Research from lettings platform Howsy has revealed the best locations in Britain for property investment – either simply for investment reasons or buy-to-let. 

The study reveals which UK locations are currently ranked as the best places to invest in bricks and mortar, and which are the optimum areas to invest in a buy-to-let to merge the best of both worlds amid struggling market conditions. 

The letting agent looked into finding the regions in Britain with the best property value growth over the past year, which locations hold the highest rental yields and where is the best option for a combination of both when investing in your next home. 

The study found that when it comes to pure property value growth, North Devon ranked highest at 15% growth year-on-year, followed by Welsh cities Merthyr Tydfil and Blaenau Gwent in second place at 13%, and Caerphilly, also in Wales, up 11%. 

Camden was found to be the best area in London, with house prices 10% higher during the last year. This was followed by West Devon, Forest Heath, Rochdale and Monmouthshire all up 9%, while Trafford witnessed an annual growth rate of 8%. 

With regards to current buy-to-let rental yields, the list of best locations in Britain was topped by Glasgow, boasting a return of 7.5%. Scotland was also home to the next best three rankings: Midlothian and East Ayrshire both at 6.8% and West Dunbartonshire at 6.7%. 

Burnley and Belfast followed with current yields of 6.5%, while Inverclyde (6.4%), Falkirk (6.3%), the Western Isles (6.2%) and finally, Clackmannanshire (6.1%) completed the top 10. 

Calum Brannan, founder and chief executive officer of Howsy noted: “The face of the lettings sector has changed quite considerably with the advent of technology-based solutions to traditional problems, and now even the most amateur of buy to let landlords can own a home on the other side of the UK and manage their investment efficiently and effectively.”