Hemel Hempstead: should you rent, buy, invest or live here?
The most useful local property guide in Hertfordshire — DR Rent Area Scores, rental & investment insight, schools, dining, things to do, commuting, developments and live homes across HP1, HP2, HP3.
Hemel Hempstead DR Rent Area Score™
One score that combines rental demand, investment, family life, commuting, lifestyle and food.
Renting in Hemel Hempstead
The Hemel Hempstead rental market in Hertfordshire is active and competitive, with average rents around £1,392 pcm and rents up roughly 6.3% over the past year. Strong commuter links and local employment keep demand from tenants consistently ahead of available supply across HP1, HP2, HP3.
Rental competition
How hard tenants compete for each property type in Hemel Hempstead.
- StudioMedium
- 1 bedHigh
- 2 bedHigh
- 3 bedHigh
- Family homesVery high
Average time to let
18 days
Tenant demand
Very high
Best for
Who tends to rent well in Hemel Hempstead.
- Professionals
- Families
- Commuters
- Couples
- First-time renters
| Property type | Average rent (pcm) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Room / HMO | £570 | £6,840 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,085 | £13,020 |
| 2-bed flat | £1,356 | £16,272 |
| 3-bed house | £1,736 | £20,832 |
| 4-bed house | £2,237 | £26,844 |
Featured properties in Hemel Hempstead
Premium and featured homes listed by landlords on DR Rent across HP1, HP2, HP3.
Buying in Hemel Hempstead
What buyers and first-time buyers can expect from the local sales market.
Average price
£350,000
Price growth (1yr)
+3.5%
Buyer demand
High
Supply
Medium
First-time buyer suitability
Reasonable for the South East
Buying snapshot
Buyers in Hemel Hempstead face high competition with prices around £350,000 and growth of about 3.5% over the last year. Reasonable for the South East.
Investing in Hemel Hempstead
With an average property price near £350,000 and gross yields around 5.9%, Hemel Hempstead offers landlords a balance of capital growth and rental income. Prices have moved about 3.5% in the last year, and very high tenant demand helps keep void periods short.
Landlord opportunity score
8.9/10What tenants are looking for
Live DR Rent demand signal for Hemel Hempstead — nobody else has this.
- 1Homes with parking
- 2Garden flats
- 33 bed houses
- 4Properties near the station
Family living & schools in Hemel Hempstead
Schools, Ofsted ratings and family facilities that drive long-term family lettings.
| School | Type | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hemel Hempstead Primary School | Primary | Outstanding | 0.8 mi |
| St Mary's C of E Primary, Hemel Hempstead | Primary | Outstanding | 1.7 mi |
| Hemel Hempstead Junior Academy | Primary | Good | 1.5 mi |
| Hemel Hempstead Grammar School | Secondary | Good | 1 mi |
| Hemel Hempstead Community College | Secondary | Outstanding | 2.5 mi |
| The Hemel Hempstead Academy | Secondary | Good | 1.7 mi |
Family facilities
- Hemel Hempstead Leisure Centre & swimming pool
- Local parks and playgrounds
- Public library
- Soft play and family cafés
- NHS GP surgeries and pharmacies
- Weekend markets and community events
Eating out in Hemel Hempstead
Popular restaurants, takeaways and coffee shops with ratings and distance.
The Hemel Hempstead Brasserie
2 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Spice of Hemel Hempstead
1.8 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Bella Cucina
2 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
The Garden Kitchen
0.3 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Hemel Hempstead Tandoori
0.3 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Coffee & Co, Hemel Hempstead
1.9 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Socialising in Hemel Hempstead
Pubs, bars, nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
The Crown, Hemel Hempstead
2.4 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
The Railway Tavern
0.5 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Vault Bar
1 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Hemel Hempstead Live Lounge
1.8 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
The Riverside Inn
1.9 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Hemel Hempstead Shopping Centre
1.2 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Things to do in Hemel Hempstead
Gyms, sports clubs, cinemas, golf, walking routes and family attractions.
Hemel Hempstead Sports & Fitness
1.3 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Hemel Hempstead Cricket Club
0.9 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Parkland Golf Club
0.7 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Hemel Hempstead Cinema
1.7 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Riverside Walking Route
1.7 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Hemel Hempstead Adventure Park
0.7 mi from Hemel Hempstead centre
Commuting from Hemel Hempstead
London, Heathrow, Reading and motorway connections with typical travel times.
| Destination | Mode | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| London (central) | Train | 37 min |
| London Paddington | Elizabeth Line / GWR | 24 min |
| Reading | Train | 24 min |
| Heathrow Airport | Car / bus | 27 min |
| M4 motorway | Car | 18 min |
| M25 motorway | Car | 25 min |
Local developments in Hemel Hempstead
What's coming soon and how it could affect the local market.
Hemel Hempstead town centre regeneration
Under construction
New residential scheme near HP1
Approved
Hemel Hempstead retail & leisure quarter
Planning
New primary school provision
Proposed
Transport & station improvements
Funded
Local services in Hemel Hempstead
Verified contractors covering HP1, HP2, HP3 — connected to the DR Rent marketplace.
EPC Assessors in Hemel Hempstead
Accredited domestic energy assessors producing valid EPCs for rental properties.
View epc assessorsGas Engineers in Hemel Hempstead
Gas Safe registered engineers issuing annual landlord gas safety records.
View gas engineersElectricians in Hemel Hempstead
Registered electricians carrying out EICR inspections and remedial works.
View electriciansPlumbers in Hemel Hempstead
Reliable plumbers for repairs, leaks, heating and bathroom works.
View plumbersInventory Clerks in Hemel Hempstead
Independent inventory clerks producing detailed check-in and check-out reports.
View inventory clerksProperty Photographers in Hemel Hempstead
Professional property photographers and floorplans to let faster.
View property photographersRenting & compliance in Hemel Hempstead
The certificates and rules every local landlord must stay on top of.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Rentals in Hemel Hempstead must hold a valid EPC rated E or above before marketing.
Annual gas safety (CP12)
Every gas appliance must be checked yearly by a Gas Safe registered engineer.
EICR (electrical safety)
A satisfactory electrical report is required at least every five years.
Deposit protection
Deposits must be protected in a government scheme within 30 days.
Right to Rent
Tenant immigration status must be checked before a tenancy begins.
Renters' Rights Act
New rules are reshaping how landlords let property across Hertfordshire.
More local data for Hemel Hempstead
Coming soon: schools, crime, transport, planning and investment forecasts.
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