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Investing in property let in Manchester is popular for first time landlords and those with a more established portfolio. This is due to the city’s reputation for high rental yields, strong demand from tenants and an expectation that in the heart of the northern powerhouse project will prove to be effective for an already thriving city economy.
Manchester is home to one of Europe’s biggest student populations, a high number of young professionals and families, with a variety of potential renters which is grown on an annual basis. More than a quarter of the homes in the city are rented, the highest amount in the UK. The growth of the market and landlord yields are expanding at a faster rate in Manchester than London.
In the months following the Brexit vote, Manchester’s rental market showed no sign of slowing down, however it’s important to remember that the longer-term impact of the UK’s decision to leave the European Union may affect property prices, yields, availability of mortgages and the expected growth of the market. That being said, it remains an extremely popular buy to let location.
Buy to let in Manchester: High Rental and strong demand in a Northern Powerhouse.
Manchester is a prime location on the buy to let investor map, mainly as it was named the UK’s best buy to let hot spot by HSBC in 2015, the city has an impressive list of statistics that have helped it secure that position.
Although the buy to let investment market has been shaken by the UK’s decision to leave the European Union back in June 2016 and is awaiting the long-term aspects to Brexit, Manchester is cushioned by several factors.
The city was at the forefront to the Governments Northern Powerhouse project which is still the case to this day. The UK powerhouse report by solicitors Irwin Mitchell found that the city had the fastest growing output over any city in the Q2 of 2016, beating central London.
The foundations of Manchester’s healthy performance and the demand for rental properties is its attractiveness as a business location. In addition, the creation of the BBC’s MediaCity and relocation of many services from London, Manchester now has a vibrant economy driven by services, digital, creative and culture. Additionally, it’s the home to the HQ of businesses such as Thomas Cook, Co-op and has offices for companies such as Google, Siemens and AstraZeneca. One million plus people work within Manchester.
Manchester has three universities meaning the city has a huge demand for student accommodation with around 75,000 extra residents during the academic year. These numbers increase yearly. It’s estimated that the city has 60% more 25-29-year olds than the national average, this is a key demographic which today expects to rent rather than buy.
More than 25% of properties in the city are now rented, more than anywhere else in the UK. A rental growth 13 times faster than London, yields standing at around 6% which is showing that Manchester is proving to be a hot spot for buy to let investors.
In 2015, HSBC named Manchester the UK’s buy to let hot spot. Locations close to the Metrolink tram service which can take young professionals quickly into the city centre and are areas of potential growth according to Assetz property investment.
Homes to rent near the BBC’s MediaCity development in Salford are also in high demand from staff and students are always seeking accommodation close by to university. Manchester based business BuyAssociations research ranks the city’s best rental hot spots according to postcodes:
Today’s generation rent expects to be a tenant in a way previous generation who were brought up on the idea of buying their own home, did not. Now, due to higher house prices and large deposits required getting the property ladder is much harder than it once was.
Renters of today’s market are of all ages and backgrounds, from students, young professionals to overseas executives, growing families and even retired couples who have downsized from there family home. Demand for rented accommodation is outstripping supply.
Different tenants have different needs, both regarding suitable properties and locations. Students are normally happy with cheaper, more functional properties near to their place of study whilst families wish to have decent housing near schools and amenities. Young professionals and executives look for apartments close to the city centre with accessible transport links. Retired tenants tend to prefer smaller well-equipped apartments or housing near to shops and restaurants.
Properties near the Metrolink tram system are high demand. Nationwide reported that in 2015 house buyers in Manchester would pay 4.6% more for properties within 500m of a tram station. Likewise, rented accommodation near the system can be rented out for higher prices.
£1.5 billion has been invested in improvements to the Metrolink, adding 57 stops and tripling the network’s size. The work was completed in 2017 and adds new areas to the location which will be in demand by tenants. This could include properties which require work, a point making them cheaper to buy, but if they are well located investors will boost returns in the long run.
Manchester has more rented properties than anywhere else in the UK with around 25% of the homes in the city let to tenants. The current rate of rental growth is 13 times faster than London and landlords can make an average rental yield of around 6%.
Manchester Northern Powerhouse status means people will be attracted to live and work in Manchester, increasing the demand for rented accommodation.
As home to one of the biggest student populations in Europe and two large universities in the country there is continuous demand for student accommodation.
Recent research by the Manchester Evening News makes for positive reading if you’re looking to buy property to let in the city. It found that;
It’s important to remember that the rates of return must also consider services you’re responsible for, such as property maintenance, tax on property investments and the cost of employing an agency to market and let your property. Also, important to remember that properties sometimes are vacant and aren’t earning whilst you’re seeking tenants. Normally landlords work on the expectation that a property will be empty for two months of the year when forecasting their annual rate of return.
When applied to Manchester, yields average 6% but as always with property, location is key. LendInvest estimates that rental yields in popular areas of the north west of the city are some of the best and at 6.8% they come in well above the cities average.
There’s no hiding the fact as the most profitable place for buy to let landlords in England and Wales, Manchester offers particularly good returns. It was named as the UK’s buy to let hot spot in 2015 by HSBC for good reason. Landlords in the city can expect high yields from their properties in this popular Northern City and the future remains a positive one.
Download a copy of our Manchester buying guide.
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