Mixed-use corner building with consent for 4 flats
51 Belswains Lane, Hemel Hempstead HP3 9PWVacant freehold. Planning granted June 2024 (23/00828/FUL) to convert into four flats with rear extensions and a dormer.
HomeAuction Watch
Issue 1 · Week of 5 October 2026
Home Counties Auction Watch
Every week we read the auction catalogues covering the Home Counties and pull out the lots an investor would actually want to see: planning gains, refurbs, conversions, mixed-use and income. 22 lots this week across 5 auctions.
Browse by county
SurreyGuildford, Woking, Reigate, Epsom, Camberley, Dorking and the villages between.3 lots this weekKentMaidstone, Canterbury, Medway, Dartford, Tunbridge Wells, Thanet and the coast.4 lots this weekEssexChelmsford, Colchester, Southend, Basildon, Harlow, Brentwood and Tendring.5 lots this weekHertfordshireWatford, St Albans, Hemel Hempstead, Stevenage, Hertford and Potters Bar.2 lots this weekSussexBrighton, Worthing, Hastings, Eastbourne, Crawley, Chichester, East and West.5 lots this weekBedfordshireLuton, Bedford, Dunstable, Leighton Buzzard and the villages.2 lots this weekBerkshireReading, Slough, Bracknell, Maidenhead, Windsor and Newbury.1 lot this weekBuckinghamshireHigh Wycombe, Aylesbury, Milton Keynes, Amersham and the Chilterns.0 lots this weekOxfordshireOxford, Banbury, Bicester, Witney, Abingdon and Didcot.0 lots this week
All lots this week
Grouped by auction date. Guide prices as published on 4 October 2026; lots can be sold prior or withdrawn.
Auction House London
Wed 7 Oct 2026, 9:30amCommercial site with consent for 5 homes
12–14 Frederick Street, Luton LU2 7QWVacant freehold commercial buildings. Prior approval (July 2026) for five homes; alternative plans drawn for a 17-bed HMO.
Licensed 5-bed HMO, fully let
165A Darkes Lane, Potters Bar EN6 1BWLet at £43,200 a year, a 12.3% gross yield on the guide. Long leasehold (around 1,068 years).
Shop and house on a large plot
103 Oyster Lane, Byfleet KT14 7JFDetached freehold shop plus 3–4 bed house, let at £26,400 a year. Plot around 367 sq m with parking for 5+.
5-bed end-terrace with room to build
33 Park View, Sturry, Canterbury CT2 0NRVacant freehold on a plot of around 536 sq m, with potential for an extra dwelling at the side (subject to consents).
Detached house with development potential
15 Great Lane, Clophill MK45 4BQVacant freehold 3-bed detached, EPC E, marketed with potential for development (subject to consents).
Barnard Marcus
Thu 15 Oct 2026, 9:30amPlot with planning for a new house
Land adj. 30 Panters, Swanley BR8 7RWFreehold site with full planning (April 2025, 25/00214/FUL) for a two-storey dwelling. A self-build or small-developer starter.
High street shop with 2-bed flat above
149 High Street, Herne Bay CT6 5AQFreehold, around 1,044 sq ft. Let at £15,000 a year on a lease from 2019, but the receivers aren't currently collecting rent, so read the legal pack.
Freehold of 3 flats, one vacant
66 Ditchling Rise, Brighton BN1 4QPHousing association sale. One vacant flat to refurbish plus the freehold of two flats sold on roughly 87-year leases.
Savills
Tue 20 Oct 2026, 9:00am1.76 acres with planning in principle for up to 9 homes
Land rear of Saffron Walden Community Hospital, Radwinter Road CB11 3HYFreehold. Planning in principle granted March 2026 (UTT/26/0046/PIP); a pre-app has also been made for a care home.
Consent for 8 two-bed flats
Livingstone House, 11 Potter Street, Harlow CM17 9AEVacant freehold former supported-living building with full planning (HW/FUL/23/00371) to convert into eight flats for social rent.
Farmhouse, bungalow and farm buildings on 3.3 acres
Westpark Villa & West Park Farm, New Chapel RH7 6HTFreehold 5-bed farmhouse needing modernisation, an uninhabitable bungalow and farm buildings. Development potential (subject to consents).
Grade II oast house, 7-flat application pending
The Oast House, Gas Street, Canterbury CT1 2PRAround 5,084 sq ft plus workshop, needs full refurbishment. Application for 7 flats (CA/20/02190) undecided due to nutrient neutrality.
Town-centre commercial with residential potential
Crossway House, 8 London Road, Reigate RH2 9HYVacant freehold, around 986 sq ft. Sketch plans for a single dwelling, or a shop with a 2-bed flat above (subject to consents).
3-bed terrace needing modernisation
23 Carnoustie, Bracknell RG12 8ZWFreehold, all services disconnected. A straightforward refurb-and-refinance candidate.
Auction House East Anglia
Wed 21 Oct 2026, 10:00amTwo houses with consent for a third between them
173–175 Greenstead Road, Colchester CO1 2SPOne vacant house with planning (ref 250378) for an extra dwelling; the other let at £950 pcm. Near the university.
Former bank, 2,561 sq ft over three floors
9 Station Road, Clacton-on-Sea CO15 1TDVacant freehold in the town centre, suitable for a range of uses (subject to consents).
3-bed semi needing modernisation
2A Fambridge Close, Maldon CM9 6DJFreehold, EPC E, with driveway. A classic buy-refurb-refinance.
Auction House Sussex & Hampshire
Wed 21 Oct 2026, 2:30pm9-bed detached house needing complete refurbishment
Brede Court, Brede, Rye TN31 6EJFreehold, 431 sq m. Not safe to enter, so no internal viewings. Most mainstream lenders won't touch this; bridging will.
100-cover restaurant/bar with 5-bed flat above
379 South Coast Road, Telscombe Cliffs BN10 7EUFreehold, around 3,029 sq ft with parking.
Corner building of 3 self-contained units
37 & 39 Bristol Gardens & 1 Bennett Road, Brighton BN2 5JRFreehold, around 164 sq m. Two units vacant; one let at £1,300 pcm with possession proceedings under way.
Freehold pair of let flats
19 & 21 Centrecourt Road, Worthing BN14 7AQAround 113 sq m, both let (£1,100 + £1,200 pcm, tenants holding over).
*Savills guide prices are taken from the auction listing page; Savills' individual lot pages currently show the guide as TBA. Check before bidding.
Why sort the finance before auction day
When the hammer falls you exchange contracts on the spot, pay a 10% deposit, and usually have 28 days to complete. That is too tight for most mortgages, and lots that need work, have no kitchen, or carry a planning angle often are not mortgageable at all. That is why experienced auction buyers arrange auction bridging finance before they bid, not after.
Agreeing terms in principle before the sale means you walk in knowing your ceiling, you can bid with confidence against cash buyers, and you do not risk losing your deposit because a lender went quiet in week three. It costs nothing to get indicative terms and there is no credit search at that stage.
How we help
- Indicative terms on any lot above, usually within 24 hours. Send us the lot number.
- Loans from £150,000 to £25 million, up to 75% loan-to-value, 3 to 24 months.
- Refurbishment, planning gain, HMO and commercial all considered. We work with lenders who are comfortable with property that is not habitable on day one.
- Exit planned from the start: sale, refinance onto a buy-to-let, or a development facility.