Leicester: should you rent, buy, invest or live here?
The most useful local property guide in Leicestershire — DR Rent Area Scores, rental & investment insight, schools, dining, things to do, commuting, developments and live homes across LE1, LE2, LE3.
Leicester DR Rent Area Score™
One score that combines rental demand, investment, family life, commuting, lifestyle and food.
Renting in Leicester
The Leicester rental market in Leicestershire is active and competitive, with average rents around £1,805 pcm and rents up roughly 8.3% over the past year. Strong commuter links and local employment keep demand from tenants consistently ahead of available supply across LE1, LE2, LE3.
Rental competition
How hard tenants compete for each property type in Leicester.
- StudioLow
- 1 bedHigh
- 2 bedHigh
- 3 bedHigh
- Family homesVery high
Average time to let
26 days
Tenant demand
High
Best for
Who tends to rent well in Leicester.
- Professionals
- Families
- Commuters
- Couples
- First-time renters
| Property type | Average rent (pcm) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Room / HMO | £738 | £8,856 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,406 | £16,872 |
| 2-bed flat | £1,758 | £21,096 |
| 3-bed house | £2,250 | £27,000 |
| 4-bed house | £2,901 | £34,812 |
Featured properties in Leicester
Premium and featured homes listed by landlords on DR Rent across LE1, LE2, LE3.
Buying in Leicester
What buyers and first-time buyers can expect from the local sales market.
Average price
£386,000
Price growth (1yr)
+1.7%
Buyer demand
Medium
Supply
High
First-time buyer suitability
Reasonable for the South East
Buying snapshot
Buyers in Leicester face medium competition with prices around £386,000 and growth of about 1.7% over the last year. Reasonable for the South East.
Investing in Leicester
With an average property price near £386,000 and gross yields around 5.3%, Leicester offers landlords a balance of capital growth and rental income. Prices have moved about 1.7% in the last year, and high tenant demand helps keep void periods short.
Landlord opportunity score
7.7/10What tenants are looking for
Live DR Rent demand signal for Leicester — nobody else has this.
- 1Homes with parking
- 2Properties near the station
- 3Furnished 1 bed flats
- 43 bed houses
Family living & schools in Leicester
Schools, Ofsted ratings and family facilities that drive long-term family lettings.
| School | Type | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leicester Primary School | Primary | Outstanding | 2 mi |
| St Mary's C of E Primary, Leicester | Primary | Outstanding | 1.6 mi |
| Leicester Junior Academy | Primary | Outstanding | 1.4 mi |
| Leicester Grammar School | Secondary | Outstanding | 2.5 mi |
| Leicester Community College | Secondary | Good | 1.7 mi |
| The Leicester Academy | Secondary | Outstanding | 1.8 mi |
Family facilities
- Leicester 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 Leicester
Popular restaurants, takeaways and coffee shops with ratings and distance.
The Leicester Brasserie
0.3 mi from Leicester centre
Spice of Leicester
0.7 mi from Leicester centre
Bella Cucina
0.6 mi from Leicester centre
The Garden Kitchen
1.6 mi from Leicester centre
Leicester Tandoori
0.9 mi from Leicester centre
Coffee & Co, Leicester
1.1 mi from Leicester centre
Socialising in Leicester
Pubs, bars, nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
The Crown, Leicester
1.8 mi from Leicester centre
The Railway Tavern
2.1 mi from Leicester centre
Vault Bar
1.1 mi from Leicester centre
Leicester Live Lounge
1.6 mi from Leicester centre
The Riverside Inn
0.7 mi from Leicester centre
Leicester Shopping Centre
1.7 mi from Leicester centre
Things to do in Leicester
Gyms, sports clubs, cinemas, golf, walking routes and family attractions.
Leicester Sports & Fitness
0.3 mi from Leicester centre
Leicester Cricket Club
1.1 mi from Leicester centre
Parkland Golf Club
0.9 mi from Leicester centre
Leicester Cinema
1.9 mi from Leicester centre
Riverside Walking Route
1.8 mi from Leicester centre
Leicester Adventure Park
1.5 mi from Leicester centre
Commuting from Leicester
London, Heathrow, Reading and motorway connections with typical travel times.
| Destination | Mode | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| London (central) | Train | 32 min |
| London Paddington | Elizabeth Line / GWR | 32 min |
| Reading | Train | 26 min |
| Heathrow Airport | Car / bus | 29 min |
| M4 motorway | Car | 17 min |
| M25 motorway | Car | 26 min |
Local developments in Leicester
What's coming soon and how it could affect the local market.
Leicester town centre regeneration
Under construction
New residential scheme near LE1
Approved
Leicester retail & leisure quarter
Planning
New primary school provision
Proposed
Transport & station improvements
Funded
Local services in Leicester
Verified contractors covering LE1, LE2, LE3 — connected to the DR Rent marketplace.
EPC Assessors in Leicester
Accredited domestic energy assessors producing valid EPCs for rental properties.
View epc assessorsGas Engineers in Leicester
Gas Safe registered engineers issuing annual landlord gas safety records.
View gas engineersElectricians in Leicester
Registered electricians carrying out EICR inspections and remedial works.
View electriciansPlumbers in Leicester
Reliable plumbers for repairs, leaks, heating and bathroom works.
View plumbersInventory Clerks in Leicester
Independent inventory clerks producing detailed check-in and check-out reports.
View inventory clerksProperty Photographers in Leicester
Professional property photographers and floorplans to let faster.
View property photographersRenting & compliance in Leicester
The certificates and rules every local landlord must stay on top of.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Rentals in Leicester 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 Leicestershire.
More local data for Leicester
Coming soon: schools, crime, transport, planning and investment forecasts.
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