Property investment stats for Manchester, North West

• The combination of a young, highly educated population and a student base in the 98th percentile helps keep rental demand strong, supporting 6.8% yields.
• Properties in Manchester sell quickly, with homes spending just 36 days on the market and no median discount (£0 (the typical achieved discount)), which bodes well for liquidity.
• There is a large private rented sector (in the 93rd percentile), making it easier to find tenants and maintain occupancy.

• The unemployment rate is in the 98th percentile, which could affect tenant stability and rent collection.
• Owner-occupation is low (in the 8th percentile), which may mean less market stability and more reliance on the rental sector.
• The high proportion of social rented housing (88th percentile) could indicate pockets of deprivation and affect local capital values.

Manchester’s outlook remains positive, especially for investors focused on rental income and younger tenants. The city’s affordability, with a price-to-income ratio of 5.3 and a rent-to-income ratio of 33.4%, is relatively favourable compared to other major British cities. Capital growth has been steady, with a 1-year change of 1.6% and a 3-year annualised growth rate of 2.8%.

Given the high sales volumes (3,856) and the speed at which homes sell, I expect demand to stay robust over the next year. While the high unemployment rate is worth watching, the city’s fundamentals and strong rental yields should keep investor interest high.