From an Ancoats mill flat to a terrace in Levenshulme or a semi in Stockport, we handle Greater Manchester moves online, with a named conveyancer, updates on WhatsApp and no need to visit an office.
“Bonita has been absolutely brilliant. She supported me navigating the online forms; nothing was ever too much trouble.”
Julie C.Sold with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“We have completed on a sale this week that took 48 days from the day of accepting the offer.”
Hayley K.Estate agent
Rated 5 out of 5
“The whole process couldn't have been made easier and I've been kept updated every step of the way.”
Tim M.First-time buyer
Rated 5 out of 5
“My lawyer, Bonita, kept me updated and I sold my house in record time. The pricing structure is also fair and clear.”
Jay B.Sold with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“Bonita and her team were consistently reassuring and made everything feel as straightforward and stress-free as it possibly could be.”
Paul M.Sold and bought with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“The communication was 1st class, onboarding simple and funds were paid within hours of completion.”
Bradley C.Sold with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“Buying a home can be daunting for first time buyers, but this was made less so because of the excellent customer service and care.”
Colin O.First-time buyer
Rated 5 out of 5
“We needed to move quick and they pulled out all the stops, making sure every aspect was covered.”
Claire W.Moved with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“Charlotte has been incredible, so consistently helpful and efficient throughout.”
Hannah T.First-time buyer
Rated 5 out of 5
“They were proactive with a challenging chain, communication was spot on and they really helped push us to completion.”
Rebecca J.Sold with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“Their team was incredibly responsive throughout the entire process, always keeping me updated and answering any questions promptly.”
Emma L.Sold with Koala
Rated 5 out of 5
“These aren't your typical conveyancers; they wowed me right from the off with their professionalism, friendliness, and just how incredibly “on it” they are.”
Sam C.First-time buyer
Rated 5 out of 5
“We used Koala to sell our home. The process was simple and we received regular updates.”
Tim A.Sold with Koala
Buying or selling in Manchester?From offer to keys
Most moves take 8 to 12 weeks. Here is what happens, in order.
1
Get your quote
About a minute online, with every fee itemised before you commit to anything.
2
Instruct us
Accept online, scan your passport in the Thirdfort app and sign your forms on screen.
3
Searches and enquiries
Buying? We order your searches straight away and raise enquiries with the seller's conveyancer.
4
Contract and mortgage
We check the contract and title, report back to you in plain English and work with your lender.
5
Exchange
Contracts are exchanged and your completion date is fixed. From here the move is legally binding.
6
Completion
The money moves, the keys are released and we register the change with HM Land Registry.
You'll never need to visit an office. ID checks, forms and signatures all happen online, and your conveyancer tells you on WhatsApp the moment anything moves.
Searches in Greater Manchester
Greater Manchester is ten boroughs, and each has its own council. A city address goes to Manchester City Council, while a home in Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton or Wigan goes to that borough instead. United Utilities handles the water and drainage search right across the area.
The north and west of the county, around Wigan, Bolton and Oldham, sit on the old Lancashire coalfield, so a coal mining search is often needed there. Near the Irwell and the Mersey, the flood search matters: the Irwell flooded parts of Salford on Boxing Day 2015. Our guide to conveyancing searches explains each one.
City centre apartments. Flats in the city centre, Salford Quays and Castlefield are leasehold. We go through the lease, the service charge budget and the fire safety paperwork for the building, which lenders look at closely for taller blocks.
Mill and warehouse conversions. Many of the converted mills in Ancoats and around the canals are listed buildings, so any changes inside or out can need listed building consent as well as the freeholder's say-so.
Leasehold houses. Greater Manchester has an unusually high number of houses sold on very long leases, often 999 years. They usually work much like freeholds, but we still check the ground rent and any covenants. Our leasehold vs freehold guide explains the difference.
Chief rents. Some freehold houses here still carry a chief rent, a small yearly charge owed to whoever holds the rentcharge. It sounds old-fashioned, but missed payments can cause problems, so we check for one on every Manchester freehold.
Part of a long chain?
Busy markets mean long chains, and long chains mean more chances for something to slip. Our guide to what happens when a chain breaks explains your options if it does.
Manchester conveyancing questions
Each of the ten boroughs has its own council, so the local authority search goes to Manchester City Council for a city address, or to Salford, Trafford, Stockport, Bolton, Wigan or whichever borough the home is in. United Utilities handles water and drainage. Around Wigan, Bolton and Oldham a coal mining search is often needed, and near the Irwell and the Mersey the flood search matters.
Some freehold houses in Greater Manchester still carry a chief rent, a small yearly charge owed to whoever holds the rentcharge. Missed payments can cause problems, so we check for one on every Manchester freehold. Many houses here are also sold on very long leases, often 999 years, and we explain what that means too.
Buying a home priced up to £80,000, freehold and not a new build, starts from £1,724 with our legal fee, VAT, searches and Land Registry fees included. Selling a home priced up to £100,000, freehold, starts from £1,246.80. Stamp duty isn't included, and leasehold, new-build and dearer homes cost more. Your quote shows your exact price, with no hidden fees.
Most moves take 8 to 12 weeks from offer to completion. Searches, mortgage offers and the rest of the chain set the pace, so we order your searches as soon as you instruct us, chase every day and send you updates on WhatsApp as each step moves.
Who looks after your move
Bonita Wolfenden
Co-founder & Head of Legal Practice
Charlotte Rowlin
Conveyancer
Your move in Manchester is run by our own conveyancers, online and on WhatsApp. Koala Legal Ltd is regulated by the Council for Licensed Conveyancers, licence number 14749.