The Cotswolds is an international tourist hotspot covering a vast and rural area of central England of almost 800 square miles. Encompassing five counties the region was first designated as an Area of Outstanding National Beauty in 1966.

Scenery and architecture vary greatly across the area, but mention ‘Cotswolds’ to almost anyone across the globe and the image they conger will be of honey coloured stone cottages, rolling hills and babbling streams. The quintessential English rural idyl.

The tourist trail is very much evident in a number of the most picturesque villages. These include Stow on the Wold, Chipping Campden, Bourton on the Water, Bibury and Broadway. In peak tourist season coaches deliver high volumes of tourists arriving to admire unspoilt stone architecture, tea rooms, pubs, quaint shops and some first - class hotels.

Straying away from major tourist destinations reveals stunning open countryside, peppered with pretty rural villages. There are beautiful gardens including Hidcote and Batsford Arboretum which are open to the public, along also with a number of fine historic houses including the unique Snowshill Manor and Kelmscott Manor, the former home of William Morris.

For clients wishing to invest in the long letting markets we typically advise targeting the major market towns such as Cirencester and Cheltenham where rental demand from young professionals is highest.

Demand for ‘furnished’ vs ‘unfurnished’ accommodation is property dependent and we fully advise clients on suitably equipping long letting investments on a case-by-case basis to ensure maximum tenant appeal.

The short letting market carries a more varied geography and is less limited to the major towns. Property in quintessential villages and even remote rural property can be popular if appropriately furnished and equipped.

We guide our clients to the best and most effective towns and villages before targeting particular properties. Short letting rents can be as high as 30% above traditional long letting rents, but additional costs and void periods are higher and need to be factored in.

Despite being a vast and varied area, the overall Cotswold property market is a safe one. Prices are sustained by high owner occupier demand and a long history of limited new housing development ensures healthy long term price growth.

The attraction a centrally located but vastly rural region holds major appeal for a range of buyers and renters including urban departees, retirees, young families and second home owners, all of which combine to ensure a buoyant property market.

To discuss the unique Buy to Let market around the Cotswolds in more detail please contact us on 01491 833163 or email enquiries@oxonps.co.uk