SoapWorks Liverpool: Prices from £179,950 and Yields of up to 7%

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Hello everyone, £179,950. The second lowest entry price in our portfolio and one of the highest returns. Today, from Liverpool, SoapWorks is what we are looking at today!

For prices, taxes and the whole buying process, see our guide: UK Property Guide

Apartment types, current price range and location: see the project page

close to Liverpool city centre, Pumpfields in the region, Nexus Residential a modern scheme developed by. Three residential blocks, hundreds of apartments. Manhattan (studio), one and two bedroom options. A gym, a roof terrace, a concierge service and landscaped social space. The architecture takes its inspiration from Liverpool’s industrial heritage. Yes, you read that correctly, an apartment with a concierge at this price.

Prices

• Apartments: £179,950and up
• Manhattan (studio), one and two bedroom options
• Apartment size: 35 m²and up
• Three residential blocks, hundreds of apartments
• Address: SoapWorks, Edgar Street, Liverpool L3 6JH

This price opens the door for anyone who wants to start investing in United Kingdom property. A cash purchase is possible, stamp duty is very low and the barrier to entry minimal. the advantages of buying a new build home the right address for anyone who wants to experience it on the smallest budget.

Why SoapWorks?

Liverpool: one of the highest yielding cities in England: Liverpool’s investment story is clear: a low price per square metre, a strong student and young professional population, and a lively city centre. Those three produce the highest gross rental yields in England.

• Liverpool city centre, within walking distance; Liverpool ONE, the business districts and the docks
• Liverpool Lime Street station: a direct train to London Euston
• Three large universities within the city; a high student and academic population
• The historic dock area on the UNESCO list and the cultural centres close by
• Fast access to the motorway network via the M62 and the M57

Suitability for short term letting: this scheme is positioned for investors thinking of both a long term (AST) and a Short-term letting strategy. With its football tourism and its concert and event traffic, Liverpool is one of the strongest short term letting markets in England. That said, this model also carries management costs, cleaning and the risk of empty days; do not decide without comparing the two models.

Daily life: on the edge of the city centre

In the morning into the city centre or the business district on foot. The building’s gym at lunchtime. The Liverpool skyline from the roof terrace in the evening; or the city’s famous music and food scene. At the weekend Albert Dock, Tate Liverpool, Anfield or Goodison Park. Liverpool is a city with a cost of living far below London and a very high cultural energy.

SoapWorks rental yield

This is the real story here. A low entry price combined with Liverpool’s strong rental demand makes one of the highest returns in our portfolio. Studios and one bedroom apartments usually let for £1,000 to £1,200, 2+1s £1,300 to £1,450 a month. That puts the gross rental yield in the 6-7% band.

For comparison: gross yields on Zone 1 London schemes sit in the 3.5-4% band. So the same capital here earns almost two floors in rental income. Tenant profile: young professionals working in the city centre, postgraduate students and healthcare staff. For other areas that work on the same logic, high yield buy to let areas is well worth reading.

The shared areas and the details that set SoapWorks apart

• Concierge service, in a scheme in the £180,000 band that is genuinely rare.
• roof terrace: shared outdoor space looking onto the Liverpool skyline.
• Sports Hall: a fitness area for residents only, with no membership needed.
• Landscaped social areas: shared living sections between the blocks.
• Architecture inspired by the industrial heritage: a reference to the warehouse and dock fabric of Liverpool.
• Enerji Verimli Teknolojiler: a building standard that keeps the bills low.
• An open plan interior design: Kompakt metrekareyi verimli kullanan planlar.

Energy efficiency and comfort

The scheme was built with energy efficient technologies; the apartments are typically in the EPC B band. That is a serious differentiator in cities such as Liverpool where the older building stock dominates. Minimum energy standards for rented homes in the United Kingdom are tightening, and buying a suitable apartment from the outset removes that risk entirely rather than buying an old Victorian flat and insulating it later.

Who is buying?

