If you fancy turning your hand to property investment but unsure where to start, we’ve got it covered. We’ve taken a look at the best place to invest in property in the UK. To work this out, we’ve looked at the average rental yield all UK cities and ranked them accordingly. We’ve worked this out by looking at the average property value and average annual rent in each city. Where does your city rank?
Ranked from bottom to top by average rental yield percentage, here are the results…
68. St Albans – 2.76%
Average property price: £581,041
Average rent: £1,336 pcm
67. Truro – 2.85%
Average property price: £320,611
Average rent: £761 pcm
66. Worcester – 2.87%
Average property price: £260,039
Average rent: £623 pcm
65. Chelmsford – 3.04%
Average property price: £387,413
Average rent: £982 pcm
64. Salisbury – 3.08%
Average property price: £341,338
Average rent: £876 pcm
63. St Asaph – 3.1%
Average property price: £225,104
Average rent: £581 pcm
62. Hereford – 3.14%
Average property price: £249,947
Average rent: £655 pcm
61. Ripon – 3.2%
Average property price: £290,495
Average rent: £774 pcm
60. Lichfield – 3.2%
Average property price: £291,353
Average rent: £777 pcm
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59. Wells – 3.31%
Average property price: £308,536
Average rent: £850 pcm
58. Cambridge – 3.34%
Average property price: £455,104
Average rent: £1,268 pcm
57. Winchester – 3.36%
Average property price: £548,755
Average rent: £1,537 pcm
56. Chichester – 3.4%
Average property price: £428,867
Average rent: £1,214 pcm
55. Wolverhampton – 3.44%
Average property price: £188,146
Average rent: £539 pcm
54. Bath – 3.44%
Average property price: £444,257
Average rent: £1,274 pcm
53. Gloucester – 3.47%
Average property price: £230,997
Average rent: £668 pcm
52. Chester – 3.5%
Average property price: £254,681
Average rent: £742 pcm
51. Perth – 3.5%
Average property price: £202,679
Average rent: £591 pcm
50. Exeter – 3.52%
Average property price: £293,069
Average rent: £860 pcm
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49. York – 3.55%
Average property price: £282,874
Average rent: £837 pcm
48. St David’s – 3.56%
Average property price: £234,104
Average rent: £695 pcm
47. Peterborough – 3.7%
Average property price: £217,668
Average rent: £672 pcm
46. Carlisle – 3.73%
Average property price: £157,070
Average rent: £488 pcm
45. Ely – 3.8%
Average property price: £295,045
Average rent: £935 pcm
44. Norwich – 3.9%
Average property price: £265,871
Average rent: £864 pcm
43. Leicester – 4.01%
Average property price: £216,421
Average rent: £724 pcm
42. Bristol – 4.03%
Average property price: £314,629
Average rent: £1,057 pcm
41. Canterbury – 4.07%
Average property price: £335,782
Average rent: £1,138 pcm
40. Lincoln – 4.07%
Average property price: £192,423
Average rent: £653 pcm
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39. Wakefield – 4.08%
Average property price: £177,810
Average rent: £605 pcm
38. Derby – 4.12%
Average property price: £194,951
Average rent: £669 pcm
37. Lancaster – 4.25%
Average property price: £191,729
Average rent: £679 pcm
36. Dundee – 4.28%
Average rental price: £156,781
Average rent: £559 pcm
35. Southampton – 4.36%
Average rental price: £289,546
Average rent: £1,053 pcm
34. Hull – 4.43%
Average rental price: £133,306
Average rent: £492 pcm
33. Newry – 4.44%
Average rental price: £146,353
Average rent: £542 pcm
32. Oxford – 4.46%
Average property price: £503,570
Average rent: £1,870 pcm
31. Stoke-on-Trent – 4.53%
Average property price: £143,358
Average rent: £541 pcm
30. Bradford – 4.53%
Average property price: £129,444
Average rent: £489 pcm
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29. Aberdeen – 4.58%
Average property price: £197,352
Average rent: £753 pcm
28. Preston – 4.6%
Average property price: £179,405
Average rent: £687 pcm
27. Inverness – 4.68%
Average property price: £177,736
Average rent: £693 pcm
26. Newport – 4.71%
Average property price: £165,970
Average rent: £651 pcm
25. Stirling – 4.78%
Average property price: £194,439
Average rent: £775 pcm
24. Brighton & Hove – 4.79%
Average property price: £385,220
Average rent: £1,537 pcm
23. London – 4.8%
Average property price: £672,390
Average rent: £2,692 pcm
22. Newcastle – 4.81%
Average property price: £203,524
Average rent: £816 pcm
21. Sheffield – 4.91%
Average property price: £187,360
Average rent: £767 pcm
20. Sunderland – 5.02%
Average property price: £139,518
Average rent: £584 pcm
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19. Derry – 5.12%
