Auction Roundup – Lots to talk about after a successful September kicks off

If our auction roundups are any indication, it is no surprise that selling a property via online auction continues to rise in popularity, with benefits including lower fall-through rates and quicker sales. In this week's roundup, the month of September is looking good for auctioneers, and PIT looks at the latest auction news, which includes landmark auction sales and plenty of commercial and residential properties.

The highest number of lots for Clive Emson this year with September auction; online auctions continue for the time being

Clive Emson Auctioneers says it has had an exceptional month thus far, having listed the highest number of lots to date this year for its September auction – the sixth of eight for 2022.

With a price guide ranging from £5,000 to £1.25 million, covering southern England, the 162 lots comprise 57 vacant residential, 52 investments, 24 commercial, 17 lands, and 12 development/conversions.

Additionally, the independent regional land and property auctioneers, in its 33rd year, also confirmed that its auctions will, for the time being, continue online by popular demand and following client surveys.

James Emson, managing director, said: “We have an appealing range of lots listed in the September catalogue, from former fire stations and HMOs to churches and riverside locations.”

“With our auctions averaging a healthy 80% sales success rate, it is apparent that buyers are looking to bricks and mortar, and land, to help deliver decent returns to try to offset the pernicious effects of record-high inflation on cash savings.”

“Our latest auction features 162 lots, the highest number to date for the year, and we anticipate keen bidding.”

James added: “Our July auction received traffic from more than 40 countries, with bids coming in day and night, and so, from a ‘reach’ perspective, online is hard to beat – including the convenience of bidding from home or the office.”

“However, we are developing a hybrid system which, when the time is right, will combine the ballroom and online auction worlds together so everyone is catered for. An overwhelming 80% of clients expressed a preference for remote bidding to continue.”

The auction ends on Wednesday 21 September, and bidding opens 48 hours beforehand.

Highlights: three £1 million–plus properties

Firstly, a substantial HMO in Bognor Regis, West Sussex, has a guide price of £1 million-plus, producing nearly £127,000 per annum, equivalent to an inflation-beating yield of 12.7% before annual costs (Lot 156).

Next, guided at £1.2 million-£1.25 million, Kent Fire Recue & Rescue Service has instructed the sale of four vacant houses with 1.17 acres and development potential in Faversham (Lot 153).

The same authority is disposing of a former fire station on 1.69 acres at Broadstairs, at a guide price of £800,000–£810,000, within the modern Westwood Cross retail and commercial area (Lot 17).

Another highlighted property, only a short distance from the Hampshire coastline at Gosport near Portsmouth, on 1.6 acres, a fire-damaged former care facility is guided at £1 million-plus (Lot 100).

Take your pick!

With a guide price of £200,000 - £225,000 (lot 88), producing nearly £21,000 per annum, are 17 garages in South Croydon along with nine vacant garages in West Byfleet, Surrey, priced between £125,000-£135,000 (Lot 157).

With a 'unique, gorgeous' frontage on the River Medway, a parcel of land in Maidstone, Kent, is guided at £40,000-£42,000 and is described as a “rare opportunity” (Lot 41).

Currently let at £22,200 pa, a two-storey property with two flats in Stratford, London, is guided at £350,000-plus (Lot 7).

Chosley Baptist Church, near Wallingford in Oxfordshire, which has residential planning consent, is guided at £350,000-plus (Lot 19), and is among four churches in the auction.

Guided at £140,000-plus (Lot 160), executors have instructed the sale of a first floor and garage in Milton Keynes, Buckingham.

For Downtown Abbey fans, there’s an opportunity to purchase 1.4 acres of land, 3.5 miles from Highclere Castle, where the hit TV series was filmed. The land is adjacent to Pembroke House, Earlstone Common, Burghclere – near Newbury in Berkshire – and is guided at £70,000 - £75,000 (Lot 73).

