Northern Ireland capital rises to second place in latest Top UK Residential Investment Cities Report
A reshuffle of investment hotspots has seen Belfast climb to second place, Edinburgh return to its top spot after placing fourth last year, and Milton Keynes also entering the top five.
The analysis, within Colliers’ latest Top UK Residential Investment Cities Report, shows that the Northern Irish capital recorded the highest number of first-place indicator rankings in this year’s study and topped both the Property and Liveability pillars.
The city delivers a rental yield of 10.7% and is one of the UK’s most affordable housing markets, with a house price-to-income ratio of 4.0 compared with the study average of 5.9.
Top-ranking Edinburgh is the only city to have ranked within the top five in every edition of the report, making it the UK’s most consistent residential investment market.
Glasgow, meanwhile, dropped two spots to third place with rental yields approaching 10% and continued strength across the Property and Environmental pillars.
Milton Keynes entered the top five for the first time in three years, climbing from sixth to fourth place, followed by Cardiff in fifth place.
The importance of regional markets
Andrew White, head of residential at Colliers, said: “This year’s results reinforce the growing importance of regional markets within the UK residential investment landscape. Belfast’s rise to second place reflects a combination of affordability, strong rental performance and improving market fundamentals that continue to attract investor attention.
“At the same time, Edinburgh’s continued presence at the top of the rankings demonstrates the value of long-term market resilience. The city combines strong economic fundamentals, a highly skilled workforce and sustained housing demand, making it one of the UK’s most dependable residential investment locations.”
Oliver Kolodseike, head of economic research at Colliers, said the rankings highlight clear differences in how cities create investment value. “Some markets excel through research, innovation and economic growth, while others benefit from affordability, yield performance and liveability.
“Milton Keynes’ return to the top five demonstrates how improvements in economic performance and sustainability credentials can significantly enhance a city’s investment proposition. Investors are increasingly looking beyond the traditional gateway cities and assessing opportunities across a broader range of regional markets.”
The eleventh edition of the report analyses 24 indicators across economic performance, research and development, liveability, property market fundamentals and environmental sustainability to identify the UK’s strongest locations for residential investment.
