Buy-To-Let Property Investment Guide
Whether you’re looking for your first buyto-let property investment or you’re already the landlord of multiple, Bridges are here to support and help you find, manage and grow your property portfolio.
OUR HISTORY
ABOUT US
Bridges has been established in the area since 1991. The founding Directors are still very active in the business. We have the highest profile of any agent locally across our locations and we are well known locally for our eyecatching advertising; our brightly coloured unique heart shaped boards and stand out billboards.
OUR STAFF We boast a team of over 20 Lettings professionals with vast expertise and knowledge of their own specialisms. This allows direct contact at a decisionmaking level to ensure everything is dealt with in a swift, efficient and hassle-free manner.
COMMUNICATION We believe that excellent communication is the key to success, and especially with clients who are managing a portfolio of properties. We recognise that the last thing you need is to have to remember who to speak to about what issue or being passed from pillar to post, so that won’t happen at Bridges. We also believe in having a good rapport so that you know you can rely on us whenever you need us, and this is the support your Team will provide for you.
We have spent years working on our goal of being the best letting and managing agent in the area and are continuously working to improve and develop the service we provide our clients - we have always been seen as a forward thinking agent who work to be the best for not only our business and staff but to also deliver the best for our clients.
OUR ABILITY
Great things happen when Bridges Lettings get involved. Contact us today!
We currently look after over 2000 properties in the local area and we expect this to double in the next 5 years, so we are busy putting the infrastructure in place to allow this to happen. This involves developing our existing teams, providing them with the very best tools, increasing our office space, with an additional office in Farnborough opening in the near future and a reconfiguration of the space in Aldershot completed last year.
WHY INVEST IN THE SURREY AND HAMPSHIRE AREA?
One of the biggest reasons for investing in Surrey and Hampshire buy to let is its proximity to London‌ without actually paying London prices. Historically, as prices have risen in London they’ve rippled out to other towns and cities of the south-east, offering good profits for investors.
All of the areas bridges cover fall within an hour commute to london. Anywhere that is commutable from London can offer investors attractive buy to let returns.
It isn't just about London though... All of Bridges' core areas have successful economies of their own and many internationally-significant businesses offering highly paid jobs that support the housing market. Key industries in the GU area include IT, aviation, healthcare, high tech engineering and aerospace. Due to the easy commute and with more businesses locating outside the city the demand for property has never been higher. Property developers are making the most of the opportunity for growth with lots of new local developments and this opens up prime investment opportunities.
Professionals, families and first time buyers are flocking to our area due to increased job opportunity, affordable living, lifestyle and of course the easy commute. Property prices in our areas have seen growth and as a result achieve excellent rental yields, it is expected to see similar growth over the coming years especially with an increase of people moving out of the city as a result of the effects of Covid 19.
Rental Yield
Renters
Affordability
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR PROPERTY INVESTORS??
WHY TRUST US?
OUR EXTENSIVE EXPERIENCE OF THE LOCAL BUY-TO-LET MARKETS MEANS WE ARE THE PERFECT AGENT TO HELP WITH YOUR PORTFOLIO We will work alongside our residential sales team to make sure you chose the right properties. We can connect you with a wide range of renowned experts in the legal and financial fields, to ensure you get the right advice and make informed decisions. Our lettings and property management teams are members of ARLA. We have teams based in each Bridges location to make sure they are knowledgable of the local market. We are opening additional lettings offices in Farnborough and Camberley, where we already work with our colleagues in residential sales and hold substantial market shares but require more space for our successful growing teams.
STYLISH, ENVIRONMENTALLY FRIENDLY, CHEAPER TO RUN – IT'S NO WONDER NEW HOMES ATTRACT TENANTS! No remedial work, costly repairs or dodgy DIY to rectify – a new home is ready for tenants to move into Extensive warranties and guarantees are provided with new homes for your peace of mind Buying a new home means a chain-free purchase, so your property can be tenanted and earning for you sooner New homes provide you with the potential for strong rental yields and long term capital growth We can put you in contact with our Bridges new homes team who can tell you about excellent investment opportunities available to you. The team work with a wide range of developers in all our locations. Once you have found the right unit we will work with you to find the perfect tenant and arrange for move in either on or after completion. CHECK OUT OUR AVAILABLE NEW HOMES HERE
NEW BUILDS AND WHY IS INVESTING IN ONE A GOOD IDEA?
FARNBOROUGH, HAMPSHIRE
LEARN ABOUT THE AREAS
Positioned in Hampshire’s north-eastern corner, Farnborough offers a good lifestyle balance with great access to both urban amenities and green space. London escapees certainly get far more property for their pound. Meanwhile the commute back into the smoke is manageable: around 38-43 minutes from Farnborough Main to London Waterloo in peak times. Good transport links are one of Farnborough’s assets with easy access to the M3 (at two junctions - 4 and 4a), a mainline station, as well as a second station, Farnborough North, on another line with services taking less than half an hour to Reading and just 17 minutes to Guildford. In addition, Farnborough has its own business dedicated airport, TAG Farnborough. Farmborough also has a business park that houses companies such as ATENA, Fluor and QinetiQ.
