Are you looking for a house in Leeds or its surroundings? Take a look at our handy guide to house prices and conveyancing quotes in the area.

Horsforth is both affluent and on the up, with the average house price having gone up by 10% in the past year to £331,105. 

There's a similar tale to tell in Alwoodley, where sold prices have gone up by 12% since 2022. The average property price is now £394,564.

Where is it less expensive to buy in Leeds?

Like any other British city, Leeds has its more affordable areas. At the time of writing, the LS2, LS10 and LS12 postcode areas all have an average price of less than £200,000.

LS2 is part of Leeds City Centre and has an average house price of £138,950. LS10 is Hunslet, with an average of £142,215. Finally, LS12 is Armley, with an average of £149,054.

The picture, then, is varied – and the same is true of Leeds's commuter towns.

What are house prices like in Leeds's commuter towns?

Leeds has several satellite towns that can be great bases for commuting into the city.

The most desired locations are probably Ilkley (average price £536,439) and Harrogate (£404,496). Both are award-winners – Harrogate for being one of the happiest places to live in Britain and Ilkley as the Sunday Times' "Best Place to Live in the UK" in 2022.

Chapel Allerton, by contrast, is a trendy spot just three miles outside Leeds. Noted for its artsy atmosphere and independent offerings, it was voted one of the UK's "coolest neighbourhoods" by Time Out. Its average house price is £300,458, with plenty of semi-detached options.

Similarly close to the city proper is Kirkstall – just ten minutes by train from Leeds. House-wise, it's characterised by new builds and terraces. The town itself boasts a ruined abbey, picturesque canals and a nature reserve. The average house price is £221,098.

What do you need to do before you move?

Once you've found your property and signed a contract, you need to get a conveyancer. This can either be a conveyancing solicitor or a licensed conveyancer. If you're a cash buyer, you don't need to bother. Mortgage lenders, however, will insist on it.

Conveyancing searches in Leeds are much the same as anywhere else. Also known as property searches, they involve retrieving information about a property from local public authorities.

The process can take a while, which sometimes leads people to think that it's a sinecure for conveyancers and solicitors. In fact, it's to check that you've got all the information you need to make an informed choice.

Sellers, we're sad to say, don't always give you all the necessary facts and figures if they think it'll affect the chances of a sale. Even those who are well-intentioned could accidentally omit information or present you with an out-of-date spec.

On top of that, there may be environmental factors or nearby developments in the offing that could make you think twice about buying.

Your conveyancing solicitor, then, is an ally in your house hunt, not an enemy.

In Leeds as elsewhere, there are lots of different types of property searches – but mortgage lenders will be sure to request a local authority search, environmental search and water and drainage search.

A local authority search will cover any relevant planning permissions, as well as if the property is in a preservation or conservation area. An environmental search looks at whether there's any environmental risk to the property – flooding, for instance, or contamination. And a water and drainage search gives you important facts about the property's water supply and where it sits in relation to the sewers.

Fingers crossed, the searches will turn up nothing and you can go ahead with your purchase. But it's much better to know sooner rather than later of anything that the seller neglected to mention.

All this needs to happen before contracts have been exchanged. After this stage, you lose the chance to make enquiries or carry out searches.

The conveyancer is a go-between, liaising between you, the seller and local authorities. They're integral to the smooth completion of a sale.

How do I get a conveyancing quote?

A conveyancing quote in Leeds works like a conveyancing quote anywhere else. There are comparison tools available online, or you can go with an experienced conveyancing solicitor.

The second option puts you in good stead to get a thorough job done and complete the process smoothly and quickly.

Final thoughts

Leeds and its commuter belt is a great place to live. We wish you all the best with your house hunt – and if you need a Leeds conveyancing solicitor to get involved, please don't hesitate to give us a call.