If you know the Northern Quarter you will know the Smithfield Estate.
It’s the clump of red brick housing smack in the middle of the neighbourhood. Built by Manchester Council back in the 1960s, it is a part of the fabric of the area.
Unexpected, characterful and intriguing.
Most of the 100 or so apartments and houses are still rented out through Northwards Housing, although a chunk – 34 to be exact - have been purchased over the years through Right to Buy.
Which means that very occasionally they come up for sale.
Rachel Hoy bought hers in December 2014 offering the asking price over the phone without even seeing it.
She said: “I’d spent a couple of years living in Liverpool and London but found myself, on the verge of turning 30, living back with my mum in Flixton frantically saving for a deposit.
“I knew the Northern Quarter well so when a friend told me one of the flats here was for sale I rang the agent and offered the price without even visiting. It was an absolute dump and the tenants who had been in had left a real mess. But I was fixated about living here and didn’t care.”
She set about an extensive renovation project, knocking down internal walls to open up the space and putting in a new kitchen and bathroom.
Rachel said: “I work in property development and I quickly learned it is much harder doing your own project! I moved in three months later and genuinely loved living there.”
It was through the major renovations she met her neighbours Mani and Celine Keleher, who were also going through a similar upgrade process.
Rachel said: “We ended up using the same builders so would often end up in the pub comparing notes and either crying into our beer or toasting a job well done!”
Mani, owner of ONE% Microlot Coffees, said: “Like Rachel we gutted the place and opened it up to make it more liveable. We put in a new kitchen and bathroom and added some colour.
“And the outside space is ridiculously huge – a rare thing in the centre of the city. We even have a shed. And it is lovely to be surrounded by trees in the heart of the city centre.”
But lives move on and both Rachel’s and The Kelehers’ one-bedroom apartments are up for sale – each priced £179,950
Rachel said: “I got a new job and now work in Dublin. The flat is my pride and joy and I did not want to rent it out I would like someone to live in it and love it as much as I did. Make their own mark and there is huge potential outside.”
Mani and Celine are looking to move out of the city but they too will be sad to leave.
He said: “We are looking at what the future holds. But Smithfield has a real sense of community; neighbours have been here 25 years and really care about the place. It is an iconic part of the Northern Quarter and helps make the area what it is.”
Potential buyers should note that while service charges in many of the new apartment buildings in town can top £200 a month the fees at Smithfield are £60 – per quarter. And you can also get a residents' parking permit – for free.
Plus a £200,000 programme of improvements by the City Council is currently underway replacing windows and doors and installing a new gate system.
As Oliver Dolan from agents JLL said: “These apartments don’t come up for sale very often and it’s difficult to find a property right in the city centre with this amount of outside space.
"Both apartments have been refurbished to a really high standard throughout and the added benefit of permit parking makes then unique.”
While two thirds of the properties are still owned by the council, the odd one comes up for private rent.
Also at Martlesham Walk, a three bedroom maisonette has just come onto the market at £1,400 a month.
It has had a total makeover with new kitchen, dining area with doors onto the balcony and a big comfy living area. Two stylish bathrooms and the bedrooms are all doubles.
