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Property investment stats for Old Kent Road Area, London

A complete guide to property investment in Old Kent Road Area.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Old Kent Road stands out for its strong rental market, driven by a large student and young professional population. The area is defined by a mix of private and social rented housing, with owner-occupation unusually low even by London standards. Affordability is stretched, but that's typical for London, with a price-to-income ratio of 7.6 and a rent-to-income ratio of 44.7%. The median price per square foot is £618 per sq ft, and recent asking prices include £775,000 for a 3-bedroom house and £550,000 for a 2-bedroom flat.

Rental yields are a highlight, with a strong average of 6.2% and the top postcode district yielding 6.1%. However, capital growth has not kept pace, with 1-year growth at 0.5% and an annualised 3-year figure of -4.6%.

Image of Old Kent Road Area, London

Key investment stats for Old Kent Road Area

Median price per sq ft

£618 / sq ft

Average rental yield

6.2%

Capital growth (1y)

0.5%

Sales in past year

194

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

Live property stats in Old Kent Road Area

Live prices in Old Kent Road Area, London

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£475,000

25% of properties below...

£325,000

75% of properties below...

£649,984

Most expensive property

£2,000,000

Live listings

266

Median days on market

41

Should you invest in Old Kent Road Area?

Opportunities

  • The large population of students and young professionals creates consistent rental demand, supporting strong rental yields of 6.2%.
  • High levels of private renting (in the 78th percentile) and social renting (in the 99th percentile) mean there is a well-established rental market, ideal for buy-to-let investors.
  • Properties are moving reasonably quickly, with an average days on market of 41 days, which helps with liquidity.

Risks

  • Capital appreciation has been weak, with 1-year growth of 0.5% and an annualised 3-year rate of -4.6%, so investors should not expect quick gains.
  • Affordability is a challenge, with a price-to-income ratio of 7.6 and a rent-to-income ratio of 44.7%, which may limit future price growth or push renters to look elsewhere.
  • The area has a high unemployment rate (in the 99th percentile), which could add risk to rental income stability.

Outlook

Looking ahead, Old Kent Road is likely to remain a magnet for renters, especially younger people and students, given its demographic profile and established rental market. The strong average rental yield of 6.2% should continue to appeal to income-focused investors, even if capital growth remains subdued.

There is little sign that affordability will improve significantly, given the price-to-income ratio of 7.6 and the rent-to-income ratio of 44.7%, but this is par for the course in this part of London. Liquidity looks solid, with a median days on market of 41 days and a steady flow of transactions (annual sales of 194).

For investors who value stable rental income over rapid capital gains, Old Kent Road offers a compelling case. The long-term appeal is underpinned by London's resilience and the area's strong rental fundamentals.

Live properties in Old Kent Road Area

Investment properties in Old Kent Road Area, London

3 bedroom apartment for sale
46% below median price

£350,000 - Guide Price

3 bedroom apartment for sale

New Cross Road, London, SE14

Properties needing refurbishment in Old Kent Road Area, London
Needs Refurb
1 bedroom apartment for sale
On market for 170 days

£325,000

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Hillery Close, London

Slow to sell properties in Old Kent Road Area, London
Slow to Sell
Studio flat for sale
Reduced by 13%

£200,000

Studio flat for sale

Oxley Close, Bermondsey

Big price drop properties in Old Kent Road Area, London
Big Price Drop
2 bedroom flat for sale
70% below median price

£350,000 - Offers in Excess of

2 bedroom flat for sale

Rowcross Street, Bermondsey, London...

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Old Kent Road Area, London
Low Price per Sq Ft

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Balanced market

Discounts exist, but they won't transform deal economics on their own.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £10,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £17,500 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £33,400 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 2.0%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 3.9%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 5.8%

Best places to invest in Old Kent Road Area

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1SE176.1%6.5%£854 / sq ft
2SE146.1%-1.2%£628 / sq ft
3SE155.6%1.0%£693 / sq ft
4SE15.3%-2.0%£846 / 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.