Oval Gardens, Leeds: A Secure BTL Investment

At Doran Estates, we’re committed to curating the best property investment opportunities for our clients, developments that not only perform on paper but align with long-term market fundamentals. Oval Gardens in Leeds is one such rare find: a boutique collection of one-bedroom apartments located just outside the city centre, offering outstanding yields and future-facing growth potential.

As demand intensifies across Leeds’ private rental market, Oval Gardens represents a compelling proposition for investors seeking resilience, liquidity, and robust income generation.

The Development: Engineered for Strong Rental Demand

Comprising just 44 thoughtfully designed one-bedroom apartments, Oval Gardens balances aspirational living with urban practicality. Set in LS10, an area enjoying strong regeneration activity, the development is positioned a short walk from Leeds City Centre, an increasingly rare commodity in a city where space is at a premium.

These apartments have been engineered to appeal to the modern tenant: high-spec finishes, sleek open-plan layouts, secure access, and optional parking – features that will directly impact tenancy length and yield stability. For investors, that’s the kind of quiet efficiency that compounds returns over time.

With prices starting at just £153,450 and a 999-year lease, this is a high-quality, low-maintenance investment that suits both first-time landlords and experienced portfolio builders.

Yields That Outperform the Market

One of the most striking aspects of Oval Gardens is its projected rental yields: up to 16% for short-term lets, and 7% for traditional long-term tenancies. In a climate of rising interest rates and increased scrutiny on buy-to-let margins, this kind of net performance is rare, and it positions Oval Gardens above the national average.

For context:

• The average rental yield across Leeds is currently around 5.96%, while many major UK cities like London and Manchester are now struggling to sustain yields above 4–5%.

• Void periods across Leeds have shortened to their lowest in over five years, as demand for quality rental stock vastly outstrips supply.

This is an investment with numbers that work from day one, but with the added bonus of appreciation potential tied to the city’s wider economic expansion.

Why Leeds – And Why Now?

Leeds isn’t just the fastest growing city in the North, it’s arguably the most resilient. With a working population of over half a million and a student population nearing 70,000, Leeds combines professional demand with long-term lettings consistency.

In recent years, it has attracted significant infrastructure investment, including the £500m South Bank regeneration scheme, expanded rail connectivity, and ongoing tech and media sector growth. The average property price in Leeds rose by 3.7% year-on-year in 2024, even amid wider market softening across the UK.

Rental demand is particularly fierce:

• Leeds ranks among the top 10 UK cities for tenant-to-property demand ratios.

• Average monthly rents rose to £1,101 as of Q1 2025, with certain postcodes seeing double-digit annual increases.

• The city has one of the lowest rental stock availabilities since 2018.

Oval Gardens, positioned on the cusp of this rising tide, is ideally placed to serve the growing population of young professionals and high-demand renters seeking proximity to the city without central postcode premiums.

Comparative Market Performance: A Look at the Numbers

When we modelled Oval Gardens against comparable investments in key regional cities, the results were clear:

Oval Gardens not only sits below the average Leeds entry price, but its yield potential eclipses even the most competitive regional assets.

Flexible, Investor-Friendly Terms

Oval Gardens’ purchase terms have been crafted to maximise accessibility for investors:

• £5,000 reservation fee

• 20% due on exchange

• 80% on completion (Q4 2025)

• Fully managed lettings available

• Optional parking for select units

For overseas investors and UK landlords alike, the structure supports cash-flow efficiency while locking in capital growth over the build period.

Why We Believe Oval Gardens Is a Standout Opportunity

In a climate where not all buy-to-let stock is created equal, Oval Gardens stands out as a smart, considered investment. It balances capital preservation with income generation, while positioning itself in a city poised for sustained demographic and economic expansion.

At Doran Estates, we believe this is exactly the kind of asset investors should be focusing on in 2025: city-adjacent, yield-efficient, and built for the future of renting.

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