ALDERSHOT, HAMPSHIRE
Aldershot is located in a pocket between the popular towns of Farnham, Fleet and Farnborough. Although once known as the "Home of the british army" in more recent times Aldershot has been a key area for development with blocks of contemporary apartments springing up around the town centre along with the larger scale projects such as Wellesley. Wellesley is an exciting new neighbourhood in the heart of the Hampshire countryside. In the next chapter of this area’s rich history, a large proportion of Aldershot’s iconic former military barracks will be transformed into a collection of modern homes and appealing public spaces for generations to come. Fantastic road links to the Blackwater Valley and onto the M3 and M25 and A3 towards Guildford. There are regular train links to Waterloo, Ascot line and to Guildford.There is also a fantastic local bus service linking Aldershot to nearby towns such as Farnham, Fleet, Farnborough and Ashvale.
ASH VALE, SURREY
Ash Vale is a village in the borough of Guildford in Surrey and the larger, northern settlement of the civil parish of Ash. It is 7 miles from Guildford but is closer to the Hampshire towns of Aldershot and Farnborough, the centres of which are each about two miles away. Ash Vale is on a direct link to London Waterloo by rail and is close to the A331 Blackwater Valley Relief Road offering access to the M3 and A31 to Farnham. Ash Vale is home to companies such as Barons BMW and Lincad Limited.
FLEET, HAMPSHIRE
LEARN ABOUT THE AREAS
The area has been voted the best place to live in the UK for the last 5 consecutive years, having scored highly for quality of life, life expectancy, good schools, excellent commuter links, low crime rates and a generally good place to bring up a family. Fleet and Church Crookham are the main centres of population in Hart District, situated in North East Hampshire and encompassing Crookham Village and Dogmersfield with a population in excess of 80,000. Fleet has fantastic rail links providing access to Basingstoke, Southampton and London. It is also perfectly situated for access to the M3 and A331 down to the Blackwater Valley, M25 and M4. Fleet’s bus service provides regular connections to neighbouring towns and villages.
FRIMLEY, SURREY
Frimley is an affluent town in Surrey, 31 miles (50 km) southwest of central London, between the M3 and M4 motorways. It is the main town in the borough of Surrey Heath and is home to the "outstanding" Frimley Park Hospital meaning demand for nearby staff rental is high. Frimley also homes companies such as Sodexo, BAE sytems and SC Johnson. The town itself has a Waitrose and a number of shops, pubs and restaurants
CAMBERLEY, SURREY
Camberley is the main town and administrative centre of Surrey Heath which incorporates the surrounding villages of Bagshot, Lightwater and West End and has its roots firmly embedded in the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst which has trained every officer the Army has produced for over 200 years, more recently Princes William & Harry. Camberley is ideally placed for the commuter, sitting adjacent to the M3 into London, A30 towards Ascot and Sunningdale, A331 towards Guildford and A332 towards Reading, Ascot and Windsor. There are some direct trains in the morning to London Waterloo whilst a more regular service is available a few miles away at Farnborough. Blackwater station offers fast trains to Guildford, Reading and Gatwick Airport.
FARNHAM, SURREY
LEARN ABOUT THE AREAS
Situated in the far west of county of Surrey, Farnham’s surrounding villages including Frensham, Rowledge and Crondall could well be considered a dog walker’s haven. With a number of popular walking spots including Farnham Park, Frensham Ponds, Bourne Woods and Alice Holt forest. Farnham is also renowned for its excellent Schools from junior to secondary and sixth form with a broad mix of state and independent, including St Andrews, Potters Gate, South Farnham, William Cobbett, Frensham Heights, Weydon, All Hallows and Heath End to name a few. There is also Farnham Sixth Form College and the University for Creative Arts catering for higher level education. Farnham transport offers links to Waterloo via south west trains as well as easy access to A31, to Guildford and A331 leading down the Blackwater valley to the M3 and M25.
IS THERE ENOUGH RENTAL DEMAND IN THESE AREAS? The Surrey and Hampshire area benefits from huge rental demand from locals, those looking for great schools, those coming to work from other parts of the UK and from abroad, commuters who don't want to be based in the city and those that feel purchasing a home is not the best option for them.
FAMILIES
PROFESSIONALS
COMMUTERS
TOP TIPS FOR PURCHASING A BUY TO LET PROPERTY
Buy to let properties are seen as a very attractive investment but it is key you gain the best advice to understand exactly what’s involved. UNDERSTAND WHAT INVESTING IN A
REMEMBER THAT THIS IS NOT
BUY TO LET PROPERTY INVOLVES
SOMEWHERE YOU ARE PLANNING TO LIVE!
CAN YOU AFFORD IT? WHERE TO BUY
IDENTIFY YOUR
GET THE RIGHT
“TARGET” TENANT MORTGAGE
ALWAYS DEAL WITH A LICENCED GET FAMILIAR WITH "YIELD" PROFFESIONAL
IT’S ALSO IMPORTANT TO REMEMBER THAT YOUR PROPERTY HAS TO MEET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS BEFORE IT CAN BE RENTED OUT – OUR LETTINGS EXPERTS CAN HELP YOU WITH ALL OF THE ABOVE!
BOOK YOUR FREE PROPERTY INVESTMENT CONSULTATION TODAY WITH OUR EXPERT LETTINGS CONSULTANTS
COMPLETE THE FORM AND THEY WILL BE IN CONTACT SHORTLY