Property investment has been seen by many to be a safe haven for investment through both rental income and capital appreciation and with demand continuing to outstrip supply this trend is set to continue for the foreseeable future.
A combination of population increases, increasingly mobile populations, divorce rates and affordability combined with insufficient volume of new houses being built has resulted in more people renting.
The proportion of households occupied by private renters in England from 2000 to 2025 has nearly doubled, from 10% of households in 2000 to 19% in 2024 (around 4.7 million households).
With the population in England set to increase by 9.9% by 2036 there will continue to be a significant increase in demand for rental accommodation. Currently the demand is such that there are an average of 20 people chasing each rental property with the result that rental prices have continued to rise.
Over the past 50 years UK house prices have seen an incredible increase reaching a staggering 2,534%. In 1974 , the average house price was £10,027 while in 2024, it reached £265,012.
Property investing should NOT be seen as a get rich quick scheme but there is something to be said in investing in ‘bricks and mortar’. Investors can either invest for yield or capital growth or a combination of these. Whether to purchase with cash or a mortgage, in your own name or through a company. All these questions need to be considered carefully. Think also about whether you are going to manage a property yourself or have a company manage it for you. Be aware of the legal requirements of being a landlord. Consider void periods and maintenance costs.
Then you can start to look at where to best invest to give you the returns you are hoping for. It is important to consider the costs and time of any refurbishment and to build this into your figures. If you are not living in the area, you will need a company you can trust to let, manage, and maintain the property for you.
When it comes to property investment, think with your head and not your heart. We can help you through this maze if you are serious about investing in property in England.
Here at Woods, we provide a wide range of property investment services for our clients, including:
We can help you to identify a property in your area which meets demand for the requirements of the market.
Whether that is a property that is on certain bus route, near to local shops, has ample car parking or is nearby leisure facilities – we will perform the searches for you.
We can work directly with vendors or negotiate with estate agents on your behalf to ensure that you pay the best possible price for your property.
From releasing equity in existing property to gaining mortgages, we can help.
We can put you in touch with qualified mortgage brokers who can advise on individual situations as well as recommend appropriate financial advisors to assist you.
We can help you with all aspects of property management. Please visit our property management page for full details on how we can assist you.
When you are ready to sell your property, we can help you with a comprehensive exit strategy to realise any capital gains of the property.
We also have other investors that are on the look out for your property, so we would be well placed to sell your property for you.