Buy-To-Let In Bradford: The Best Areas & More

Bradford hasn’t drawn the attention of property investors as much as in other northern cities, such as neighbouring Leeds or Sheffield.

However, with investors now looking further afield in search of better deals and stronger returns, Bradford, as we’ll see, ticks plenty of boxes. Especially for buy-to-let landlords.

In this guide, we’ll provide an overview of the city, explain why it’s a good choice for property investment, explore the best areas for a buy-to-let, and discuss the different types of properties you can target.

Overview

Based in West Yorkshire, Bradford is part of the wider metropolitan borough of the City of Bradford, which includes several local towns and villages that make up a population of nearly 540,000 – making it the seventh most populated district in England.

Like much of the north, Bradford played a key role in the UK’s booming textile industry throughout the 19th and early 20th centuries.

Then, when Britain’s grip over these industries began to loosen through the 20th century, the city’s fortunes also took a turn – the effects of which are still felt in many parts of Bradford today. However, the city’s legacy as an international centre of textile manufacturing can still be felt through its listed Victorian architecture and countless reinvigoration projects that have been designed to breathe new life into the city.

There are many clear signs of adaptation and regeneration. West Yorkshire Combined Authority’s Transforming Cities Fund programme (TCF) has earmarked funds to improve transport infrastructure across Bradford.

Furthermore, Bradford has been named the UK’s City of Culture for 2025. Not only will this pull people to the city for a series of cultural events, but it provide funding to improve facilities for the arts.

The Bradford District Economic Strategy intends to capitalise on this unique opportunity and push the city forward, backed by a series of further investment and regeneration projects around the region.

That’s not to say the city doesn’t already have a thriving economy. It does – it’s worth about £11.6bn.

Plus, under the West Yorkshire Combined Authority, it is part of a region with the 4th-largest economy in the UK, helped by several major employers maintaining headquarters within the city, such as Morrisons, Yorkshire Water, and Yorkshire Building Society.

So what’s the main takeaway here?

Bradford is an old, industrial city witnessing a huge transformation, fueled by cultural recognition, strategic investment, and economic growth potential – making it an increasingly attractive place to live and work. If you’re a property investor, that should be like music to your ears.

Why Bradford?

A buy-to-let in Bradford is a good choice for investors looking for a city offering affordable prices and a strong rental market.

Right now, the average price of a property in Bradford is just over £161,000 according to the latest data from Rightmove (last checked in November 2024). In comparison, the average price of a property in Leeds, just 13 kilometres eastwards, is £273,000. In Manchester, only 50 minutes down the M62, the average price is over £264,000.

At the same time, the rental market around Bradford city centre is incredibly strong, fuelled by a thriving job market, quick connections to Leeds Bradford International Airport and close proximity to Leeds, making it very easy for workers to commute between the two cities. Our own research shows that BD1, Bradford’s most central postcode, generates the strongest average rental yields in the UK (12%, tied with M14 in Manchester and NG1/NG7 in Nottingham) – more on this later.

More broadly, data suggests the region generates average yields of:

• 12% for studio apartments
• 10.5% for one-bed properties
• 8.3% for two-bed properties
• 6.1% for three-bed properties

All in all, Bradford is an excellent choice for investors looking to diversify their portfolios. It’s a low-cost, low-risk region that is highly likely to generate excellent long-term returns through both rental income and capital appreciation.

If you’re interested in property investment in Bradford, get in touch with our team to discuss your options.

The 5 Best Buy-To-Let Areas In Bradford

So, where should you be looking to purchase a buy-to-let in Bradford?

Using industry data, we’ve identified five of the best areas for investors to consider. Remember, you should do your own research, but our results can help guide you.

How does our data work?

It’s simple. There are 20 postcode districts in Bradford and the surrounding area.

We scored each postcode by its average rental yield and growth in property values over the past five years:

• The postcode with the highest average rental yield receives 20 points. The second-best receives 19 points. And so on.
• The postcode with the highest growth receives 20 points. The second-best receives 19 points. And so on.
• The rental yield score is multiplied by three to give it a stronger weighting (yield should take slight precedence for buy-to-let investors).
• The two scores are added together to calculate a final score, by which the results are ordered.

