Property investment stats for Hammersmith, West London

• Hammersmith offers strong rental yields of 5.8%, with the top-performing postcode district reaching 5.9%, supported by a young and highly educated tenant pool.
• The area’s high proportion of private renters (in the 94th percentile) and a large student and professional population mean robust and consistent demand for well-located flats and houses.
• Liquidity is reasonable for London, with properties spending an average of 72 days on the market and a median gap of £13,000 (the typical achieved discount) between asking and achieved prices, which suggests room for negotiation.

• Capital growth has been modest, with a 1-year change of -2.4% and annualised 3-year growth of 1.3%, so investors shouldn’t expect rapid appreciation.
• Affordability is stretched, with a price-to-income ratio of 9.9 and rent-to-income at 47.8%, which could limit future price and rent growth.
• The owner-occupier share is low (in the 8th percentile), which can mean a less stable long-term base and more sensitivity to changes in rental demand.

Hammersmith’s fundamentals look steady, if not spectacular, for the next 12 months. Rental demand is likely to remain strong given the area’s appeal to young professionals and students, and yields of 5.8% should continue to attract investors.

However, capital growth prospects remain muted, with the 1-year change at -2.4% and only modest annualised gains over three years. Affordability pressures are unlikely to ease, given the current price-to-income and rent-to-income ratios, so don’t expect a sudden surge in prices.

Overall, I see Hammersmith as a reliable bet for those prioritising rental income and tenant demand over short-term capital gains. It’s a classic London rental market: competitive, resilient, and underpinned by a young, mobile population.