On the market and making an appearance for the first time in 58 years is just under 4.5 acres of land at a farm in Staplefield, Hayward Health, West Sussex, with a guide price between £75,000-£80,000 (Lot 101).

There is also a residential access road in Colchester, Essex which is guided at £8,000-£10,000 (Lot 30).

Allsop to put a record 488 commercial and residential assets under the hammer in September

Investors will have much to look forward to this month seeing as Allsop has released its September residential and commercial auction catalogues, offering potential buyers a combined total of 488 investment opportunities across the UK.

Richard Adamson, partner and residential auctioneer at Allsop, said: “We’ve been looking forward to unveiling our bumper September residential auction catalogue – the biggest it’s been since December 2021 – as we know thousands of buyers are currently on the lookout for well-priced investment opportunities that would help them safeguard their cash against inflation. Property remains among the most sought-after investment classes in the UK due to its proven ability to hold value even in the most challenging of times.”

The new catalogues are not only remarkable because of their sheer volume but also feature a significant number of high-value lots, with more than 30 residential and 71 commercial investments guided at or above £1 million. There are a total of 11 properties within the commercial catalogue and an additional 10 within the residential which are guided at or above £2 million.  

Of the 230 commercial lots, 82 are situated in London and the South East, with the rest spread across the country, offering buyers national investment opportunities. Of the 258 lots listed in this month’s residential catalogue, 173 are located in the capital and the South East.

George Walker, partner and commercial auctioneer at Allsop, said: “The size of our September catalogue is a testament to our ability to get transactions done by matching buyers and sellers with an auction contract to sign. Given our wide buyer base, we’re thrilled to be able to present them with an even greater variety of options: this month, we’re offering a larger than usual number of high -value lots whose combined guide prices exceed £175m.

Concluding, Walker said: “In addition, we’re providing potential buyers with the chance to buy into dozens of properties which were previously bundled up into portfolios and weren’t available for purchase on an individual basis. Our September sale will provide an interesting opportunity to gauge market sentiment in a fast-changing economic environment.”

Residential auction highlights

Lot 30 is a six-bedroom, five-storey house in Knightsbridge, London, which is the highest-priced lot of the September residential catalogue; subject to an Assured Shorthold Tenancy producing £130,903 per annum and guided at £5 million.

Lot 25 is a freehold Grade II listed manor house and estate in Chippenham, Wiltshire, comprising private parkland, a swimming pool, a tennis court, and a walled garden as well as a further five properties in addition to the main dwelling which is guided at £1.25 million.

Lot 76 is a lovely double-fronted detached building in Ealing, London, comprising 10 studio flats and one three-bedroom flat that is let to a housing association and guided at £2.7 million.

Lot 140, with an interesting history, is a former nightclub in Sutton, with planning permission for demolition of the existing building to create a four-storey mixed-use block – guided at £1.9 million.

Commercial auction highlights

Lot 105 in Sittingbourne is an industrial estate comprising 26 units over 33,895 square feet with a total gross rent of £342,802 per annum and guided at £4.75 million-£5 million (7.2% GIY).

An industrial nationwide portfolio of 15 industrial, trade counter, and retail warehouse estates, with rental income ranging between £95,650 per annum - £342,802 per annum with guide prices ranging from £750,000 and above to £4.75 million-£5 million.

Predominantly located in London and the South East, Medivet Portfolio - comprises 21 veterinary surgeries let to Medivet. Some of the properties feature residential units and offer residential development opportunities with guide prices starting at £125,000 with a range between £2 million-£2.15 million.

Boots Portfolio is also nationwide and comprises 20 pharmacies and let to Boots UK Limited with lease terms ranging from 3 to 10 years. Guide price range is between £110,000 to £2.6 million and up.

Allsop’s next commercial auction will take place on 20 September, followed by the residential auction on 22 September and both auctions will take place virtually.

The full commercial catalogue can be viewed here.

The full residential catalogue can be found here.

*Angels Media and Property Investor Today are deeply saddened by the passing of Queen Elizabeth II*