Leeds ranks among northern England’s hidden gems. A lively cultural scene, strong economy and beautiful scenery nearby make it a popular choice for students, property buyers and renters. So, where are the best places to live in this thriving West Yorkshire city? We take a look at the highest-rated new homes in Leeds based on HomeViews resident reviews.
Top 5 new builds to live in Leeds
Below are the five highest-rated new homes developments in Leeds. These ratings are based on reviews by verified residents, giving you a unique guide to some of the very best places to live in Leeds.
*PLEASE NOTE these rankings take into account how many reviews a scheme has and how recently those reviews have been submitted, so may not match the overall star ratings shown. Buildings with a larger number of more recent reviews are given a greater weighting to reflect current building performance – as on our area guide pages.
Best areas to live in Leeds, UK
Property hunters have plenty of options when it comes to popular areas in Leeds. Horsforth comes out at the top of many lists of the best areas to live. Properties in this attractive suburb are well above the average price for the city. However, residents enjoy the benefits of suburban life with an easy commute to the centre. Not to mention Harrogate or York.
Other neighbourhoods deemed to be desirable include Headingley, Chapel Allerton and Roundhay. Recent regeneration has also made Leeds Waterfront a highly desirable location.
Cost of living in Leeds
Currently, the average property price for Leeds is £281,000 (April 2025) according to Rightmove. Most sales in Leeds over the past 12 months were semi-detached properties, at an average price of £281,000.
The median monthly rent in Leeds for 2025 is £1,200, according to Home.co.uk. One bedroom apartments average slightly less, at just £875 PCM. Other living costs tend to be cheaper in Northern England than in the south, and both travel and eating out in Leeds cost well below the national average.
What is Leeds famous for?
Leeds, like many northern cities, is a sporting mecca. The city has beloved teams across a variety of sports, including Leeds United, the city’s largest football team.
Meanwhile, Headingley is the historic home of Yorkshire County Cricket Club and Leeds Rhinos rugby league team. Headingley’s cricket ground also plays host to regular test match cricket.
Leeds is also a hub for Yorkshire shoppers. There are a large number of retail outlets and shopping centres in and around the city, including the high-end Victoria Quarter.
For history nuts, Leeds also has the singular attraction of the Royal Armouries Museum. This purpose-built complex was completed in 2005 to house weaponry and armour from Britain’s history, dating as far back as the Middle Ages.
To find more highly-rated new homes developments click through to our area guides below. All rankings are based on verified resident ratings to give you the very best options for new homes in the area.
HomeViews is the only independent review platform for residential developments in the UK. Prospective buyers and tenants use it to make an informed decision on where to live based on insights from carefully verified resident reviews. Part of Rightmove since February 2024, we’re working with developers, house builders, operators, housing associations and the Government to give residents a voice, recognise high performers and to help improve standards across the industry.