Here are the results:

1. BD5 – Canterbury, Holme Top, Little Horton

BD5 covers the area directly south of the city, including the popular areas of Canterbury and Holme Top. St. Luke’s Hospital is located here, which means there is strong rental demand from doctors, nurses and other workers looking for a short commute to the hospital.

With an average property price of £146,908 and an average rental yield of 6.2%, it’s easy to see why BD5 is an attractive prospect for buy-to-let landlords looking for a great deal.

2. BD1 – Bradford City Centre

Bradford’s city centre offers exceptional investment opportunities and was recently ranked one of the top postcodes in the UK on our UK Buy To Let Yield Map, with an average yield of 12% putting it level with equally-exciting areas in Manchester and Nottingham.

Property prices are surprisingly low for a city centre area – £67,539 on average – which makes BD1 a very affordable entry point for new and experienced landlords alike.

Naturally, as a city centre, there’s no shortage of tenant demand (hence the yield). Young professionals, in particular, benefit from the central location and close proximity to amenities, venues, restaurants, universities, city parks and employment opportunities. BD1 also has excellent transport links, including a train station and bus networks, which can attract tenants looking for convenience and accessibility to travel for work or leisure.

3. BD4 – East Bowling, Brierley and Dudley Hill

BD4 encompasses a huge area southeast of the city, including East Bowling, Bierley, Tyersal, and all the way out to Tong.

With such large coverage, it’s no surprise it ranks as one of Bradford’s top buy-to-let locations. That said, the best yields, and the most tenants, will likely be found closer to the city – so we suggest looking there if you’re interested (East Bowling in particular).

Property values in BD4 have risen by an impressive 34% over the past five years. Plus, with a strong average yield of 6.1% across the postcode, there’s a clear, well-rounded investment opportunity here.

4. BD3 – Thornbury, Barkerend

BD3 is a bustling area of Bradford that lies to the northeast of the city centre. Here you’ll find affordable property prices – averaging just over £149,000 – and strong rental demand from professionals who work in the city centre. Average yields, meanwhile, come in at a solid 5.7%.

The area is brought to life by diverse communities and cultures and is a focal point for the ongoing regeneration projects undertaken by the local council. As such, BD3 has fantastic growth potential, and investment here is likely to be considered a shrewd move in years to come.

5. BD7 – Great Horton, Lister Park

The BD7 postcode lies to the west of the city and is well-connected with excellent bus routes to the centre. Due to its proximity to the University of Bradford, this area is a notable hotspot for buy-to-let investment, particularly for landlords who prefer catering to the local student population.

The student market delivers stable demand and returns for rental properties, especially for HMOs or dedicated student accommodation.

Property Investment Options

Buy-to-let in Bradford

In our opinion, there are plenty of reasons why buy-to-let investors should be interested in Bradford as a potential purchase opportunity. It may require more work than flipping a property (although this is debatable if you use a management company), but the long-term benefits far outweigh the quick profit made by buying, renovating and selling.

After all, given the strong rental yields and accessible property prices that Bradford offers, a buy-to-let should run profitably. This allows you to build equity quickly, which you can extract and use to expand your portfolio quickly. Moreover, it can create a passive income stream, while you benefit from the natural long-term growth in the value of rental properties.

Student property in Bradford

Alternatively, buyers could consider investing in student accommodation in Bradford. There are over 10,000 students in the city, thanks to the University of Bradford, which offers a wide variety of higher education courses and degrees.

Although we have seen more than a few cases of landlords successfully adding to their rental property portfolio with student buy-to-lets in Bradford, you may find that other northern cities offer a better long-term deal. Major university cities like Leeds, Sheffield, Nottingham, and Manchester are all nearby, with much higher student numbers and plenty of PBSA schemes in progress. Bradford, in comparison, does not offer as strong a case for student property investment.