HOME to more than 167,000 inhabitants, Basingstoke has a thriving commercial core, great shopping centres and restaurants and is surrounded by beautiful Hampshire countryside.

It is no wonder that the town is fast becoming a hotspot for renters and property investors, according to Ricky Bhurji, Investment Portfolio Manager at Romans.

He said good transport links are often high on the wish list for any property investor, alongside low unemployment rates, good local amenities and a variety of housing.

These are the things that attract a population of renters, particularly those looking for a commutable town in which to live.

Basingstoke offers tenants all of this and more. It’s just 45 minutes away from London via high speed rail links and the M3 and is home to large companies such as The AA, Sony, Motorola and Barclays.

It has an array of properties, from modern apartment blocks to terraced family homes and chocolate box cottages in surrounding villages.

House prices have risen by 7.33 per cent in the last six months bringing the average property value to £279,316 – a big saving on the average £580,264 price tag currently on London houses, according to figures from Zoopla.

As more commuters move away from London to affordable places, such as Basingstoke, Romans is predicting property prices will continue to rise as the demand increases.

Savvy investors have already purchased property in Basingstoke and are looking to grow their portfolios even more.

Although there are properties available, Romans is advising investors to act quickly as many of them are being snapped up within days. The current demand from tenants in Basingstoke is high, and it’s only expected to get higher, so landlords are finding it fairly quick and easy to find new occupants.

“Romans employs one of the highest number of licensed letting agents in the local area,” said Ricky.

“And with a variety of services available, including a complete managed service, landlords can rest assured that their properties are being looked after by highly experienced property managers.”

To be the first to know about the local buy-to-let market and new investment opportunities talk to the experienced team at Roman’s Basingstoke branch, in Winton Square or visit romans.co.uk.