Levenshulme: guidance, s'il vous plait.

[PlausibleSuit]

We're looking at moving to south Manchester.

I used to live in Didsbury, but prices around there are high and I want to see if we can get a bit more space for a bit less money in a nearby area.

I'm considering Levenshulme. I know that it's currently a hot-spot. And on a couple of drives round, we saw some beautiful houses. It's also handy for both Manchester and London (Piccadilly and Stockport train stations). I also know that it's not the same as Didsbury.

So if anyone has any specific local knowledge or suggestions, I would be very interested and grateful. For example, are there desirable and less desirable parts of Levenshulme, and if so, where? Is there a dividing road you want to be one side of, or anything like that?

Some background. We're a gay couple in our 30s. No DC (yet - possibly in the future). Two dogs, two cars. We're after a freehold house, ideally 3-bed. I work from home, or in and out during the day. My OH would commute into central Manchester.

Budget up to 400k but ideally we'd spend less than that - I'd rather a lower mortgage payment and spend the extra on holidays and gin.

We have friends and family in other parts of south Manchester and Cheshire, hence the focus on south Manc rather than north.

Thanks in advance!

Sorry probably so unhelpful but we lived there 17 yrs ago and there was a 3 bed house for sale for 23k across the road. My dh said we should buy it and he was obviously right (we didn't)! He was earning over 40k at the time and his salary certainly hasnt increased to the extent of house prices there.

If i had a £400k budget i wouldn't choose Levenshulme...

I’d say the Burnage/Levenshulme border is the best bet. More 3 bed semis and a few detached (Longsight and Gorton borders tend to be more terraced housing) and generally a nicer feel to it. £400k should get a really nice property in Levenshulme.

This is all very helpful, thank you everyone. DaisysStew I've had a similar pointer from another source.

400 is the absolute, hear-the-pips-squeaking max, animaniac. If I can do it for 300/350 I'd be much happier. Where would you choose, out of interest?

I wouldn't chose Levenshulme either. It's kind of up and coming but it's taking a bloody long time. Look at the Heatons, Chorlton, Whalley Range, Didsbury. I had a look on Rightmove for houses up to £350k I'm South Manchester and there are some really good looking ones in better areas than Levvy.

In South Manchester, not I'm.

I wouldn't live there but the better parts are at the Burnage end. You could get a decent place in Chorlton for your 400k.

Just because prices are getting ramped up, mainly due to the towel folder and his Northern Shithouse project, it doesn't make Levenshulme any less of stabby shithole than its always been, full of scrotes and chavs.
You'd have to insane to spend £400k on a house there.

OK. A useful selection of views here, thank you. sall74 that's pretty brutal!

I do like Chorlton, Dids etc but the issue is often parking. A lot of the housing is terraced with on-street parking and since we have two large cars I was aiming for a driveway. That said, it's not completely out of the question and it's also a bit more of an option in the Heatons. I hadn't thought of Whalley Range but that could be an option. Love some of those almost gothic piles off Alexandra Road South and so on (although I don't for one second think we can afford one).

There are lots of traditional 30s houses in all the areas - you get a drive, gardens, etc.

With that budget I wouldn't look at Levenshulme either - still has a long way to go in my opinion. I'd also consider areas close to Chorlton such as Firswood, Old Trafford and parts of WR. You can get some nice size properties in all these areas, walking distance in to Chorlton and good transport into central Manchester. Good schools (if you end up starting a family) and nice community feel.

Harsh views from some!
Near Alma park school and cringle park there are some lovely roads like Linden park and Eldon avenue.

Elton avenue.

Thanks again. Someone else mentioned Linden Park, MrsAukerman. I'm actually viewing some places next week - some in Levenshulme, some not - so I'll see what's doing.

I both love and loathe househunting.

Have you considered Stretford, Urmston or even the nice bits of Eccles (such as Monton and Ellesmere Park).

Levenshulme is still a bit of a dump and there isn't much there. It full of HMOs and students. And whilst it's very multicultural, it can be quite segregated still. If you do go for it, the Burnage end is best. I wouldn't though.

Actually, yes, all of those Well. I really, really like Monton, it's still on the list. Although that M602 is painful in the mornings. Shame there's no tram.

@PlausibleSuit there's a tram in Eccles, about a 2 min drive from Monton!

How do you feel about living in studentsville? Even in a road with lots of big houses won't make you immune, you may find lots of them are shared lets.

Make sure you view during term time in the afternoon and early evening

There's the tram in Eccles - parking near ladywell tram stop (behind the hospital, where the retail park is) is quite easy and not restricted. And Patricroft train station 5 minutes walk from Monton. All easier than trying to get to the city centre by car from almost anywhere.

Urmston has a train station (3 actually) and Stretford has tram and train.

Thanks all. I knew about trains and trams from Eccles but I didn't realise it was so close. Urmston, Stretford good shouts too.

Olennas that's an excellent point. (I used to be one of those students so I should know the turf really.) I've already discounted a couple of Withington ones on that basis. I've become quite good at identifying student lets on Street View!

It isn't a two minute drive from Eccles to Monton in rush hour traffic. Often nose to tail along Monton Road and Half Edge Lane. Quicker to walk to the tram stop.

Gah. 60% of these houses are leasehold, it turns out. More common in the north-west than other areas, I'm told. Who knows why... Crown land? Peel Group?

I've always had it drummed into me that I shouldn't buy a leasehold house. But if I discount all the leasehold ones I lose many of my good options.

Is leasehold a problem? We're talking older houses here; Victorian to 1930s mainly. Not these new-builds we saw in the news last year.

Older homes on leasehold aren't an issue, it'll be £3 a year or so, and only if they collect it.

New homes on lease hold are a HUGE issue!

Older as in pre 1940s.

Often houses are described as leasehold when in fact they are freehold and there is a rentcharge (sometimes called chief rent) payable. It's not the same as a ground rent.