Kent: the right track for investors – The Property Chronicle
Select your region of interest:

Real estate, alternative real assets and other diversions

Kent: the right track for investors A look at the opportunities available in Ashford and Folkstone

Residential Investor

With stamp duty rates crippling the London residential market, many investors have naturally been looking to areas further afield. A lot of articles in the press have focused on regional opportunities as investors seek cheaper areas to expand their portfolios, often enticed by the attractive yields on offer.

I have recently read about the positives of both Burnley and Middlesbrough and towns like these, after several years of stagnating or falling prices, are certainly benefiting from recent capital growth. However, I would advise investors to stay well clear if they are after longer term capital and rental growth. The quality of tenants in these locations is to put it politely, mixed, so voids and rent collection issues become a major focus. These towns are often de-populating with a large oversupply of property. The low base rents too mean your gross to net yield received can shrink rapidly. Landlords have the same statutory obligations whether your property in Chelsea or Cleethorpes – essential repairs have to be done, the boiler has to be replaced/serviced etc. So if your rent received is £10,000 per annum, you can cover these comfortably costs, but if your income is only £3,000 per annum your attractive headline yield can fall or even go negative quite rapidly.

An investor’s essential wishlist comprises the following: a regenerating/improving area leading to stronger demand and increased tenant quality. This in turn results in sustained capital and rental growth.

People ask me where they can invest that ticks all of the above, yet somewhere that is less expensive and more stamp duty friendly than London. I say Kent, and more specifically, certain the towns below served by the High Speed 1 (HS1) connection. I have focused on this aspect in previous articles where major infrastructure changes boosts areas – the Jubilee line and Elizabeth Line in London both spring to mind.

On a personal level, I have been investing here over a number of years and plan to continue to do so.






Residential Investor

About Ben Keating

Ben Keating

Ben Keating is a Land Economy graduate from the University of Cambridge. Since qualifying as a Chartered Surveyor in 1995, his career has been totally focused in residential property investment and development. He has personally overseen several billion pounds worth of global property investments for some of the world's wealthiest families. He is now concentrated on overseeing his personal residential property portfolio. This is predominantly located in central and inner London, but has expanded into the South East commuter belt over recent years.

Articles by Ben Keating

Subscribe to our magazine now!

SUBSCRIBE

Our Partners