Focus on Highgate

Throughout its history, the Highgate area has avoided the kind of cyclical fortunes that seems to intermittently affect other parts of London. This kind of solid prosperity together with a genuine village feel makes the area a particularly good choice for a long-term rental property investment. Landlords investing in Highgate property can rest assured that although yields in N6 may be a modest 2-3% at present, sales price growth of 6.14% in 2014 shows that the area is still enjoying healthy capital appreciation, in line with London averages.

Three hundred years ago, anyone who could afford it would escape the overcrowded centre of London by heading up the hill to leafy Highgate. This enlightened exodus has blessed the neighbourhood with Georgian homes of rare exquisite beauty, set in surroundings that recall some of Gainsborough’s finest paintings. The fact that people have formed a conservation group to keep it that way is, to the investor, an encouraging sign of stability.

Around 70% of residents are long-term which is fairly high for the central London fringes. An average property price of around £1.3 million may sound steep but this takes account of the fact that there are many larger family houses that have not yet been converted.

Shepherds Hill is where corporate tenants want to be based as it’s near both Highgate Tube station and a main shopping thoroughfare. All along this road, running south of Highgate Woods, there are imposing tiered terraces that have been converted into luxury lateral apartments and notable purpose built blocks which have proved to be a solid investment for landlords who have seen rents rise by 3-8% in the last twelve months.

Blocks such as Imperial Court, Melior Court, Fitzroy Court and Stanhope House are highly sought after; some take in fantastic views over the city and off-street parking is a major draw. Two bedroom apartments with two bathrooms in these modern buildings continue to let well with minimum voids. Rents for a two bedroom flat in the N6 postcode varies though from £330 to £550 per week depending on location and quality of accommodation.

Another popular area is Highgate village, a pretty enclave which is concentrated around the High Street and retains much of the old charm that attracted the landed gentry all those years ago. Splendid Georgian houses and Neo Gothic Victorian mansion blocks line the route that passes Waterlow Park and the world-renowned Highgate Cemetery. A Grade II listed heritage site containing the Karl Marx mausoleum, it seems easier to compile a list of who hasn’t been buried here, rather than the amount of notable people who have.

A lot of creativity has been poured into Highgate over the years and it shows in the beautiful variety of its housing stock. Georgian cottages and townhouses cluster near the village pond while large detached houses can be found dotted around the side streets and near the golf course off Hampstead Lane. Further down the hill in Dartmouth Park, 19th century red brick mansion flats are prevalent and can be obtained at lower prices than in Highgate village.

We wouldn’t be doing justice to the area if we didn’t mention the Holly Lodge Estate. Built one hundred years ago as a gated community on the south-facing slopes of Highgate, the estate provides a host of differently styled homes which rarely become available for rental. Situated at the summit of Highgate Hill, properties here enjoy the best views of central London. The nearby Hampstead Heath is another reason why families are eager to rent here. Apart from taking advantage of its swimming, horse riding and picnicking facilities, they can wander through the stately splendour of Kenwood House while absorbing its art and history. The summer concerts here are legendary.

Highgate Underground station is in the Zone 3 section of the Northern line and from there it’s a fairly simple connection to both the West End and the City of London with 15-20 minutes. The route also passes through the St Pancras Eurostar terminal making it handy for quick escapes to the Europe.

Landlords needn’t be fazed by Highgate’s Zone 3 location as it’s only one stop away from Zone 2. It also means that property in Highgate will always be in good demand and will still attract the kind of ultra-solvent tenant who thinks that Hampstead is in danger of over-commercialisation.

If you’re thinking of investing in Highgate or are just curious, take a look at our video area guide which gives a flavour of the location.

To get a free, real-time rental valuation of your property, click here or call our Highgate lettings branch.