Average property price: £110,884
Average rent: £473 pcm
18. Glasgow – 5.21%
Average property price: £175,623
Average rent: £762 pcm
17. Lisburn – 5.36%
Average property price: £143,435
Average rent: £641 pcm
16. Plymouth – 5.47%
Average property price: £200,655
Average rent: £914 pcm
15. Cardiff – 5.6%
Average property price: £233,833
Average rent: £1,092 pcm
14. Belfast – 5.72%
Average property price: £153,310
Average rent: £731 pcm
13. Swansea – 5.74%
Average property price: £167,147
Average rent: £799 pcm
12. Liverpool – 5.78%
Average property price: £164,838
Average rent: £794 pcm
11. Portsmouth – 5.81%
Average property price: £227,041
Average rent: £1,100 pcm
10. Edinburgh – 5.89%
Coming in at 10th place is Scotland’s capital Edinburgh. The city is a highly desirable place to live and is a huge cultural hub north of the border. Having said this, property prices are relatively low while rent remains high. This means, Edinburgh is a great place for any landlord to build a portfolio.
Average property price: £268,989
Average rent: £1,320 pcm
9. Nottingham – 5.97%
With a popular university paired with high standard of living, property investment in Nottingham could be a money maker. With a 5.97% average rental yield, this is a serious consideration for anyone looking to make money.
Average property price: £188,609
Average rent: £939 pcm
8. Birmingham – 6.27%
Proclaimed to be the second city in the UK, Birmingham was guaranteed to feature high in this list. The property prices are in line with much of the midlands while rent is high. The popular university also prevents an opportunity for those considering student lets.
Average property price: £188,235
Average rent: £984 pcm
7. Armagh – 6.42%
The Northern Irish city is claimed to be the fifth-least-populous city in the UK. Maybe that goes some way to explaining the low property prices. Rent, at least, is in line with the surrounding area.
Average property price: £105,815
Average rent: £566 pcm
6. Manchester – 6.5%
Though Birmingham takes the title of Britain’s second city, Manchester seems to be stealing the attention. It’s a highly favourable place to live, especially among the younger generations who seek a buzzy metropolitan area. This has led to rent remaining high while property prices sit in line with much of the north of England.
Average property price: £175,872
Average rent: £952 pcm
5. Coventry – 6.64%
Coventry storms ahead into 5th position in our list. As the ninth largest city in the UK, it’s no surprise it features high. The city is the only Midlands spot to break the £1,000 average rent mark.
Average property price: £195,255
Average rent: £1,080 pcm
4. Durham – 6.71%
At the business end of the list we find north-eastern city of Durham. The location is renowned for its beauty and highly respected university. There are plenty of reasons why people are attracted to the city, an alluring potential for investment.
Average property price: £159,146
Average rent: £890 pcm
3. Leeds – 6.89%
Another city that people are naturally driven to. Leeds is metropolitan city renowned for its shopping, nightlife and culture. If you consider the high rent prices and relatively low property prices, you may find yourself building a portfolio here.
Average property price: £204,644
Average rent: £1,175 pcm
2. Salford – 7.53%
If you’re looking to invest in Manchester, you may do better by looking to neighbouring Salford. The city offers similar average rent but with a reduction in average property prices, a win-win!
Average property price: £156,118
Average rent: £979 pcm
1. Bangor – 9.42%
The best place to invest in property in the UK is Bangor – an exceptional opportunity for anyone considering property investment. The house prices are aligned with the local area and pretty low. The average rent is considerably higher, exceeding £1,300 pcm.
Average property price: £169,148
Average rent: £1,328 pcm
All figures accurate on date of publish.
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Last month we brought you an article about the 10 cheapest places to rent in the UK. In case you want to flash the cash and live in one of the country’s more pricey regions, we’ve brought you a list of the 10 most expensive places to rent in the UK. This list is done slightly different to the last. Firstly, we’ve considered London as a collective whole. If we didn’t do this, the majority of our list would be full of London boroughs. This research comes from numerous sources including Rightmove, Love Money and the BBC.
