As the options for UK property investment change on a regular basis, this page will be updated to provide you with an overview of some of the current developments available to clients.
Please see these articles for information on property investing:
How to invest in UK property without stress
UK property Investment – 10 reasons why it makes sense
Current Property availability – as at 18th May 2023
All are new builds or full refurbishments and that is best for any remote investor. No maintenance issues and all fully in line with current safety rules, especially for any external cladding and H&S certification.
More launches to come…
Excelsior Works – Manchester. Available for a limited period only so you need to act fast!
Excelsior Works is a converted former bookbinding factory, right on the canal. This is a building with character and history. The development is is complet and all apartments are currently rented so you get an immediate income.
The developer has a cash buyer in the wings ready to buy all remaining units but we have a limited period to offer them still. This won’t be for long. Rents and values have already increased in the area this year so this is a great opportunity.
- 14 units available (108 in the building)
- One beds from £223,500
- Two beds from £300,000
- Curent market rents from £950 up to £1,450 per month, & increasing
- 999 year lease
- NHBC warranty , 10 years from start of 2023
- Reservation fee of just £1,000
- 10% required on exchange of contracts
- Apartments have floor to ceiling windows
- Communal areas and a roof terrace
- High spec kitchens and bathroom
Castlefield is a nice area with character. There are a number of restaurants and bars and it is only a 10 minute walk to the city centre.
Manchester is the number one city for growth and jobs and there will be a further 25,000 more jobs to be filled by 2025.
Update 23/04/23 New figures just released show that Manchester property prices continue to rise as do rental yields and they have increased in this development.
Get in touch quickly if you are interested in one of these apartments, ideal as part of an investment portfolio. I have a copy of a presentation I can send you too.
Manchester is the best place to buy in the UK right now and is even forecasted to see positive growth in 2023. There is a huge undersupply of good rental property.
The city has double the population growth of any UK city which bodes well for the future.
Golden House – Guildford New launch!
Our latest launch is in the popular Surrey town of Guildford. Surrounded by lovely countryside, with great shopping, excellent schools, and just 35 minutes to Central London by fast train, you can’t go wrong by buying any property here.
This is a completed development so there is zero developer risk and you can receive an income really quickly. It is a conversion from an office space but looks nicer than you might imagine. This also means that each apartment has higher ceilings and larger windows and the location cannot be beaten.
It is has just three storeys and we are offering the apartments on the second floor, with the best views. We have only 10 apartments to offer, nine one-beds and just one two-bed.
- One bedroom apartments from £275,000 Est rental amount £1,400 to £1,500 pcm
- Two bed apartment at £390,000 Est rental amount £1,650 to £1,800 pcm
Fact facts
- Under a mile to the station
- Co-working spaces
- Electric car charging points & cycle store
- Bosch appliances
- High quality finishes throughout the building
- Parking spaces available (at £10,000)
- 250 year lease
- Annual service charge of £1,000
- Reservation fee £2,000 (offset against purchase price)
- 10% payable on exchange of contracts
As with all the areas we recommend for investment, there is a huge shortfall in rental property and so the yields are excellent. New apartments in central locations like this do not hang around, so if this is of interest to you, don’t hang around!
Get in touch today for more information and to reserve your next investment property.
Clarence House – Windsor
Clarence House is a development of 12 two bedrooms and 4 one bedroom apartments, all built to the highest standards in the historic town of Windsor.
These smart apartments are in a superb location and are competitively priced being some 15-20% below town centre comparisons just a 10 min walk way.
They will work as a long-term rental investment, or for short-terms lets as the area is very popular with visitors.
- One bed apartments from £390,000
- Two bed apartments from £450,000
- Parking for all apartments
- Reservation deposit of £5,000 (offset against purchase price)
- No ground rent
- Low services charges
- Already completed
Windsor Great Park is just a 5 minute walk and offers 4,800 acres of parkland. The world famous Windsor Castle is a must see attraction that is free for local residents. Legoland is approximately 1.5 miles away.
Transport links are equally good, with the M4 and M25 within easy reach. The Windsor and Eton Central train station offers regular services to Slough, which in turn offers services to London Paddington and the west,
Windsor and Eton Riverside station is the terminal for services running to and from London Waterloo. London Heathrow is just a 17 minute drive away.
