• Wilburn Basin offers investors an average price per sq ft 30% lower than similar developments (Surrenden Invest)
• When complete Wilburn Basin will comprise four distinct blocks varying in height from 8 to 21 storeys (Surrenden Invest)
• Phase one already complete and rented out and the second due this summer (Surrenden Invest)

It was only a short time ago that Manchester’s Wilburn Street Basin was nothing more than a neglected patch of wasteland. However, the area has recently experienced a radical transformation and is now home to a contemporary residential hub.

Surrenden Invest, a property consultancy at the forefront of this movement, believe Manchester’s thriving property market has led to areas outside the city centre undergoing significant redevelopment. Managing Director Jonathan Stephens explains,

“Areas of the city historically seen as outside the core are now providing investors with all the amenities and quality of prime central but at a much lower price point. The Wilburn Basin is the perfect example.

“Falling on the Salford side of the Irwell means that investors are looking at an average price per square foot that is 30% lower than similar developments within a couple of minutes’ walk.”

Wilburn Basin is a brand-new residence situated on the historic River Irwell Basin. It offers an attractive waterside setting to residents in the city centre, within a short walking distance of the central business district and its excellent array of shops and leisure facilities.

When complete Wilburn Basin will be comprised of four distinct blocks varying in height from 8 to 21 storeys which offer fantastic views across the city, setting a new benchmark for combining city centre living with high quality facilities and private amenity space.

Jonathan continues,

“Wilburn Basin is a project investors can go into with complete confidence with the first phase already complete and rented out, and the second phase completing this summer, whilst also benefitting from the experience and build quality of Manchester’s largest developer.

“This is an area earmarked for substantial capital growth and given the location, will be perfectly suited to take advantage of both Media City and the city centre.”

From just £165,000, all apartments are built to a high specification with Porcelanosa kitchens and Villeroy and Boch sanitaryware. Additional facilities include a private gym, cinema room, a ‘boutique’ hotel style reception with 24 hour concierge and a residents’ lounge. As well as architecturally landscaped gardens and courtyard.

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

• Manchester airport becomes first carbon neutral airport in the UK
• From 1^st April 2018 it is unlawful to rent a property with poor energy efficiency rating
• Mason Street uses low-carbon tech to be one of the city’s most energy-efficient properties (Surrenden Invest)

After a decade of striving to significantly reduce its energy usage and investing more than £7.5 million in efficiency projects, Manchester airport has become the first carbon neutral airport in the UK.

By installing more than 25,000 low energy LED lights throughout the airport, including the first on any UK runway, and saving the same amount of energy as used by 10,000 homes each year, Manchester airport has been awarded carbon neutral status (Level 3+), certified by the independent carbon management programme Airport Carbon Accreditation.

Ken O’Toole, CEO of Manchester Airport commented, “At Manchester Airport we are committed to being one of the leading European airports when it comes to environmental management. As an organisation we recognise that climate change is an important global challenge. This achievement demonstrates the lengths we go to ensuring we balance our role as economic generator, alongside caring for the environment.”

And now this sentiment of protecting the local environment through energy efficiency is emerging as essential within the UK property market, and more importantly to its investors. New legislation, due to take effect from 1^st April 2018, will make it unlawful to rent a property with a poor energy efficiency rating.

With properties currently graded from A to G, any property rented out in the private rental sector will require a minimum energy performance rating of E on an Energy Performance Certificate (EPC). However, there are opportunities arising within Manchester city centre that provide energy efficient solutions to investors, making the impending legislation a redundant worry.

Property consultancy Surrenden Invest’s most recent development in the heart of Manchester, Mason Street, uses modern low-carbon technology to ensure the building is one of the city’s most energy-efficient.

Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of Surrenden Invest, comments,

“This expected change to legislation for buy-to-let landlords will cause savvy investors to seek out opportunities that already meet the new requirements, a future-proof investment. With a Band A energy efficiency rating, Mason Street is win-win, allowing investors to benefit in terms of enhanced rental yield and a “future-proof” investment and ultimately its residents to profit from significantly lower running costs.”

Located in the historic New Cross neighbourhood and just a short walk from the Northern Quarter, Mason Street will provide a new lease of life for one of Manchester’s heritage buildings as it is transformed into luxury, contemporary living spaces.

This modern, low-carbon property will host 10 high end apartments from £170,000, with a 2 year guaranteed net rental return of 6%.

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

• Manchester properties on the market for just 60 minutes before being let (Purplebricks)
• Surrenden Invest experience influx of overseas investors during latest sterling slump
• Artillery House epitomises the luxury development that investors are keen to profit from and tenants are keen to rent (Surrenden Invest)

Manchester continues to lead the Northern Powerhouse as the strength of its housing market builds. As one of the UK’s thriving second cities, Manchester has become an investment honeypot for more and more domestic buyers and those from overseas.

