Looking to buy? See all 8 buy to let and off plan properties for sale in Birmingham, with prices, deposits and gross yields.
Market snapshot, October 2026
Birmingham is the largest city economy outside London and the one where the gap between price and rent still leaves room for income. The average property sold for £234,000 in the year to July 2026, up 2.5%, while rents rose 3% to £1,099 a month on the ONS Price Index of Private Rents. That puts the city below Manchester on price and only slightly below it on rent, which is why Birmingham keeps appearing on investor shortlists.
Across all property types, gross yields work out at roughly 5.6% on ONS price and rent data. City centre apartments, which rent above the all stock average, typically sit higher, and the schemes we offer are priced to run between 5.5 and 9% gross.
HS2 Curzon Street is the anchor. All 2,011 foundation piles are complete and more than a thousand people were on site through 2026, though HS2 services are not expected until the 2030s. Smithfield, a £1.9bn scheme of more than 3,000 homes beside the Bullring, has £172.8m of grant funding agreed and is moving onto site. The council values the wider Knowledge Quarter programme at £4.2bn. Tenant demand is underpinned by roughly 98,000 students across the city's universities and by the Colmore Business District, home to more than 650 companies and 75,000 professionals.
Savills expects the West Midlands to fall 2% across 2026, recover 3% in 2027 and grow 19.7% cumulatively to 2030. That is behind the North West and Yorkshire on growth, so the Birmingham case in 2026 is a lower entry price and steady rent rather than a sprint.
Best areas for buy to let in Birmingham
Birmingham is not one market. Rent, tenant profile and resale depend on the district, so these are the areas we focus on.
- City core, New Street and Snow Hill. The deepest pool of professional tenants, within a few minutes of both stations and the Colmore Business District. Fountain Court is 250 metres from New Street and Chapmans Yard sits beside the Mailbox.
- Jewellery Quarter and St Pauls Square. Heritage buildings, independent restaurants and a tenant base that stays. No. 30 St Pauls is on the city's only surviving Georgian square.
- Gun Quarter. The most affordable way into the centre, minutes from Snow Hill and the Jewellery Quarter, with new build and conversion stock arriving. Gunsmith House is complete and Paper Yard is off plan here.
- Southside and Digbeth. Next to HS2 Curzon Street and the Smithfield site, with the Chinese Quarter and the creative quarter in Digbeth. Origin is off plan and Boulevard is complete.
- Edgbaston and Selly Oak. The University of Birmingham, the Queen Elizabeth Hospital and family housing. Student and medical demand rather than young professionals, and more houses than apartments.
Completed or off plan?
Six of the eight Birmingham developments we currently offer are complete, which is unusual for us and reflects a wave of city centre schemes finishing in 2025 and 2026. A completed apartment lets from day one, carries no build risk and can be viewed before you commit, and Ariel House already has tenants in place. Off plan, at Paper Yard and Origin, means a 20% deposit on exchange, completion in 2027 and a lower entry price for waiting. Our off plan guide covers the process, and our article on off plan property for first time investors sets out the risks.
Buying costs and tax basics
- Stamp duty. Buy to let and second homes in England carry a 5% surcharge on top of standard rates, and non UK residents pay a further 2%. On a £240,000 apartment that is £14,300 for a UK resident who already owns a home. Use our stamp duty calculator for an exact figure.
- Legal fees. Typically £1,500 to £2,500 for a new build or conversion purchase through a specialist solicitor.
- Mortgages. Buy to let lenders usually want a 25% deposit, and rent must cover the interest by a set margin. Some conversions under permitted development have a narrower lender panel, so check before you reserve.
- Personal or company ownership. Individual landlords can only claim basic rate tax relief on mortgage interest, and from April 2027 property income is taxed at separate rates of 22%, 42% and 47%, which is why many higher rate taxpayers buy through a limited company. Take advice from an accountant before you decide.
How we help
We shortlist Birmingham developments that meet our checks on developer track record, pricing against completed stock nearby and rental demand, negotiate on your behalf and stay with you through completion, furnishing and letting. There is no fee to you; the developer pays us. Tell us your budget and we will send the two or three we would choose.
Birmingham guides and articles
- Buy to let Birmingham: what every serious investor needs to know
- Buy to let properties in Birmingham: the 2026 investor guide
- 10 reasons to consider off plan property in Birmingham
- How to choose a UK property investment company
Frequently asked questions
Is Birmingham a good place for buy to let in 2026?
Birmingham combines an average price of about £234,000, well below Manchester and far below London, with rents of about £1,099 a month that rose 3% in the past year. Across all property types that works out at roughly 5.6% gross on ONS data. Savills expects the West Midlands to dip 2% in 2026, recover 3% in 2027 and grow 19.7% in total to 2030, so the near term case rests on income rather than fast capital growth.
What rental yield can I get on a Birmingham buy to let?
City wide, about 5.6% gross on ONS average prices and rents. City centre apartments usually sit higher because they rent above the all stock average, and the schemes we offer are priced to run between 5.5 and 9% gross. Net yields are lower once service charges, management and void periods are taken off.
Which areas of Birmingham are best for property investment?
The city core around New Street, Snow Hill and the Colmore Business District has the deepest professional demand. The Jewellery Quarter and St Pauls Square offer heritage stock and strong tenant loyalty, Southside and Digbeth sit next to HS2 Curzon Street and the Smithfield site, and the Gun Quarter is the most affordable way into the centre. Selly Oak and Edgbaston are the main student and family markets.
How much does it cost to buy an investment property in Birmingham?
Completed apartments in the centre start from about £170,000, with most of our stock between £237,000 and £260,000. Off plan schemes ask for a 20% deposit on exchange, so £48,000 to £50,000 on a £240,000 to £250,000 apartment, plus stamp duty and legal fees. Buy to let mortgages usually need a 25% deposit at completion.
Should I buy a completed or off plan apartment in Birmingham?
Six of the eight Birmingham developments we currently offer are complete, so you can let from day one and see exactly what you are buying. Paper Yard and Origin are off plan, with lower entry pricing and completion in 2027. Many investors hold one of each.
Do I pay extra stamp duty on a Birmingham buy to let?
Yes. Additional residential property in England carries a 5% surcharge on top of the standard rates, and buyers who are not UK resident pay a further 2%. Our stamp duty calculator works out the exact figure for any price.
Why invest with Verta Property Group?
We act as your independent team on the ground, guiding you from start to finish with every aspect of your UK property investment:
- Members of The Property Redress Scheme
- ICO and HMRC registered
- No fees for our consultation services
- 32,000+ investor network
- Full turnkey service: mortgage, lettings, furnishing, management
- Dedicated aftercare team always available
