Riverside Plaza ticks the boxes for a great investment

Professional investor Sue Hainsby is convinced that the two homes she has bought at Riverside Plaza, Barratt's award-winning riverside development in Maidstone, are a great long-term investment. After buying a two-bedroom apartment, Sue was so impressed with Riverside Plaza that she added a three-bedroom house to her investment portfolio.

Sue and her husband remain undeterred by the current difficulties in the property market: "We choose properties to invest in very carefully and we don't believe that the buy-to-let market will be affected in the long-term," she says. Her sentiments are shared by the recent Bradford & Bingley Buy-to-Let Confidence Study *, which found that 90% of investors - four per cent more than last year - remain confident in their investments.

It was while visiting the annual Homebuyer and Property Investor Show that Sue first heard about Riverside Plaza and quickly spotted its potential for investment. "Riverside developments are always in demand, and the quality of the homes, together with a great location close to the town centre and station, tick the boxes for a good investment property," she comments.

Riverside Plaza is located in a peaceful area on the banks of the River Medway, an easy walk from Maidstone town centre and the station, which has regular services into London taking around an hour. The apartments are light and spacious, many with floor-to-ceiling windows and balconies overlooking the river. With a residents-only fitness centre and riverside walk just steps away, Riverside Plaza offers a great lifestyle.

Sue, who lives in Chislehurst with her husband, a city trader, and their daughter, has been investing in property for three years and owns 13 rental properties across the UK. She bought her first property at Riverside Plaza under a Guaranteed Rental scheme, which Barratt occasionally offers to investors. "This was a great deal because there are no letting fees, I don't have to find and look after tenants and the rent is paid regularly and on time," Sue enthuses. "The sales people at Barratt have been wonderful, they take care of everything," she adds.

Both the properties Sue owns have been used as show homes, with Sue buying the homes and renting them back to Barratt for as long as they are needed. "Buying a show home is another great advantage," Sue says, "It means that the home has been finished to a very high specification, with plenty of extras, and the interior design is always excellent."

Neil Johnson, Director at the Maidstone office of Martin and Co, the UK's leading letting agent, confirms the apartments at Riverside Plaza are an excellent investment for buy-to-let.

He comments: "There's no doubt that Riverside Plaza is one of the best developments in Maidstone and the apartments we manage are usually snapped up for rental very quickly. Riverside Plaza has great advantages: it's very well positioned in a quiet area close to the town and station, and its riverside location and extras such as the gym are an added bonus. Tenants are looking for a high quality, modern property and Riverside Plaza stands out as a great option."

Riverside Plaza, which has won three major industry awards for its outstanding design, is in its last phase. All the houses have been sold and the remaining one-bedroom apartments are priced from £129,995 and two-bedroom apartments from £169,995. There are excellent incentives to help purchasers, including payment of the five per cent deposit.

For more information, log on to Barratthomes.co.uk.

* The Buy-to-Let Confidence Study is commissioned by Bradford & Bingley and Mortgage Express, its specialist intermediary lender, which has led the way in buy-to-let for more than a decade. This report, carried out independently by GfK NOP, represents the responses of approximately 8,000 property investors. It is the largest survey of its kind and offers a unique, comprehensive insight into the current state of play for buy-to-let, as well as a realistic view of the future.