10. Bushey, Hertfordshire
The small Hertfordshire town of Bushey may be tranquil but it’s also pretty pricey too. The average asking price of a two bedroom property in this peaceful part of the country comes at a stomach churning £1,330 per month. The town’s close proximity to numerous film studios (Elstree and Borehamwood) has led it to be the backdrop for many film and TV scenes.
9. Windsor, Berkshire
Quaint, historic, royal and of course bloated with tourists, Windsor was guaranteed to feature on the list. Boasting the largest and oldest inhabited castle in the world, Windsor also offers beautiful Thames-side walks, picnic spots and shopping. Oh we’re not done yet. Windsor is also the home of Legoland and the Royal Windsor Racecourse. All this makes for a vibrant town but also one which doesn’t come cheap. A two-bedroom property will come to an average of £1,351 per month.
8. Egham, Surrey
Sitting in the North East of Surrey, Egham is famously the site where the Magna Carta was sealed in 1215. Considered a university town, Egham is home to the campus of Royal Holloway, University of London. For the steep average price of £1,353 you can get a two bedroom property in this historic town.
7. Henley-on-Thames, Oxfordshire
Recently voted by The Times as one of the best places to live in the English Countryside, Henley-on-Thames is renowned for its spectacular beauty and serene riverside location. Not only is it a place of beauty, it’s vibrant too. The Henley Royal Regatta is the world’s greatest rowing spectacle and has been cemented as such over its 175 year history. The average price of a two bedroom property here is £1,385 per month making it seventh on our list.
6. Ascot, Berkshire
For an average of £1,412 per month, you can rent a two bedroom property in Ascot, a deeply affluent town in East Berkshire. Only a stone’s throw from Windsor, the town is most commonly known as the location of Ascot Racecourse.
5. Marlow, Buckinghamshire
Marlow is a small but deeply alluring town alongside the River Thames. Surrounded by meadows and woodland, it’s home to historic streets of Georgian architecture. With plenty of chain and independent places to eat and drink, you won’t go without. It’s also one of the most expensive locations to rent in the UK, a two bedroom property will set you back £1,424 per month.
4. Weybridge, Surrey
A two bedroom property will cost an average of £1,446 per month in Weybridge and it’s no surprise. The Georgian town is stooped in history and is certainly pleasing to look at. There’s a strong community feel to the area which is seen as a large draw to outsiders.
3. Oxford, Oxfordshire
Dubbed as the ‘City of Dreaming Spires’, Oxford boasts 1,500 listed buildings from all major periods from the 11th Century onwards. Renowned for its attractive streets, it’s most famous attraction is the world renowned University of Oxford. Easily accessed by train from London and Birmingham, the city offers excellent transport routes. A two bedroom property is likely to cost around £1,612 per month.
2. Esher, Surrey
Sitting 14 miles South-West of London, Esher is a commuter town that’s blown up in popularity. With excellent comprehensive schools, royal residences and private estates, Esher is the perfect upper class hideaway. The demand for properties is said to be so high that homes are often sold before being advertised. If you can find one available, a two bedroom property will set you back £1,913 per month.
1. London
Of course London comes first on this list. Could it really be anywhere else? The problem with discussing London in this list is that its boroughs differ so greatly. Now we’ve been talking about two bedroom properties for every other place on this list. In some areas of London, the average one bedroom flat greatly exceeds these figures. In Kensington and Chelsea a one bed will set you back around £2,134 a month which can be compared to the cheapest borough in London where the same size property would be around £1,341pcm. Eye-watering prices which aren’t necessarily in keeping with the extra income a London job offers.
So there you have it, the ten most expensive places to rent in the UK. If you’re looking to rent or let, remove the stress of inventories and deposit disputes. Take a look at No Letting Go’s inventory services to find out exactly how we can help ease the process.
Buying a house is becoming less and less possible to many people in the current climate. More of us are abandoning the mortgage and sticking to the rental arena for much of our lives. But where are the cheapest places to rent in the UK? Furthermore, what are they actually like? Take a look at our definitive list for more insight. All average rent figures are from the Valuation Office Agency’s 2015-2016 data.
10. County Durham – £450pcm
Before the £450pcm rent and £1.30 pints get you too interested, we must warn you County Durham isn’t for everyone. Durham is deemed to be the most beautiful Cathedral city in the UK. Despite this, the traffic is a huge turn-off for some, while the university student vs local youth rivalry is claimed to regularly bubble over on Saturday evenings.
