaging Or get an instant quote ->Transfer of equity in Manchester
Legal fees starting from £312 (inc. VAT)
- Property documentation compilation - Gathering all required certificates and legal papers for property transfers
- Family coordination - Managing sensitive transfers for divorce, inheritance, or family planning requirements
- Title verification - Confirming ownership rights and restrictions for smooth equity transfer completion
- Deed preparation - Preparing transfer deeds and legal documentation for ownership changes
- Stamp duty management - Calculating and arranging stamp duty payments where applicable
- Land Registry completion - Updating ownership records with new details and finalising registration
Your Manchester conveyancing solicitor manages legal documentation requirements for efficient transfer completion.
Learn more about transfer of equity Or get an instant quote ->
Manchester area property guide
Understanding Manchester's diverse neighborhoods
Castlefield
Located in central Manchester, Castlefield has a long history based in the industrial revolution, being the terminus of the Bridgewater Canal, the oldest industrial canal in the world, as well as having some of the oldest buildings that supported the local industry. As such, Castlefield is an inner-city conservation area, which is something your conveyancing solicitor will investigate so that you know what restrictions and covenants exist on the property you are planning to buy and therefore how you plan to use it.
Openshaw
Although there is very little in the way of heavy industry in Openshaw these days, it was a major centre for steel, breadmaking and servicing the trains and railways, and it was also part of the war effort hosting a munitions factory. The multicultural nature of today's Openshaw make it a thriving community, but, because of its industrial heritage, before you buy, your conveyancing solicitor will verify the state of any contamination as part of their searches, so that you are clear on what to expect and have the information to hand regarding any plans to solve any contamination that exists.
Levenshulme
With its regular market that offers a variety of ingredients to suit many cuisines, Levenshulme is a residential area that has close access to the thriving amenities, top-flight football (of course) and nightlife that Manchester offers. Levenshulme serves a variety of religious needs with several churches meaning that chancel repair is a possibility. Even though this payment for the upkeep of the local church might not be currently in place, your conveyancing solicitor will investigate the current position, and advise you on whether you should take out a cheap indemnity insurance policy to protect you from any future charges.
Did you know?
Manchester is, of course, the location for the fictional borough of Weatherfield, home to Coronation Street, which began on local independent television in 1960 and is still going strong - the longest-running television programme in the world. Originally planned to be called Florizel Street before the advised change (after someone pointed out that it sounded like a detergent), it also boasts the longest-running actor in the same role, with William Roache (Ken Barlow) appearing in the first episode and still being central to the twisting plots.
Manchester is also the home to the founding of the Suffrage Movement, originally called the Women's Social and Political Union and set up by Mancunian Emmeline Pankhurst resulting in so much social change and paving the road to eventual social equality and women's votes. The Pankhurst Centre, which documents the work of the Suffragettes, is in Emmeline's former home.
Start your Manchester conveyancing journey today
Get expert Manchester conveyancing from solicitors who understand former industrial areas, regeneration zones, and Greater Manchester transport links.
Call now for your free quote - we know Manchester's unique property challenges.
Frequently asked questions about conveyancing in Manchester
What makes conveyancing in Manchester different from other areas?
Manchester combines major city regeneration, diverse neighborhoods, and excellent transport connectivity. Our conveyancers understand Manchester City Council policies, conservation areas in the Northern Quarter and city centre, and the dynamics of one of the UK's fastest-growing property markets driven by tech sector growth and student demand.
How long does conveyancing take in Manchester?
Conveyancing in Manchester typically takes 8-12 weeks for standard transactions. The city's dynamic market and ongoing regeneration create varied considerations. Properties in the city centre or near universities may require additional investigations, which our experienced team manages efficiently throughout.
How much does conveyancing cost in Manchester?
Conveyancing costs in Manchester start from £564 for standard purchases. Manchester's competitive property market offers excellent value with strong growth potential. We provide transparent pricing with our Fixed Legal Fee guarantee and No Completion, No Fee protection throughout your transaction.
Do I need to visit your offices for Manchester conveyancing?
No, you don't need to visit offices for Manchester conveyancing. Our online conveyancing service handles everything remotely. Our solicitors understand Manchester's dynamic property market, including its tech sector growth, university influence, and regeneration projects.
How do universities and students affect Manchester property purchases?
Manchester's large student population creates strong rental demand in certain areas, with some properties subject to Article 4 directions limiting HMO conversions. Student areas may offer rental yields but different resale dynamics. Our conveyancers advise on university proximity impacts and long-term investment considerations.
What should I know about Manchester's regeneration areas?
Manchester is experiencing extensive regeneration, particularly around the city centre, Ancoats, and transport hubs. This includes residential developments, commercial projects, and infrastructure improvements. Our team stays informed with regeneration plans and their potential impact on property values and investment opportunities.
