25th October 2019
Houses, cottages and flats among the homes under the hammer in Leicester
Houses and flats in Leicestershire and beyond attracted bidders from far and wide to SDL Auctions Graham Penny’s sixth Leicester auction of the year at the King Power Stadium.
First on the bill was a three bedroomed mid townhouse close to beautiful Braunstone Park. 131 Winstanley Drive, Braunstone, was predicted to be popular as it is ideal for both first time buyers and buy-to-let investors – and it did not disappoint, selling for £133,000 from a *guide price of £115,000+.
Auctioneer Andrew Parker said it was just the sort of property that sells well by auction.
“Houses like this tend to attract enthusiastic bidding because they have so much to offer. This one has three bedrooms, gas central heating and a combi boiler, and is in a great location close to shops, schools and leisure facilities. It’s therefore ideal for a family so an investor should have no problems renting it out, and could expect a return of around £7,200 per year.”
The auction was another success for the East Midlands’ biggest auctioneer and raised more than £1.8 million for sellers from the sale of a wide variety of lots.
One of the most attractive properties to go under the hammer in Leicester was a Grade II listed cottage in Ashby de la Zouch.
Originally three cottages, 36 Wood Street, dates back to the 1700s and has character features including original wide floorboards, latched doors, beamed ceilings and exposed timbers.
It sold for £132,000 from a guide price of £125,000+ and Andrew said a big part of its appeal is its flexibility.
He said: “The new owner could keep it as a good-sized family home or convert it back to three separate cottages, as there is planning permission and listed building consent in place already. This would maximise its earning potential as it could then provide a combined rent of £18,000 per year.”
Another Grade II listed property to go under the hammer was 21 and 21A Northgate, Oakham, Rutland.
This mixed use property comprises a vacant ground floor retail unit with a self-contained three bedroomed duplex apartment over the upper two floors, with character beams in the spacious living room.
The property, which sold for £169,000 from a guide price of £165,000+, offers the new owner a variety of options, such as letting it out or converting it into a large family home, subject to planning permission.
In Leicester city centre, a studio flat in Stoneygate proved popular with bidders. 36 Hollybank Court, 193 London Road, is a top-floor apartment with stunning views over the city centre and as far as Bradgate Park.
The property has a lift to all floors, underfloor heating, secure parking and entry, and well-maintained gardens. The apartment sold for £73,000 from a guide price of £59,000+.
While property auctions are known for their variety, you can always expect to find terraced homes for sale, and the Leicester auction was no exception.
One example was 28 Cambridge Street, Leicester, which sold for £147,000 from a guide price of £130,000+. The large three bedroomed terrace is currently let at £600 per calendar month but has the potential to increase this by converting it to a House in Multiple Occupation, subject to permissions.
Andrew said: “This is a great property in a fantastic location, close to Braunstone Gate, DeMontfort University and Leicester Royal Hospital, which means the new owner should never be short of tenants. This type of property is always in demand by auction buyers so if you have one you wish to sell, why not talk to us for a free, no-obligation auction appraisal?”
The next Leicester auction takes place at the King Power Stadium on Tuesday 10 December. To find out how you can secure a sale by auction before Christmas and to request a free auction appraisal, please click here or call 0116 254 9654 to speak to the auctions team.