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Property investment stats for Portsmouth, South East

A complete guide to property investment in Portsmouth.

Last updated: 18 September 2025

Investment summary

Portsmouth offers a dynamic market with a high proportion of private rented housing, a strong student presence and a significant population in their twenties. The area’s affordability is notable, with a price-to-income ratio of 4.9, making it accessible compared to many parts of the South East. Rental yields are robust, standing at 6.5%, and the top performing district delivers an even higher yield of 7.2%.

Demand appears healthy, as properties spend a median of 61 days on the market, and annual sales are at 2,483. However, capital growth over the past year has changed by -0.6%, suggesting a period of price adjustment following multi-year gains.

Image of Portsmouth, South East

Key investment stats for Portsmouth

Median price per sq ft

£299 / sq ft

Average rental yield

6.5%

Capital growth (1y)

-0.6%

Sales in past year

2,483

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

Live property stats in Portsmouth

Live prices in Portsmouth, South East

* Extreme prices clipped for legibility

Properties for sale

Median price

£285,000

25% of properties below...

£205,000

75% of properties below...

£400,000

Most expensive property

£4,950,000

Live listings

1,774

Median days on market

61

Should you invest in Portsmouth?

Opportunities

  • The strong rental yield of 6.5% is attractive, especially given the high student and young professional population.
  • The median discount of £5,000 (the typical achieved discount) on sales offers scope for negotiation and potential value buys.
  • The top postcode district achieves a rental yield of 7.2%, which stands out even in a city already known for strong returns.

Risks

  • Capital growth over the last year has changed by -0.6%, indicating limited short-term appreciation.
  • The high unemployment rate, in the 83rd percentile, could affect tenant stability and demand in some segments.
  • A large student population (95th percentile) means some areas may be more exposed to shifts in university intake or policy changes affecting student lets.

Outlook

Rental demand looks set to remain strong, driven by the city’s youthful demographic and the high proportion of private renters. Investors can expect steady income streams, especially in areas with yields close to 7.2%.

While recent capital growth has changed by -0.6%, the three-year annualised figure of 2.8% suggests longer-term stability. With a median price per square foot of £299 per sq ft, affordability is reasonable for the region. Liquidity is supported by annual sales of 2,483 and a median time on market of 61 days, so investors should be able to transact without undue delay.

Live properties in Portsmouth

Investment properties in Portsmouth, South East

2 bedroom flat for sale
45% below median price

£169,950

2 bedroom flat for sale

Havant Road, Drayton

Properties needing refurbishment in Portsmouth, South East
Needs Refurb
1 bedroom apartment for sale
21% below median price

£120,000

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Eastern Villas Road, Southsea, Hamp...

Priced to sell properties in Portsmouth, South East
Priced to Sell
1 bedroom apartment for sale
On market for 176 days

£160,000

1 bedroom apartment for sale

Victoria Grove, Southsea, Hampshire

Slow to sell properties in Portsmouth, South East
Slow to Sell
4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale
Reduced by 20%

£1,000,000

4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

Queens Crescent, Southsea

Big price drop properties in Portsmouth, South East
Big Price Drop
4 bedroom terraced house for sale
High yield opportunity

£220,000 - Offers Over

4 bedroom terraced house for sale

Boulton Road, Southsea, Hampshire, ...

HMO properties in Portsmouth, South East
HMO
7 bedroom character property for sale
6,403 sq ft

£2,950,000

7 bedroom character property for sale

Hospital Lane, Portchester, Fareham

Properties with planning granted in Portsmouth, South East
Planning Granted
6 bedroom semi-detached house for sale
57% below median price

£600,000 - Guide Price

6 bedroom semi-detached house for sale

Merton Road, Southsea

Low price-per-sq-ft properties in Portsmouth, South East
Low Price per Sq Ft
3 bedroom flat for sale
50% below median price

£130,000 - Guide Price

3 bedroom flat for sale

Lumsden Road, SOUTHSEA, Hampshire, ...

Auction properties in Portsmouth, South East
Auction

Achieved vs asking prices

Key takeaway: Balanced market

On average, properties sell slightly below asking; careful comp analysis is key.

Headline stats

• Median discount: £5,000

• 1 in 4 properties sell at > £10,000 below asking

• 1 in 10 properties sell at > £15,000 below asking

In percentage terms:

• Median discount of 1.7%

• 25% of properties discounted by > 3.4%

• 10% of properties discounted by > 5.2%

Best places to invest in Portsmouth

Top postcodes for rental yield and (annualised) capital growth

Rank
Postcode
Yield
Capital growth
Median £/sq ft
1PO17.2%2.2%£274 / sq ft
2PO57.0%1.5%£295 / sq ft
3PO26.4%3.1%£259 / sq ft
4PO46.1%3.1%£304 / sq ft
5PO36.0%3.8%£296 / sq ft
6PO65.7%1.7%£310 / sq ft
7PO165.5%4.0%£359 / 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.