Get in touch for more information
Brunel Place – Maidenhead, Berkshire exclusive launch 23/03/23
This is a boutique development of just 26 apartments in the historic market town of Maidenhead.
The town is benefitting from a £1bn regeneration scheme and is just 18 minutes to Paddington station so great for London commuters but the area has plenty of employment.
It is part of the M4 “Silicon Corridor” and providess easy access to the M4 by car and other towns in the area. Just 23 minutes by train to London Heathrow airport
Close to a range of highly-rated public and private schools.
It also has good retail shops, leisure facilities, and is surrounded by lovely green countryside.
This development is two buildings with a landscaped communal courtyard in between.
The building has high-speed broadband and an expected energy efficiency rating of B.
All fittings will be high quality with Bosch applicances.
- Two studio apartments (43 sqm) from £235,000
- 23 one-bed apartments from £252,500
- one two-bed apartment at £412,500
- Communal courtyard garden
- 999 year lease
- Reservation fee of £2,000 (offset against purchase price)
- 10% deposit payable on exchange
- Completion due Q4 of 2023, poss October if weather is good
Mortgages are available and for most expats a realistic maximum amount is 65% of the purchase price.
Get in touch for more information.
The Neighbourhood – Beeston, Nottingham launch 03/03/23
This a brand new development in the suburb of Beeston, just three miles from the centre of Nottingham. It will be a gated community with seven townhouses and 80 apartments, one, two and three bedroom.
Nottingham has excellent infrastructure and three universities – University of Nottingham, Nottingham Trent and the Nottingham campus of the University of Law.
It hosts the highest concentration of higher education providers in the East Midlands.
As well as an interesting history (Robin Hood, the centre of lacemaking, the world’s oldest professional football club – Notts County); it is the home of Boots (the chemist), Pedigree Petfoods, Experian, Gala Bingo, Speedo, Siemens, Vision Express, Specsavers and the Games Workshop.
For a relatively small city, it punches above its weight and there is plenty of employment. That makes it a good place to invest as there is a huge undersupply of quality rental property, the type desired by young professionals.
- Prices from £169,995 to £199,995
- Reservation deposit of 5%
- Legal fee of £995
- Estimated rental yields of up to 6%
- High quality specifications
- Completion due Q4 2024
As well as an option to buy in the usual way, there is a facilty to secure the purchase price now and pay the deposit over a period of months until the completion date. In the majority of cases you need to find a deposit of 30% plus costs but this is something different.
After paying the reservation deposit of 5%, you can pay the remaining deposit of 25% over a period of 18 months. For example, it you reserve a one-bed apartment at £169,995, you would pay around £2,360 a month.
This will be affordable for many expats and preferable to waiting for 18 months until they have built up a cash deposit, at which time purchase prices are likely to have increased.
If this is of interest to you, get in touch to find out more.
I have a couple of similar options in Norfolk and Birmingham. These have higher price points but a longer payment period.
Langford Tower – Sheffield launch 16/02/23
An exciting new offering in a fast-growing city and this one is right in the city centre of Sheffield. The local economy has almost doubled in size in the past two decades and looks to get even stronger with many major employers in the area, as well as two excellent universities.
At at 20th March – just 18 units left so don’t delay!
Langford Tower has been fully refurbished to meet the latest safety standards and while there are 169 apartments in this 24 story building, we expect a great deal of interest.
There is a shortage of quality apartment in the centre of the city and a buoyant employment markets means many professionals are seeking exactly this type of well-positioned property to rent.
There are great transport links, an excellent tram service, and it is near to two parks as well as good shopping, restaurants and bars.
- 13 Studios starting from £142,500 (just two left as at 27/02/23)
- 73 one-bed apartments starting from £152,500 (just 19 available as at 27/02/23)
- 11 two-bed apartments starting from £249,5950 (all sold as at 27/02/23)
- 999 year lease
- No ground rent
- Expected completion Q1 2024
- Reservation fee of just £2,500
- Deposit of 20% on exchange, a month or so after reservation
These days studio apartment are not what you might think and are not just one room. The building is round and there are lots of variation in the layouts but this is an example of a studio apartment.
