Summary - 12, SUNDERLAND STREET DH4 4BD
1 bed 1 bath Restaurant
Immediate rental income with vacant flat to renovate for extra yield.
Passing rent £12,000 pa from ground and first-floor lease
Second-floor flat vacant — immediate refurbishment/reletting potential
New pitched roof, security gates, bars, and refreshed communal areas
Total internal area approx 368 sq ft; small footprint limits expansion
Sold at auction — buyer to complete due diligence and legal checks
Tenure recorded as unknown — investigate before exchange
Located in very deprived area with very high crime levels
High-street location with strong local amenities and transport links
This compact mixed-use building on Sunderland Street offers immediate rental income from a long lease and short-term upside from a vacant upper flat. The ground-floor hot food takeaway and first-floor flat are let on an 18-year lease that commenced 1 April 2013, providing a known passing rent of £12,000 per annum. The second-floor flat is currently vacant and available for refurbishment or re-letting.
Recent physical improvements reduce near-term capital spend: a new pitched roof, new rear door, security window bars, a secure side fence and gate, and refreshed communal flooring and decoration. The property’s Victorian commercial frontage and upper-floor residence give character and visibility on a town-centre high street, with excellent mobile signal and reasonable broadband for modern businesses.
Buyers should weigh clear risks: the immediate neighbourhood is classified as very deprived with very high crime levels, which can affect evening trading and long-term demand. The total floorspace is small (about 368 sq ft) and the plot is compact, limiting expansion potential. Tenure is listed as unknown and the property will be sold at auction, so purchasers must allow for due diligence and potential additional legal costs.
For investors this is a hands-on asset: stable income from an existing long lease, plus the chance to add value by refitting and re-letting the vacant flat or improving the commercial fit-out. The property suits buyers comfortable operating in higher-risk, lower-rent urban locations who can manage refurbishment and tenant sourcing quickly.
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