“It’s a Great Development With High-Quality Homes” – Mortgage Broker and Landlord Wentao Zhang Chooses Berkeley’s the Green Quarter as His First Property Investment

Wentao Zhang (40) first got a taste for property investment when he bought a Manhattan apartment at Berkeley’s The Green Quarter for £284,000 in the summer of 2020, as part of its first phase. Since then, he’s seen the development grow and its community prosper and has since bought another buy to let property elsewhere because of the positivity of his experience. 

“When I was looking to become a landlord, the buy to let market was really attractive to me because of its strong yields and the stability of the market.” Wentao continues, “My home at The Green Quarter is a sound, easy source of income each month and has continued to be profitable despite a changing market.  It’s a great development with high-quality homes – as you’d expect with Berkeley – and I’ve had the pleasure of watching it grow into all it is today. The place has a bright future and I look forward to seeing how my investment matures as the area goes from strength to strength.”

At the Southall development, Berkeley is delivering one of the most biodiverse regeneration projects in the UK. Upon completion, it aims to have delivered over 93 per cent biodiversity net gain and 13 acres of parkland for both residents and wildlife to enjoy. In partnership with London Wildlife Trust, over 2,500 new trees are being planted, including 600 air-potted in a new tree nursery with an integrated nature trail at Parkside Yards.

“I first saw the development when it was in its very early stages and, since then, it’s transformed beyond recognition.” Wentao explains, “For starters, there’s been a lot of landscaping and hundreds of trees have been planted, with 2,500 due to be planted over the duration of the project. People want to live near nature – it gives them the respite they need from busy London – and residents have unmatched access to the great outdoors. But that doesn’t come at the compromise of modern convenience.  With Southall station only a 10-minute walk away, you can be in Heathrow Airport in 10 minutes and Bond Street in 17 minutes using the Elizabeth line. If they feel like staying local, they’ve also got Parkside Yards right on their doorstep where they can grab some food, get involved in the busy community activities calendar, or meet new friends. Everything The Green Quarter is offering – the food and drink options, the gym, the parks – is fantastic and the community Berkeley has built there is great.”

Parkside Yards is The Green Quarter’s vibrant commercial district, a new destination combining creativity, community and nature. The space offers a mix of amenities for all to enjoy including an outdoor piazza, café, lifestyle store, pizza airstream and more. A community centre and flexible, affordable workspace are part of over 5,500 sq m of commercial space.

A network of new cycle paths and walkways make it easier for residents to access other green spaces including a 1.2km waterside trail along the Grand Union Canal and the 90-acre Minet Country Park, which is adjacent to The Green Quarter.

Mortgage broker Wentao continues: “Before I decided to buy, I’d been working with one of the agencies at The Green Quarter to provide mortgages to their buyers, so the place was already on my radar as a good investment. Through my work, I was very much aware of the property value and yields I could expect at the development so deciding to buy was definitely an informed choice. I ended up purchasing my studio apartment with a 60 per cent mortgage during lockdown, which could have been a nightmare, but the process could not have been smoother. The agents handled everything and I haven’t looked back since.”

At The Green Quarter, strong rental yields of up to 6 per cent have been achieved, with one-, two- and three-bedroom properties giving above average returns with rents of £1,800, £2,400 and £2,900 on average per month respectively.  Across the first quarter of this year, rental increases at the development averaged at 15.4 per cent and demand shows no signs of slowing with 87 per cent of applicants choosing to renew their leases and 37 applications coming in per available property. The average renter in The Green Quarter is aged 28, and the average distance moved to rent here is nine miles, presenting a wide catchment for renters seeking good value and access to central London.

“I’ve never had issues filling or maintaining the flat,” says Wentao. “So far, all my tenants have been young professional couples, which I believe is typical for the development. The agents take care of all the admin which is also great – no news is good news, and I never hear anything! My rent payments have increased at a good rate since I started letting it out, by around five per cent each year. I’m currently charging £1,300 per month which covers my interest payments, service charge and other expenses.  I would recommend investing at The Green Quarter to anyone, especially while it’s still in its earlier stages.”

Berkeley developments of a similar scale, including Royal Arsenal Riverside and Kidbrooke Village in Greenwich, have seen capital appreciation of up to 100 per cent over 10 years, significantly outperforming the wider market.