Preston: should you rent, buy, invest or live here?
The most useful local property guide in Lancashire — DR Rent Area Scores, rental & investment insight, schools, dining, things to do, commuting, developments and live homes across PR1, PR2, PR5.
Preston DR Rent Area Score™
One score that combines rental demand, investment, family life, commuting, lifestyle and food.
Renting in Preston
The Preston rental market in Lancashire is active and competitive, with average rents around £1,407 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 PR1, PR2, PR5.
Rental competition
How hard tenants compete for each property type in Preston.
- StudioVery high
- 1 bedHigh
- 2 bedMedium
- 3 bedHigh
- Family homesVery high
Average time to let
25 days
Tenant demand
High
Best for
Who tends to rent well in Preston.
- Professionals
- Families
- Commuters
- Couples
- First-time renters
| Property type | Average rent (pcm) | Per year |
|---|---|---|
| Room / HMO | £575 | £6,900 |
| 1-bed flat | £1,096 | £13,152 |
| 2-bed flat | £1,370 | £16,440 |
| 3-bed house | £1,754 | £21,048 |
| 4-bed house | £2,261 | £27,132 |
Featured properties in Preston
Premium and featured homes listed by landlords on DR Rent across PR1, PR2, PR5.
Buying in Preston
What buyers and first-time buyers can expect from the local sales market.
Average price
£312,000
Price growth (1yr)
+3%
Buyer demand
Medium
Supply
Low
First-time buyer suitability
Reasonable for the South East
Buying snapshot
Buyers in Preston face medium competition with prices around £312,000 and growth of about 3% over the last year. Reasonable for the South East.
Investing in Preston
With an average property price near £312,000 and gross yields around 5.4%, Preston offers landlords a balance of capital growth and rental income. Prices have moved about 3% in the last year, and high tenant demand helps keep void periods short.
Landlord opportunity score
8/10What tenants are looking for
Live DR Rent demand signal for Preston — nobody else has this.
- 13 bed houses
- 2Furnished 1 bed flats
- 32 bed flats
- 4Properties near the station
Family living & schools in Preston
Schools, Ofsted ratings and family facilities that drive long-term family lettings.
| School | Type | Ofsted | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|
| Preston Primary School | Primary | Good | 2.5 mi |
| St Mary's C of E Primary, Preston | Primary | Good | 1.2 mi |
| Preston Junior Academy | Primary | Good | 1.8 mi |
| Preston Grammar School | Secondary | Good | 0.8 mi |
| Preston Community College | Secondary | Good | 1.6 mi |
| The Preston Academy | Secondary | Outstanding | 1.6 mi |
Family facilities
- Preston 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 Preston
Popular restaurants, takeaways and coffee shops with ratings and distance.
The Preston Brasserie
0.6 mi from Preston centre
Spice of Preston
0.3 mi from Preston centre
Bella Cucina
2.1 mi from Preston centre
The Garden Kitchen
1.3 mi from Preston centre
Preston Tandoori
0.3 mi from Preston centre
Coffee & Co, Preston
2.2 mi from Preston centre
Socialising in Preston
Pubs, bars, nightlife, entertainment and shopping.
The Crown, Preston
1.9 mi from Preston centre
The Railway Tavern
0.3 mi from Preston centre
Vault Bar
0.7 mi from Preston centre
Preston Live Lounge
0.8 mi from Preston centre
The Riverside Inn
2.2 mi from Preston centre
Preston Shopping Centre
1.1 mi from Preston centre
Things to do in Preston
Gyms, sports clubs, cinemas, golf, walking routes and family attractions.
Preston Sports & Fitness
2.2 mi from Preston centre
Preston Cricket Club
1.9 mi from Preston centre
Parkland Golf Club
1.6 mi from Preston centre
Preston Cinema
1.1 mi from Preston centre
Riverside Walking Route
1.4 mi from Preston centre
Preston Adventure Park
0.5 mi from Preston centre
Commuting from Preston
London, Heathrow, Reading and motorway connections with typical travel times.
| Destination | Mode | Typical time |
|---|---|---|
| London (central) | Train | 35 min |
| London Paddington | Elizabeth Line / GWR | 24 min |
| Reading | Train | 26 min |
| Heathrow Airport | Car / bus | 23 min |
| M4 motorway | Car | 17 min |
| M25 motorway | Car | 23 min |
Local developments in Preston
What's coming soon and how it could affect the local market.
Preston town centre regeneration
Under construction
New residential scheme near PR1
Approved
Preston retail & leisure quarter
Planning
New primary school provision
Proposed
Transport & station improvements
Funded
Local services in Preston
Verified contractors covering PR1, PR2, PR5 — connected to the DR Rent marketplace.
EPC Assessors in Preston
Accredited domestic energy assessors producing valid EPCs for rental properties.
View epc assessorsGas Engineers in Preston
Gas Safe registered engineers issuing annual landlord gas safety records.
View gas engineersElectricians in Preston
Registered electricians carrying out EICR inspections and remedial works.
View electriciansPlumbers in Preston
Reliable plumbers for repairs, leaks, heating and bathroom works.
View plumbersInventory Clerks in Preston
Independent inventory clerks producing detailed check-in and check-out reports.
View inventory clerksProperty Photographers in Preston
Professional property photographers and floorplans to let faster.
View property photographersRenting & compliance in Preston
The certificates and rules every local landlord must stay on top of.
EPC (Energy Performance Certificate)
Rentals in Preston 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 Lancashire.
More local data for Preston
Coming soon: schools, crime, transport, planning and investment forecasts.
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