It is no secret that the property market in Manchester is red-hot with fierce competition amongst both buyers and renters. High demand and a lack of supply has caused house prices to skyrocket, with rent costs also at an all-time high.
Those buying a property in Manchester today can expect to pay around £286,000 on average, with the standard monthly rent for tenants now at £978 - an increase of a whopping 14.4 percent in the last year alone.
With these costs becoming all the more unaffordable, those living in Manchester would be forgiven for looking elsewhere - and one nearby Lancashire town is ticking all the right boxes.
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The mill town of Burnley is having its moment in the limelight, following on from the huge success of Netflix' hit film The Bank of Dave - based on the true-life story of Dave Fishwick; a Burnley businessman who became a self-made millionaire in the wake of the 2008 financial crisis.
Having shone on a light on the area since its release in January this year, people are now beginning to notice Burnley for all that it has to offer - from its attractive property market to the gorgeous views of the West Pennine Moors that surround the town.
The biggest benefit of all is that houses prices and rent costs are considerably cheaper than Manchester, which is within commuting distance. The average cost of a house is just £153,250, and Zoopla recently named Burnley as the second cheapest area to rent in the UK - with the average rent just £507.
These affordable prices has provoked interest from buyers and tenants being priced out of the city, as well as investors hoping to make a good fortune.
Gareth Dooley, who is the director of Jon Simon estate agents' Burnley branch, specialises in residential property in the town and says he has seen an influx of buyers relocating from Manchester.
"It's certainly the case. Given our cheaper house prices and the improved rail links Manchester is far more commutable now than it was 10 years ago," he said.
"A train from Manchester Road station in Burnley takes less than an hour to get into central Manchester and with the M65 motorway network on our doorstep, a drive can even be less than that.
"The publicity surrounding the film [Bank of Dave] has heightened interest in Burnley and has certainly put the town on the map. From an estate agent's perspective I would certainly say we have more investment clients getting in touch who have seen the film and become curious about investing here.
"We deal with a frequent stream of buy to let purchasers who often travel from Manchester, Birmingham, and London, who are attracted to the town because of the lower asking prices and renal yields on offer."
Earlier this month, Michael Huckerby, who ran a marketing agency in Manchester, told the M.E.N why he moved to Padiham, the smaller of the two towns in the borough of Burnley.
He said: "I just came here and went 'oh my god I can buy four houses for £60,000', it was nuts. It's becoming more expensive now but it's still nowhere near Manchester prices.
"I have a house down the road which overlooks a field, it's a four bed semi-detached with a big garden and it was £250,000 - to put that into context, my one bed flat in the Northern Quarter is £240,000. And yet we're just 35 minutes from Manchester here."
Not only are the low costs appealing, but the stunning scenery, coupled with recent developments in Burnley are making it all the more attractive place to live.
"From wherever you are in the town you often have an eye catching view of Pendle Hill. It certainly appeals to anyone looking for a more semi-rural style of living," adds estate agent Gareth.
"The local authority have just began their ‘Town to Turf’ plan which is going to completely redevelop the town centre and bridge the gap between it and Turf Moor (home to the newly promoted Burnley FC).
"UCLAN has continued its investment in the town and its development of Victoria Mill has certainly been pleasing to watch over the last few years.
"I personally love to see the amount of independent business that have ‘sprung’ up since Covid, and think this is what allowed the town centre to be reported on as one of the least affected by Covid in the North West."
For those considering a move to Burnley, we've taken a look at what's available to buy and rent on the market at the moment.
Properties you can buy in Burnley
One noticeable difference in the housing stock in Burnley in comparison to Manchester is the style of properties it offers. The vast majority of homes were built around the late 19th century to house workers for the local cotton mills.
According to Gareth, terraced properties are the most 'readily available', however detached houses are some of the most popular due to offering impressive views at much more reasonable prices.
Terraced house, £40,000
At the cheapest end of the scale, this mid-terraced house is on the market with a guide price of £40,000.
The two-bed property, which is being sold via an auction, is listed as the 'perfect' buy-to-let investment or first-time buy, with the benefit of no onward chain.
