The United Kingdom has always been a major international industrial hub, with businesses looking to set up shop here because of the country’s access to natural resources, its highly-skilled workforce, and the availability of property at reasonable prices.
This means that industrial units for sale in the UK are always on the market, which could mean an excellent property investment opportunity for you! However, industrial units can come in all shapes and sizes, and finding the right one may take some research on your part.
Here are some tips on how to find the best industrial units for sale in the UK.
What is an Industrial Unit?
An industrial unit is a property used for business purposes. Industrial units can vary from warehouses and workshops to manufacturing plants and labs.
These properties are most often bought by SMEs (small and medium-sized enterprises) looking to set up their own companies; by large companies wanting extra storage space; or by those hoping to make money from renting out the unit. For more information on industrial units, please take a look at our guide below!
Types of Industrial Units
There are three main types of industrial units: HMOs, which stands for House of Multiple Occupancy; factories or manufacturing spaces; and warehouses. Some businesses will rent all three types of units, depending on their specific needs at any given time.
Whatever type you choose, make sure you research your options before signing a contract—you don’t want to be forced into deciding by landlords desperate to fill their vacant properties! There are also two kinds of industrial units that business owners may use:
Leasehold – If you decide to lease a property, make sure it does not require repair work once you move in. This can prove costly over time if it affects your business productivity.
Freehold – If you decide to buy an industrial unit outright, consider whether there is room for expansion or if it has potential as an investment property in future years. You will also need to research which areas are best suited for industrial units and where they are located.
You will find them close to motorways and major roads, but ideally not too close; they should be in areas with easy access by public transport; and near amenities such as schools, supermarkets, and places of worship.
Tips to find the best industrial units for sale in the UK
Let’s take a look at some of our top tips on how you can find your ideal industrial units, as well as what makes them a good investment. Industrial units are an excellent option for those looking to invest in property – they offer diverse facilities, and you can use them as office space or storage facilities, among other things.
As they can be easily divided into smaller spaces, they’re more flexible than conventional offices and retail spaces too – so it depends on what you want to do with them.
Narrow Down Your Area
When searching for industrial units in the UK, you may want to start by focusing on a particular area or town. Industrial property is typically expensive and isn’t typically considered a good investment; thus, you can narrow down your search by looking at areas that have high-demand industries—high-tech manufacturing plants and distribution centers are two good examples.
If possible, try to consider areas that are lacking proper commercial real estate. For example, an industrial park might be more attractive if it’s located near residential neighbourhoods. This way, businesses will be more likely to move into your industrial park because they won’t have any other options nearby.
Think About What You Want From Your Property
Your dream industrial unit should be located near high-demand industries like manufacturing and heavy industry. Industrial units are often large, with enough space to hold everything you need to make your product or run your business, so they’re a great choice if you’re looking for a lot of room.
Because these types of properties have few customers coming through their doors, they don’t tend to require much external advertising—so finding an ideal place shouldn’t be too tricky. You can use online property portals like Property Buy Rent to find industrial units for sale in the UK; simply search by location and size.
You can also use local estate agents to help you find suitable industrial buildings for rent or sale in your area. Make sure you check out all potential locations before making a decision, as some areas might be better suited than others depending on what type of work you do.
Don’t Buy Something That Needs Fixing
Just like you’re not looking for a house with problematic neighbors, you don’t want to buy an industrial unit that needs work. If you can, get your hands on a professional appraisal of a property or an independent contractor report before signing anything official. These reports will give you an idea of what needs fixing and what doesn’t.
You might be surprised by how much it costs to fix up a building after purchase—so make sure there aren’t any surprises down the road! Also, make sure you have time set aside to complete these fixes; as is often said about investing in real estate, renting is easy; buying is hard.
It’s also worth noting that industrial units are generally easier to find than houses—in fact, many investors who have tried their hand at home-buying now only invest in industrial units because they require less legwork.
Think About Location, Location, Location
Industrial buildings for rent aren’t just about their functionality; their location also plays a major role. The types of businesses that operate within industrial buildings may be one indication of what kind of neighbourhood it is, and if you don’t have a particular industry in mind, you might look at your community demographics.
If a high-demand industry like transportation is booming in your area, you could invest in industrial property that houses shipping warehouses or ports—all of which require high traffic.
On the other hand, an industrial building in a low-traffic area with few amenities nearby will likely be less desirable. Before purchasing industrial units for sale in the UK, think about how much foot traffic they’ll get each day—and whether those people are likely to stop by more than once.
Spend Time Looking At Industrial Units
Now that you know what to look for, spend time driving around looking at industrial units. Listen out for any units which are being advertised as ‘for sale as opposed to ‘to rent’ – industrial property investment is usually a better bet than residential when it comes to capital gains.
You will also be able to see whether or not any of them would be suitable in terms of size and location. If they do have tenants, find out how long they have been there. If they’ve been there a while then there might be something wrong with the building itself.
They might not like it if they have only been there a short time. Try asking local estate agents if they know of any industrial units for sale. They may even be willing to give you a little bit of insider information on those industrial properties that are already on the market.
Consider Prices And Deals
One of the easiest ways to find an industrial property with good potential is by knowing what’s on offer. If you see a unit that’s highly-priced or isn’t as well equipped as it could be, then chances are there’s something wrong with it.
Likewise, if you can get hold of an exclusive deal or price – like 1% deposit, 0% interest for 12 months – then all your attention should go straight to that unit. This will allow you to focus more time and energy on getting those things sorted out before moving forward.
It might also mean negotiating a better price than you would have done otherwise. As long as everything checks out, don’t let any opportunity pass you by!
Conclusion
To make property investment successful, you need to ensure you choose industrial units that fit your business’s requirements. Use our advice as a starting point and you’ll soon be well on your way. If you’re looking for industrial buildings for rent or sale in the UK, visit our property portal Property Buy Rent.
We have an extensive range of industrial units available in locations across London. All industrial units come with optional 24/7 access. So whether you’re looking for storage space or office space, we can help! Browse our online rental listings today!
For Sales & Booking:
UK Office Address: 88-90 Goodmayes Road, Goodmayes, IG3 9UU, UK
Feel Free to contact us:
+44 798380 4244
Info@propertybuy-rent.co.uk
