North West Highlighted as a Top Buy-to-Let Region in Zoopla's Latest Rental Yield Report

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Zoopla's September Rental Yield Report Lists High Yields for North West Areas

The North West has been recognised as a strong buy-to-let region in Zoopla’s latest rental yield report from September.

A total of 11 UK cities and towns featured in Zoopla’s report are located in the North West, with the report showcasing a 6.8% average rental yield for the region.

Read more about the towns and cities that made the cut, and learn how the North West stands out for delivering some of the best buy-to-let opportunities in the UK right now.

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The Highest-Yielding North West Areas

Zoopla’s September 2025 report finds that the North West boasts an average rental yield of 6.8%. The only regions with yields higher than this are Scotland and the North East.

The cities and towns that impact the region’s rental yield the most are Liverpool, Blackburn, and Burnley – all three of which offer an average yield of over 7.5%.

Other North West areas with stand-out average yields are Preston and Blackpool with yields of 7.2%, Wigan with a 7% yield, Warrington with a yield of 6.3%, and Manchester with average 6.6% yields.

The Bigger Buy-to-Let Picture

The North West’s two largest cities, Liverpool and Manchester, are repeatedly acknowledged as top buy-to-let locations. This is due to not only rental yields in the cities, but also factors such as strong capital growth rates and high tenant demand.

In Zoopla’s rental yield report, Liverpool’s average 7.7% yield and Manchester’s 6.6% yield are both high figures, but do fall below the average returns listed in other UK locations, such as Sunderland with a 9.3% rental yield.

However, when factoring in other investment requirements such as capital growth, regional data for Sunderland’s North East reveal lower potential long-term returns than can be found in the North West. The latest Residential Market Report from Savills shows that by 2029, the North West is predicted to see an average 31.2% capital growth, while the North East can expect a 26.4% increase.

This highlights the fact that although high rental yields are a great indicator of a good buy-to-let opportunity, it’s vital to assess every factor that can contribute to your investment.

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Investment Drivers in the North West

A critical factor in the North West’s success is its affordability, with average property prices much lower than in London and the South of England.

Southern towns and cities that made the list in Zoopla’s report have lower rental yields than other areas, such as Cambridge with a 4.7% average. While rental prices are high in this area, with a £1,600 average, buy-to-let property prices of £408,709 on average make it more difficult to reach those higher yields of 6% and over.

In the North West, Zoopla’s report states average buy-to-let property prices of under £210,000 for both Manchester and Liverpool.

Tenant demand is high in the North West, as evidenced by Zoopla’s findings of a 3.8% annual change in rental costs in Liverpool, and a 2.3% increase in Manchester. These areas are supported by strong employment, regeneration projects, and an influx of young professionals and students—all key drivers of rental demand.

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Amy Jackson

Amy Jackson is a property writer at RWinvest, helping our readers stay ahead of UK market trends with the latest news and statistics.

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North West Highlighted as a Top Buy-to-Let Region in Zoopla's Latest Rental Yield Report

Zoopla's September Rental Yield Report Lists High Yields for North West Areas

Buy-to-Let Units From £239,950 Just 23 Minutes From Central London

The Highest-Yielding North West Areas

The Bigger Buy-to-Let Picture