The sizes vary a little with the smallest being some 380 sq ft. The two bed apartment go up to 850 sq ft.
Every apartment has high quality kitchen and bathrooms, as well carpeting in bedrooms and durable wood-look flooring in the living and kitchen areas. The kitchen will include Bosch (or similar) main appliances.
The lower two floors will be given over to communal areas for all tenants, with a working area (with quiet areas and meeting rooms) and a relaxing area with sofas, games tables, as well as aconcierge service.
Mortgages are available and for most expats a realistic maximum amount is 65% of the purchase price.
The Bailey – Manchester launch 19/01/23
See the section on Excelsior Works below for why Manchester is such a good place to buy investment property right now. PLUS developer is offering a rental guarantee of 5.5%
Our latest offering is The Bailey, also in the centre of Manchester and just a mile from the main universities.
This building is being fully refurbished to the latest H&S specifications, with brand new fixtures and fittings throughout.
All apartments are bright and airy with Juliette balconies.
This is a sensible purhase for anyone looking to make money over the medium and long-term. The prices are competitive for the area and it is guaranteed to be popular with tenants.
A copy of the live presentation on 19/01/23 is available upon request.
- 104 apartments in the building
- Just one 1-bed at £237,450 (635 sq ft)
- 102 2-beds from £249, 950 up to £314,950 (624-872 sq ft)
- 86 parking spaces
- Reservation fee of £2,500 (refunded on completion)
- 20% payable on exchange
- Completion due on 1st November 2023
- Offer of £1,000 towards legal fees
The developer is offering a rental guarantee of a minimum of 5.5% on this property.
Get in touch for more information.
Transport Works – West Bromwich
A brand new launch of a very competitively priced development in West Bromich, just 14 minutes by tram from Birmingham city centre.
This is a real ‘pocket of value’ and with all the investment and redevelopment in the area, this is an opportunity to get in early. There is a distinct shortage of this type of quality property in the area.
- Studios £118-135,000 *these are large with a dividing wall, so pretty much a 1 bed
- 1 beds £137-154,000
- 2 beds £177 – 204,000 The upper floors have duplex 2 bed apts
- 99 year lease
- No ground rent
- Reservation fee of £5,000
- Deposit of 20% (less reservation fee)
- Completion due September 2023
- Estmated yield of 6%. That’s a realistic figure as we won’t upsell
- Boutique development of just 45 apartments
This is an opportunity to buy into a good value development just outside of the UK’s second largest city. There are large number of overseas students and young professionals in need to quality rental property and there is even a linked rental and full management facility if required. That makes it minimum hassle for overseas investors.
The area has recently undergone a major transformation with its New Square development, a £200m investment injection into the town centre providing modern shopping and leisure facilities for West Bromwich. Additionally, there is a 20-year masterplan approved by Sandwell Council which will result in retail diversification, land acquisition and cycling provision for the area – making it an even more desirable residential location and backing up the strong growth forecasts for the area (15.9% growth over the next four years) by Savills.
London – Greenwich
This is a superb development in zone 2, right by Blackheath Common. We are offering apartments in the sixth and final phase of the materplan.
The area has great accessibility with several stations nearby. Just 11 minutes to Waterloo or London Bridge, 9 minutes to Liverpool Street, 15 minutes to the West End. Cycle friendly too and easy access to the City for the young professionals who are the perfect tenants.
A choice of studios, one and two bed aparments but these studios are really big at 477 sqft, with separate bedroom areas that can easily be partitioned.
Click to enlarge this image to see prices and sizes. Ask me for details of floor plans.
Some parking spaces are available as an extra with the two bedroom apartments but few people in this area will have cars as they are just not needed with the great public transport options.
Benefits include
- 999 year leave
- NHBC warranty
- Energy efficient
- Low service charge ane peppercorn ground rent
- Just six floors in the building
- Concierge service, gym, tennis court and residents lounge/co-working space
- All apartments have generous balconies
- Floor to ceiling windows and greenery on all sides
The area has been a good amount of regeneration and has excellent potential.
Get in touch for more information.