Demand for high quality property stock in Manchester is rising rapidly and competition is fierce, with online estate agent Purplebricks revealing that properties in the city have been on the market for only 60 minutes before being let.

And this fast-paced market promises to advance on a positive trajectory, with the Greater Manchester Housing Investment Fund announcing plans this month for more than £20 million in loans to support the development of new housing in the city.

Combine this with a significant slump in the value of sterling over the last few days and Manchester’s market quickly becomes the picture-perfect environment for foreign investors looking to the UK.

Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of leading property consultancy Surrenden Invest, has certainly witnessed this growth in overseas buyers looking to Manchester for their ideal investment.

He explains,

“Here at Surrenden Invest we have already seen an influx of overseas buyers over the last nine months, with enquiry levels going through the roof when the pound falters, a perfect example being last Friday’s ‘flash crash’. Overseas buyers who may have been sitting on the fence are presented with a window of opportunity to exploit a volatile sterling.

“Our international investors are especially prevalent in Northern UK cities such as Manchester, where rental yields far exceed that of their South Eastern counterparts. And that, combined with a lower entry point and strong market fundamentals, will further drive the sales of new build developments in the North as the market opens itself not just to portfolio buyers but one-time investors looking to cash in on the current exchange rate.”

Surrenden Invest’s most recent addition to its Manchester’s portfolio is Artillery House. Situated in a prime position in the heart of the city, Artillery House epitomises the kind of modern, luxury development that investors are keen to profit from and tenants are keen to rent.

The low-carbon technology, boutique development in Manchester’s ‘Golden Triangle’ boasts 12 high end apartments from £120,000, with assured returns of 7.5% NET. To discover more about Artillery House, please visit the following link https://vimeo.com/178165870.

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.

• Investors abandon institutional investment products for more favourable returns on capital (Surrenden Invest)
• We have seen an influx of inexperienced investors who have never considered property for investment before, one time investors (Surrenden Invest)
• Buy in the best areas and don’t compromise on location, especially when buying outside of the Capital (Surrenden Invest)

This summer, savers across the country witnessed the Bank of England cut UK interest rates to a record low of 0.25%. Will this cause a shift in how people are planning to invest in the near future?

Jonathan Stephens, Managing Director of property consultancy Surrenden Invest, believes the move towards alternative investment opportunities has already begun. He explains,

“With interest rates at their lowest since the Bank of England was founded in 1964, investors are abandoning institutional investment products for others that offer more favourable returns on capital. Just last week I received a letter from my bank informing me that my personal current account would no longer attract interest, the letter then when on to say that my savings accounts would also be subject to review next month. So the big question savers face is where to invest their hard earned cash?”

However, for many this change will mean venturing into unknown territory which can be unnerving for those wanting to make the best decision for their future finances. With the property market not faltering as predicted post Brexit, investors are looking to the buy-to-let landscape for a chance to make to most of their money.

Jonathan continues,

“We have seen a huge influx of relatively inexperienced investors who in most cases have never considered property for investment before. These clients are what we call ‘one time’ investors who, in contrast to our large portfolio clients, are unlikely to be in a position to invest the same levels of capital again. These investors are looking for a one-time opportunity to get into property to secure their financial future.

“My advice is to tread very carefully as there are companies currently exploiting market conditions, promising colossal returns over a relatively short period of time and these are mainly what we refer to as alternative forms of property investment.

“In my experience the best property investments are the simplest ones, if it isn’t broken don’t fix it. So why invest in something which is trying to re-invent the wheel? Our advice is to buy in the best areas and don’t compromise on location, especially when buying outside the Capital.”

Surrenden Invest offer traditional forms of buy-to-let investment across the UK, with stock in the key markets of London, Birmingham, Manchester and Liverpool. They are committed to providing realistic levels of return on their projects.

Jonathan concludes,

“If an investor called us today we would set their expectation at around 6% net rental income and 3%-5% capital growth, with an annualised yield over 5 years upwards of 10% net. Surrenden Invest aims to under promise and over perform; our projections are effectively a worst-case scenario.

“One of the great things about traditional buy-to-lets is their simplicity, therefore it is possible to request all the fixed costs, for example the ground rent, service charge and management fees, and off set those against equivalent apartments currently available to rent on Rightmove or Zoopla. This is a very easy way to find out how realistic the projected returns are.”

For more information, visit www.surrendeninvest.com or contact Surrenden Invest on 0203 3726 499.