Property investment stats for Bow, East London

• The area’s strong rental yields of 6.4% and high demand from students and young professionals make Bow attractive for buy-to-let investors.
• The private rental sector sits in the 87th percentile nationally, offering scope for consistent tenant demand and low void periods.
• Liquidity is relatively good, with properties taking an average of 67 days to sell and achieved prices matching asking prices at £0 (the typical achieved discount).

• Three-year capital growth has changed by -8.3%, with annualised growth over this period at -2.9%, which may concern those seeking short-term capital appreciation.
• Affordability is stretched, with a price-to-income ratio of 6.7 and a rent-to-income ratio of 41.4%, which could limit future price growth or rental increases.
• Owner-occupation is in the 3rd percentile nationally, so the area’s reliance on the rental market could expose investors to regulatory changes or shifts in tenant demand.

Rental demand in Bow is likely to remain robust given the exceptionally high proportion of young adults and professionals, as well as a student population in the 93rd percentile nationally. Investors can expect ongoing competition for rental properties, especially as the private rented sector remains dominant.

While short-term capital appreciation has been modest, the long-term stability of London markets and the area’s appeal to renters underpin its resilience. Asking prices and rents for typical properties remain high relative to incomes, but this is a familiar pattern in London. Over the next twelve months, investors should expect steady rental returns and moderate sales activity, with little sign of dramatic shifts in either direction.