The house appears to be in a good condition, which you wouldn't typically expect for a property going for this price. It has a good-sized kitchen and lounge on the ground floor, with a landing leading to two bedrooms and one bathroom upstairs.
It's also set in a convenient location, tucked away on a quiet street but within walking distance to transport links into Burnley and Padiham town centres.
Rosegrove train station is also just over half a mile away which offers direct routes into Manchester Victoria station.
Detached house, £239,950
There are a range of detached houses for sale suitable for families but with a much lower price tag than in Manchester.
This three-bed property priced at £239,950 is just one of many up for grabs, situated on a 'sought-after' development on the outskirts of Burnley with local amenities, transport links, primary and secondary schools within close proximity.
The modern house is made up of an entrance hallway with a spacious living room, downstairs toilet and an open-plan fitted kitchen and dining area with access out to the rear garden.
On the first floor are three generously sized bedrooms, one being the master which boasts an en-suite, and a contemporary family bathroom.
The M65 Motorway is a short drive away offering access to Manchester and beyond. Estate agents say this is 'one not to be missed' and early viewing is advised to avoid disappointment.
Farmhouse, £1,999,999
At the top end of Burnley's property market is this huge eight-bed residence priced at £1,999,999, which would arguably cost much more if found in Greater Manchester.
Cliviger Laithe Farmhouse, which originally dates back to the 1690s, has been substantially extended, improved and modernised over the years by its current owners to create the dream family home.
Tucked away in a quiet semi-rural yet convenient location in between Cliviger and Worsthorne on the outskirts of Burnley, the property has great access to all local amenities and is well placed for commuting.
The sprawling house comes complete with five reception rooms, including a spacious open-plan kitchen dining area, eight double bedrooms with five bathrooms, a swimming pool, gym, cinema, games room, bar and an orangery.
It's surrounded by extensive private landscaped gardens with a large south-facing sun terrace, tennis court, garden office building, gated driveway, ample parking and a double garage. Not to mention the stunning rural views behind it.
Properties you can rent in Burnley
Similar to sales, the rental stock in Burnley is predominately made up of smaller terrace houses, with the addition of more 'family style' detached and semi-detached homes.
Speaking of the rental market at the moment, Gareth said: "There is very little available to let in Burnley at the minute so it’s not uncommon for us to see multiple applicants per property.
"I certainly don’t envy tenants trying to find rented accommodation in the area, its hard….block viewings often have 5-10 applicants attending and landlords are often getting a choice of applicant."
Studio apartment, £400 per month
Even cheaper than the average rent cost in Burnley is this one-bed studio situated in the heart of the town, available to rent for £400 per month.
It sits inside Stephen House which estate agents say is set to become an 'iconic development' at the forefront of the transformation of the 'rapidly evolving' town.
The apartment comes unfurnished and is made up of an open-plan lounge kitchen with a range of white gloss wall and base units and a built-in electric oven and hob.
There is one bedroom and a three-piece bathroom suite with a large walk-in shower and natural-stone effect porcelain tiles.
The deposit needed to secure this apartment is £461.
Terraced house, £525 per month
Available to rent for £522 a month is a two-bed terrace found in the quiet residential area of Ightenhill.
The property, which comes unfurnished, was renovated last year with a fresh lick of paint and new carpets installed throughout.
Inside there are two good-sized reception rooms, ideally used as a dining room and living room, a kitchen, two double bedrooms and one three-piece bathroom.
The house is ideally located for easy access to bus routes into Burnley and Padiham, motorway links to Manchester and is only a short walking distance to Rosegrove train station.
A deposit of £605 is required to secure this rental home.
Semi-detached house, £800 per month
At the top end of the rental market is a semi-detached house up for rent at £800 a month.
The three-bed property is located in a 'popular part' of the town with local amenities, transport links, primary and secondary schools close by.
The unfurnished modern home is made up of an entrance hallway with a living room, fitted kitchen and dining area on the ground floor.
There is an open balustrade staircase leading to the first floor where there are three well proportioned bedrooms and a bathroom. There is a garden to the front and the rear.
The property is listed as 'perfect for a small family' and one 'not to be missed'.
A deposit of £800 is required which is equivalent to one month's rent.
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