Having said this, there are plenty of great reasons to pack up your bags and head to Durham. The area offers beautiful sights, especially at night. While the country walks and close-by national parks propose a more refined social life, the buzzy Newcastle is easily commutable. The injection of students to the city lend it a lifeline from its ageing appeal.
9. Darlington – £440pcm
Close neighbour to tenth spot, Darlington is described by The Guardian as an ‘unexpectedly pleasant town’. Parts of the centre are politely labelled as ‘dreary’ while the winters are considered devastating to the uninitiated. If you can look beyond this, you’ll see a high employment rate of 72% and a life expectancy slightly higher than the national average. Cost of living is cheap and residents seem both cheerful and patriotic in their support of the area.
8. Barnsley – £427pcm
There’s a lot of negative chat about Barnsley. Once a British powerhouse with strong industrial, agricultural and mining roots, today the town is in need of a bit of TLC. Despite the need for revival, a £427pcm average rent is still attractive. If you look a little further into the area, you’ll see it has a lot to offer. Luscious countryside and excellent transport routes to key cities like Sheffield make the town more appealing.
7. Bolsover – £435pcm
Another former mining town, Bolsover is also a mixed bag when it comes to resident reviews. Some cite its troublesome youth culture while others completely dismiss such comments. An overall pleasant feel is said to infect the town while its community spirit is strong and prosperous.
6. North East Lincolnshire – £425pcm
North East Lincolnshire has some pretty reasonable rent at £425pcm but it also has a pretty bad rep among some residents. One of the more noticeable issues is its poor mobile coverage. The area gets only 87% coverage which sounds high but the majority of areas in the UK receive 99%. The average income is higher than its surrounding areas while employment rate is spot-on average. Overall, it seems to offer a positive vibe which reverberates through internet comment pieces and resident forums.
5. Stoke-on-Trent – £435pcm
Stoke-on-Trent gets a lot of bad press online. In fact, the town was recently the topic of fierce debate after being labelled as the eighth-worst place to live in the UK according to website ilivehere.com. Thankfully though, a handful of resolute residents came to the town’s support. Dwellers of the Staffordshire city praised its friendly citizens, luscious green spaces and ‘overall nice feel’. One person even dubbed the town ‘a real place, for real people, in the real world’. For an average of £435pcm on rent, there’s plenty of reasons to head to Stoke-on-Trent and pledge your support to the town.
4. Pendle – £435pcm
Say what you want about Pendle, parts of it are truly beautiful. The Lancashire Borough was referred to as the most anxious place to live in the UK according to an Office for National Statistics study but we’ll look beyond this. The truth is, if you’re the type who loves the feel of former mill towns and socialising with strong jawed no-nonsense villagers, you’ll love it here.
3. Hyndburn – £435pcm
There are two ways to look at Hyndburn. Either you look towards the desolate streets of Woodnook, Accrington that are filled with boarded houses and industrial age architecture. Or you look towards the low unemployment rates, low crime rates and general community spirit of the wider Hyndburn area. Now may even be the perfect time to move to the borough. Some of the vacant areas including much of the empty homes in Woodnock are set to see a revamp in the coming years. Who knows, your £435pcm rent could be a steal in years to come.
2. Burnley – £400pcm
Back in 2007 Channel 4 aired an episode of ‘Location, Location, Location 20 Best and Worst Places to Live’. In this they labelled Burnley as the 19th worst place to live in the UK. What we love about this scenario is how the people of Burnley rallied together and blasted the show for it. It’s clear this town does not lack community spirit.
If you’re keen on a no-nonsense style of living, this is certainly a place for you. Burnley offers a high quality of life coupled with picturesque countryside albeit a little rough around the edges.
1. Hull – £395pcm
Hull is a city to truly divide opinion. Some say it’s one of the best places to live in the UK, others say it’s one of the worst. There’s no denying the city was once considered the butt of many a joke. Though today it’s in the middle of a huge revamp. Initial laughing points like its fishy smell and obesity rates have been replaced with commendation for how far the area’s come. To the extent that it’s actually UK City of Culture 2017. We’re not surprised people are escaping to the city for its average rent of £395pcm and bustling streets.
Want to keep costs down? Avoid the pains of inventories and deposit disputes. Take a look at No Letting Go’s inventory services to find out exactly how we can help ease the process.