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Property investment stats for Lightwater, South East

A complete guide to property investment in Lightwater.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Lightwater is a quintessential commuter village with a property market that leans heavily towards owner-occupation, sitting in the 98th percentile for this metric. The area is dominated by couples and older residents, with the population aged 60 and over in the 88th percentile and couples in the 82nd percentile, which shapes demand for larger homes. The current median asking sale price for a three-bedroom house is £650,000, while the median rent for the same is £2,000. For flats, the median asking price for a two-bedroom is £299,950, with rents at £1,625. Affordability is better than many South East hotspots, with a price-to-income ratio of 6.1 and a rent-to-income ratio of 26.9%.

Image of Lightwater, South East

Key investment stats for Lightwater

Median price per sq ft

£480 / sq ft

Average rental yield

3.6%

Capital growth (1y)

3.3%

Sales in past year

122

* Property stats calculated for last full calendar year (2024).

Live property stats in Lightwater

Live prices in Lightwater, South East

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£674,975

25% of properties below...

£500,000

75% of properties below...

£818,750

Most expensive property

£2,650,000

Live listings

52

Median days on market

47

Should you invest in Lightwater?

Opportunities

  • The area has seen solid capital growth, with a one-year increase of 3.3% and a three-year rise of 9.0%, suggesting stable long-term appreciation.
  • Liquidity is reasonable, as properties spend an average of 47 days on the market and there were 122 transactions last year, so investors can expect a decent pace of sales.
  • Owner-occupation is high and the professional and manager population is in the 83rd percentile, which means a stable, affluent tenant or buyer base for the right property.

Risks

  • The average rental yield is 3.6%, which is modest for the South East and may not appeal to investors seeking high income.
  • The private rented sector is in the 13th percentile, so rental demand may be limited compared to more urban or student-heavy areas.
  • The population skews older and towards couples, so demand for smaller flats or student lets will likely be muted.

Outlook

Lightwater's property market looks set to remain steady, with continued appeal for families and older buyers. The area’s strong owner-occupier base and high proportion of professionals support ongoing demand, though the low private rental sector suggests limited growth for buy-to-let investors. The median achieved price is currently £10,000 (the typical achieved discount) below asking, which could offer buyers some negotiation room if this trend continues.

Given the 2.9% annualised growth over three years and the relatively affordable price-to-income ratio, I expect Lightwater to continue attracting buyers looking for stability rather than fast gains. Rental yields are unlikely to surge, but capital values should hold up well. Investors after income may want to look elsewhere, but those seeking a safe haven for capital in a mature, settled community will find Lightwater an appealing option.

Live properties in Lightwater

Investment properties in Lightwater, South East

5 bedroom detached house for sale
38% below median price

£975,000 - Guide Price

5 bedroom detached house for sale

Ambleside Road, Lightwater, Surrey,...

Properties needing refurbishment in Lightwater, South East
Needs Refurb
4 bedroom detached house for sale
On market for 170 days

£800,000 - Offers in Excess of

4 bedroom detached house for sale

Lightwater, Surrey, GU18

Slow to sell properties in Lightwater, South East
Slow to Sell
4 bedroom terraced house for sale
Reduced by 14%

£450,000 - Offers in Excess of

4 bedroom terraced house for sale

Corbett Drive, Lightwater, Surrey, ...

Big price drop properties in Lightwater, South East
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom detached house for sale
1,425 sq ft

£650,000 - Guide Price

4 bedroom detached house for sale

Turnville Close, Lightwater, Surrey...

Properties with planning granted in Lightwater, South East
Planning Granted
1 bedroom retirement property for sale
36% below median price

£180,000 - Guide Price

1 bedroom retirement property for sale

Guildford Road, Lightwater, Surrey,...

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Lightwater, South East
Low Price per Sq Ft

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Balanced market

Typical discounts are limited but real — expect to achieve a reduction off asking.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £10,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £15,000 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £28,150 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 2.4%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 3.2%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 3.8%

Best places to invest in Lightwater

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1GU183.6%2.8%£480 / sq ft

Data sources

GeoGlider calculates property investment stats by blending official and proprietary datasets. Here's a quick overview of key sources and how we use them:

  • HM Land Registry: Property transaction and sold-price records for England & Wales used to calculate historical capital growth, price levels and comparables.

  • Office for National Statistics (ONS): Demographic and economic indicators for the UK, including Census 2021, supporting area profiling and market context.

  • Ordnance Survey: Authoritative UK geospatial data powering accurate boundaries, roads and terrain for mapping and spatial analysis.

  • GeoProp: Our proprietary AI pipeline that processes millions of property listings to extract rich features and live market signals.

  • Department for Levelling Up, Housing & Communities: Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) scores and property floor areas.

  • HM Revenue & Customs (HMRC): Household income and employment data to understand local affordability and economic conditions.

Data is updated continuously, matched across sources and rigorously validated.