This project is squarely aimed at yield focused investors and those buying their first property in the United Kingdom scheme. The £179,950 level is a realistic start for buyers thinking of investing in the United Kingdom who find London prices out of reach. It is sensible for portfolio builders too: several Liverpool apartments rather than a single London one both spread the risk and lift the total return.

Frequently asked questions

Is there capital growth in Liverpool? Liverpool is not a capital growth city but a rental income city. The city centre has taken serious investment in recent years and has appreciated, but do not expect a rise on London’s scale.

Does short term letting make sense? Liverpool’s event and tourism traffic is strong and the gross return can go higher. But management costs, cleaning, the risk of empty days and the local council rules come into play. Do not decide without comparing the net return of the two models for your own situation; we prepare that calculation on your behalf.

Is 35 m² not very small? In Liverpool studios and compact apartments are the most liquid segment of the rental market. If you are thinking of it for your own use, look at the one and two bedroom layouts.

How do I manage it remotely? Most investments in this price band are run through a professional management company. The commission is typically 10-15% of the rent, so always deduct it when you work out the net yield.

Can I use a mortgage? In this price band some banks have a minimum loan amount (usually around £100,000) can be a problem; the financing needs settling at the outset. UK mortgages for foreign nationals is worth reading.

Can I buy remotely from abroad? Yes. For the details, our remote property purchase guide page.

Total cost: what you actually pay when you buy at SoapWorks

Many overseas buyers look only at the apartment price and meet a surprise at completion. Let us work out the real cost on a £179,950 apartment. Stamp duty (SDLT) in the United Kingdom is banded: 0% up to £125,000, then 2%, 5%, 10% and 12%. On top of that, non-residents pay a 2% surcharge, and if you already own another home, a further 5% additional dwelling rate applies.

With a mortgage there are also valuation and bank charges, and if you let the property, management commission and income tax. The figures above are indicative, based on a £179,950 entry price; we prepare the exact calculation for your own scenario.

The SoapWorks buying process, step by step

If you are buying from another country, the process runs like this:

• 1. Choosing the apartment and reserving it. We go through the floor plans, the aspect and the view. The apartment you choose is usually held with a reservation fee of £5,000 to £10,000.
• 2. Appointing a solicitor. An independent English property solicitor (conveyancer) is appointed. That solicitor acts for you, not for the developer.
• 3. Identity and source of funds checks. You will be asked for a passport, proof of address and documents showing the source of your funds. This step is compulsory in the United Kingdom, and having the papers ready shortens the process.
• 4. Exchange of contracts and deposit. Contracts are usually exchanged within 21 days of the reservation, with a 10% deposit. The signature can be given digitally from abroad.
• 5. Stage payments. In off plan projects these follow the payment schedule; for completed apartments the step is skipped.
• 6. Completion. The remaining balance and the stamp duty are paid and the title is registered in your name. For completed apartments this stage can take four to eight weeks.

You can run the whole process from your own country; you do not have to travel to the United Kingdom.

Risks and what to watch for

We have set out the strengths; in fairness there are points to watch as well. For SoapWorks, these are the ones worth pausing on:

• Capital growth is slower than London’s: Liverpool is a rental yield city; do not enter expecting a quick capital gain.
• Short lets mean extra work: it can raise the gross return but management, cleaning and the risk of empty days are reflected in the net.
• The 35 m² layouts are very compact: liquid in letting but on resale the buyer pool is limited to investors.
• Minimum mortgage amount: lenders’ minimum loan amounts can sit above this price band, so settle the financing at the outset.

None of this makes the project a bad one, but there is a wide gap between buying with your eyes open and finding out afterwards. We give every client this list up front.

How does SoapWorks compare with the alternatives?

Before you decide, it is worth looking at the other projects in the same budget band:

• Willow Court: a similar entry price and yield band in Manchester.
• St James Quay: an alternative in Norwich with a river view and underfloor heating.
• LU2ON Luton: a high yielding alternative 23 minutes from London.

We can work out together which project fits your goal, judged on budget, intended use and exit plan. For an overview, our guide to UK property investment for international buyers is worth reading too.

Answers to the most common questions on this topic: Is Buying a Home in Liverpool a Good Idea?