County Durham - rents rising faster than prices, and what it means for your yield

County Durham's average house price is up 4.4% this year, while rent has grown faster still, up 6.1%. That gap between rental growth and price growth is exactly the kind of market condition that improves yields for landlords.

📊 The numbers

At £137,000, County Durham sits well below the North East average of £164,000, and less than half the UK average of £271,000. Average rent of £641 a month is also below the North East average of £781. Here's how that plays out by property type.

💷 Buy-to-let snapshot by property type

Estimated gross yield, calculated from average price and average rent by property type. Excludes costs, fees, and void periods.

👀 One to watch: Bishop Auckland

Bishop Auckland's new bus station opened in May, part of a wider £75 million transport investment in the town. Unlike areas where infrastructure hasn't shown up in prices yet, Bishop Auckland's median price is already up 8.5% over five quarters, well ahead of the county's 4.4%, with rent estimated around £740 a month. It's still one of the more affordable towns in the county, which is exactly why the growth stands out for landlords looking at their next purchase.

🏠 Investment opportunity we're marketing

2 Bed Terraced House, Fox Street, Seaham — Offers over £35,000 — New Listing, No Chain. Less than a third of the county's £114,000 terraced average.

For more properties we're marketing across County Durham, visit nguhomes.co.uk.

County Durham remains one of the most accessible entry points in the country, and the Seaham example above shows why. If you're a landlord here, whether you're reviewing your rent, weighing up a purchase, or expanding your portfolio, just reply and I'll go through the numbers with you.