Increase in demand after Leeds named top UK city to live for under 35s
A leading Leeds sales and lettings agency is reporting an increase in demand, after Leeds city centre was named the number one place in the UK to live for Under 35s in The Sunday Times.
The national ranking has highlighted the city’s growing appeal as one of the most compelling residential property markets outside London.
Tobias Duczenko, Managing Director at Zenko City Living, commented: “As our recent ‘Guide to Investing in Leeds’ highlights, there are plenty of great opportunities for investors in Leeds.
"City centre rents have risen steadily, averaging £1,120 per month, whilst apartments account for over 80 per cent of lettings - reflecting a city centre population that has grown significantly in the last decade.
"High graduate retention, supported by thousands of students across the city’s universities, ensures a reliable annual cycle of demand for well-located, high-quality properties.”
As well as being a popular place to invest, Leeds offers young professionals a rare combination of affordability, walkability and economic opportunity.
Tobias added: “Two-bedroom city centre apartments can still be bought for under £200,000, whilst average rents are just over £1,100 per month.
"Crucially, these price points provide access to a compact, vibrant city centre packed full of offices, transport links, retail, culture, green spaces, dining and nightlife.
“The hype around Leeds is not just lifestyle marketing. It is one of the UK’s strongest regional economies, home to over 100,000 businesses and contributing around five per cent of national economic output.
"With a population of around 850,000, projected to reach one million by 2050, and a median age of 36, Leeds city centre has sustained demand across both its residential sales and lettings markets.”
Over the past 20 years, Leeds has evolved into Yorkshire’s most productive economies, contributing over 40 per cent of West Yorkshire’s £70 billion output.
Major regeneration projects, such as the South Bank’s Aire Park, are delivering new homes, offices and eight acres of green space, vastly increasing the size of the city centre.
The Leeds Innovation Village is also transforming the former Leeds General Infirmary estate into a global hub for health, science, and technology, expected to create up to 4,000 jobs and hundreds of new homes. Transport infrastructure is advancing with major station upgrades and a mass transit system planned for the early 2030s.
Jonathan Morgan, now a Partner at Zenko, has been shaping the Leeds city centre market for nearly 30 years.
He added: “Leeds is no longer an emerging market - it’s well established, with headroom for price and rental growth. Buyers are seeking long-term value, whilst renters view Leeds as a place to build a life, not just pass through. In a national market challenged by affordability, Leeds stands out as a city where ambition is achievable and where getting on the property ladder and getting ahead go hand in hand.”