NEW LAUNCH! – Brighton & Hove
One, two and three bed apartments in Hove. Prices from £362,450. Yields up to 7.7%. 999 year lease. High spec. Deposit of 20% required.
York – a new launch in the historic city of York. It’s a beautiful city and property tends to hold its value well here. Due to the number of visitors, this would be a great investment if you offer short-term lets.
A development of 62 stylish apartments over five stories, I expect this to be popular. Prices start at £271,723.
The building has a fully-equipped gym, a concierge service, smart technology in every apartment, and landscaped communal roof terrace.
Not far from the centre, this development is ideal as a long-term rental proposition but will also work well for shorter-term lets and if you decide to do that, we estimate rental yields could reach over 13%.
Manchester – a city centre development with completion dates from August of this year so ideal if you want to start earning quickly.
More info here: UK property investment with completion August 2022
I can send you a copy of the presentation upon request.
Manchester is a vibrant city, and is deservedly popular with both residents and investors. There is a shortage of quality rental property, the city has been undergoing regeneration, and it has a student retention rate of 70%, the highest in the UK. These graduates are your ideal tenants.
Super high-quality apartments which are large at 799 sqft. Rental yields of around 6% and prices from £328,000 up to £370,000.
We also have other developments in Manchester and this is a great place to be looking for investment right now.
Supply and demand is a cornerstone of economics and the reality is that across much of the UK, property demand exceeds supply. That is not going to change overnight; indeed it won’t change for years in some areas.
This article in The Guardian that shows that Manchester, and around, is the place to invest in property.
The Guardian 14/07/22 Private rents in UK reach record highs with 20% rises in Manchester
Burton-on-Trent – Just a few units left in this low-cost but good value development
28/11/22 Offer – free legal fees for a limited period
Launched 29th June, this is a stylish conversion which will complete in February/March 2023.
- Studio apartments £78,222
- One bedroom apartments £143,000
- Two bedroom apartments £158,000
Yields of 7% pa . 999 year leases.
Burton-on-Trent is a lovely green area and a short commute to Derby, Nottingham and Birmingham.
Check out the video for more and get in touch to reserve your new property without delay.
This was from a while ago and it is well underway and looking good. Up to date images available upon request.
Bolton – sold out within a couple of weeks. (Two units back on market so ask for details)
Units all rented to the NHS so a ‘guaranteed’ income makes this very attractive.
Hull – A boutique development twith few units left A lovely conversion of a brick brewery and just 31 units, priced from £119,000 for a studio, £153,000 for a one-bed and from £198,000 for a two-bed apartment.
Completion is due in May 2023 and just 15% required on exchange of contracts.
Hull has come on in leaps and bounds in recent years and in 2018 was named Most Improved City. There is a massive undersupply of housing and there is a strong investment case for buying here.
Preston – Just two units left
Just a handful of properties left in this stylish development. Very attractively priced from just £205,000 for a two-bed apartment.
Completion due in Q3 2023.
Birmingham – a stylish development by the canal as part of a regeneration project. Birmingham has really changed in recent years. Just 80 units, all super stylish and including Poggenpohl kitchens. One, two and three bed units, all of which are large and no two are quite the same, with completion due in Q2, 2023.
These are very high-end so started at £284,950 but with high expected yields. Current availability from £304,950.
We have a number of developments in Birmingham so ask or more.
Non-UK property investment
We often have developments in Germany and in the USA (Florida) so if these are of interest, please contact me for information.
Tax planning for UK property ownership
There are several advantages in owning a property via a limited company but in the past many were negated by the cost of setting up and managing it, as well as the hassle, but I can introduce you to a great company that arranged structures to asist with your long-term tax planning.
Due to taxes on change of ownership (same as buying and selling UK property), this is not usually a viable option for existing owned properties, but if you are considering buying in the UK, or have only exchanged contracts, this may be ideal for you.
To arrange a discussion about investing in property, or on any aspect of your personal financial planning, please email me at keren@holbornassets.com I run my own set-up under the Holborn Assets umbrella.
This is part of the holistic personal financial planning service and that I provide to expats, and the general consumer, financial and legal information that I provide in The National newspaper, on radio, and on the Facebook group British Expats Dubai.
Please take a look at the other useful articles on this website.
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