Southampton Flats

**jamesbrown** · 30 July 2022, 11:52

A *lot* of student accommodation was built there by Southampton Uni over the past several years and the private rented sector already had a lot of capacity. Then covid massively reduced demand for student accommodation and it probably hasn't fully returned. On some level, that is a separate market than other private rented accommodation, but it has an impact. There's also been a lot of development in Ocean Village in recent years (Moresby Tower etc.) so, again, excess capacity for flats in particular. Combine that with the interest rate outlook, taxation of BTL etc. and it looks a much riskier proposition than it has in the recent past.

**Lockhouse** · 30 July 2022, 12:13

Originally posted by tazdevil View Post

I'm thinking of buying a flat in Southampton at the ~300K level and there's some nice ones on the market. However why is the Southampton property so much cheaper than elsewhere on the south coast and why do I see a number of flats with recently reduced prices? I know Southampton is a working port but is it simply that or BTL people getting out of the market or inflation frightening people off property purchases or something else? Anyone got the gen on the Southampton property market?

I live not a million miles away. Southampton is for the most part a tuliphole with added student accommodation. Bournemouth\Christchurch are much nicer.

**Paddy** · 30 July 2022, 17:38

Southampton is cheap for a reason; it's a tuliphole as is Portsmouth.
Bournemouth has gone downhill but areas such a Westbourne and Sandbanks (Poole) are OK
Winchester City is about the best in the area. Outlaying areas are cheaper but not so desirable.
£300k is not going to buy you much.

**TheGreenBastard** · 31 July 2022, 13:24

Are you economically active and looking at more than one? With recent changes in the laws personal BTL are dead, be sure to consider a Ltd. company SPV.

**xoggoth** · 31 July 2022, 19:50

Originally posted by Paddy View Post

Southampton is cheap for a reason; it's a tuliphole as is Portsmouth.
Bournemouth has gone downhill but areas such a Westbourne and Sandbanks (Poole) are OK
Winchester City is about the best in the area. Outlaying areas are cheaper but not so desirable.
£300k is not going to buy you much.

Is that personal experience? You can find crap reviews of almost every town in Sussex includig some near me but can't say it's my experience.

https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/su...e-2022-6421800

**Paddy** · 1 August 2022, 07:25

Originally posted by xoggoth View Post

Is that personal experience? You can find crap reviews of almost every town in Sussex includig some near me but can't say it's my experience.

https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/su...e-2022-6421800

Personal experience. BTW the crime rate in Southampton is appalling (regardless of official figures).

**Gibbon** · 1 August 2022, 07:26

Originally posted by xoggoth View Post

Is that personal experience? You can find crap reviews of almost every town in Sussex includig some near me but can't say it's my experience.

https://www.sussexlive.co.uk/news/su...e-2022-6421800

Sorry Xog there is only one redeeming feature about Crawley which isn't mentioned, but I am am talking about circa 2011, it was an absolute tuliphole, full-stop. But(t) on a Tuesday night it was the long haul Virgin Cabin crew change over night and they flooded into the few pubs available. Wednesday mornings always gave me the dilemma of 'one more time' or getting a few more hours in. I was glad when the contract ended, bloody exhausting and expensive!

**Lockhouse** · 1 August 2022, 07:53

Originally posted by xoggoth View Post

Is that personal experience? You can find crap reviews of almost every town in Sussex includig some near me but can't say it's my experience.

Mine is. I lived in Winchester for 10 years and closer to Southampton (but in a much more exclusive area) for another 10. Southampton - BTL OK, but not to live there oneself.

**ladymuck** · 1 August 2022, 08:12

I don't think I've ever been to Southampton.

Southampton Flats