Property Markets are changing- here's our Top priorities for 2026

"Property has never been more complex, however strategy coupled with action, outperforms overthinking"- PSP Ltd.

"Property has never been more complex, however strategy coupled with action, outperforms overthinking"- PSP Ltd.

The UK property market in 2026 is shaping up with new priorities for property professional owners, especially for those focused on coastal Essex and the Southend corridor into Greater London.

We are launching our new property insights Blog post so that you can have a quick update of what's hot and what's not in property.

Let's also start 2026 by reflecting on our leadership, taking a moment to plan ahead our first quarter of the new year, even if its just a draft at this stage. Do it. Don't wait.

I can share that many portfolio owners in my network are speaking of getting ready to consider a balanced asset portfolio. They are ready to contemplate acquiring new assets in commercial properties and mixed use, amidst confusion and speculation in the residential/tenanted sector which includes HMO's.

Let's focus and have a steady grip on our portfolios with an eye on opportunities disguised as other people's costly problems. Or is it the other way around?-ah.

Remember that "Strategy coupled with action always wins".

Join me as I outline the top priorities for sourcing, managing, and growing a coastal Essex property portfolio in 2026, with a practical emphasis on coastal accessibility, yield, and sustainable value.

Why? Because we all know that property is a long game.

My Top priorities for 2026 are:

1. Strategic property sourcing in Southend and Greater London catchments should be leveraging AI and platforms such as www.propertydata.co.uk to compare listings with its clever Browser assisted analytics it integrates, local data, stats, off market, council tax look up, valuation, construction costs, plot maps and sourcing documents etc. etc. etc. This is a game changer!

   
   

2. Leverage evidence-based sourcing to identify high-demand coastal locations with commuting links to London. Make sure you make your proposition stand out on the map!

   
   

3. Prioritize properties near rail hubs, bus routes, and airport corridors to maximize investor appeal. Have a dip into local plans for development, innovation hubs, academic digital hubs and much more.

   
   

4. Build a regional map that highlights growth corridors connecting Southend, coastal Essex, and Greater London to steer acquisitions toward promising neighbourhoods. Become an expert in the area you work in. Don't try to swallow a whole elephant! Experts win over the "Jack of all trades".

   
   

5. Coastal Essex investment presentations in visual dynamic format that travel well through link sharing and are well prepared for time short professionals who need the answers to ALL their questions in a single place, via a single channel.

   
   

6. Develop clear theses for different coastal submarkets (e.g., high-demand sea-view flats, family-friendly houses near schools, and short-let opportunities near promenades). Use your CRM to tag and segment the hell out of your contacts -cause we all know you just won't remember!

   
   

7. Align theses with expected rental demand drivers: tourism seasons, student movement, and corporate relocations to the South East in the most affluent areas and aim higher not lower in the income ladder.

   
   

8. Focus on being green and eco-friendly not just because its good for the environment but because its good for us too. Become sustainable and strive to run energy-efficient assets as a rule, not an exception.

   
   

9. Prioritize properties with energy performance improvements, heat pumps, wall insulation, and solar readiness to reduce operating costs and attract ESG-minded tenants.

   
   

10. Channel incentives and grants toward energy upgrades to improve yield while staying compliant with evolving regulations.

    
    

11. Regulatory clarity and compliance are key and must be adhered to so don't skip steps and make sure your staff does the same.

    
    

12. Stay ahead of changes in tenancy legislation, licensing for permitted developments, and planning rules for coastal areas. Subscribe to key newsletters which as the source of the news not the spin offs.

    
    

13. Build a compliance playbook covering EPC targets, gas safety, and safe access requirements to minimize downtime between tenancies.

    
    

14. Digital-first property sourcing and marketing. Make the most of digital platforms to leverage your knowledge and speed the cycle of sourcing, qualifying and proposing your deal or project.

    
    

15. Use data-driven tools to screen deals, analyze rental yields, and forecast cap rates. AI is useful but it can make mistakes. Make sure you check and double check the figures before proposing them to your valuable list of contacts.

    
    

16. Craft targeted marketing for UK buyers and tenants, emphasizing location virtues, accessibility to Greater London, and lifestyle benefits of coastal Essex. Our website AI creates these for us across all channels every 10 days based on our content and activity. No human necessary except to approve the mailshots or posts.

    
    

17. Use your imagination to create Value-add management strategies, right out of the box. This will save time and re-focus your business for a niche of success, which is proactive and always thinking ahead. Not catching up.

    
    

18. Implement smart property management processes to improve occupancy, reduce turnaround times, and optimize refurbishment schedules. It could be as simple as a direct QR code from tenants to access your team and a "rate system" to approve or suggest improvements all year around, not just when you need more tenants.

    
    

19. Explore formalized partnerships with local trades, relocation agents, and serviced accommodation operators to diversify yield streams. Make yourself known and visible. Knock on doors and drink lots of coffee, or if you are more refined like me "um café com natas".

    
    

20. Financing and risk management must be a top priority now that the market is as competitive and quite confusing to navigate. Review lending rates. Check next rates renewal dates and set a task reminder to work 30 days ahead to give you plenty of time to negotiate. Carry out due diligence. No shortcuts.

    
    

21. Revisit financing options suited to coastal property investments, including portfolio financing and bridging strategies for timely acquisitions. Teams change and performance of these teams also change. Check with your staff what new choices can give you the edge.

    
    

22. Build a risk dashboard that tracks interest rates, vacancy, repair costs, and seasonal demand shifts to preserve cash flow.

    
    

23. Have a celebration wall even if its virtual and praise your team's efforts. We live in a very strange and crazy world. Those who stick around and are a key part of your team, need to be recognised for doing their best! If you have to remember that a leader should try to "Shame in silence but always praise in public".

Conclusion

"Now more than ever, when the media is spreading misinformation and landlords seem to be in a panic- not to mention JVC's-, you need to stay well informed, re think your priorities in property, review what is working and chuck out what isn't. Find a better team if you have to not just better properties. Its ok to explore asset opportunities but make sure you are partnering with the best of the best. The key is to be ruthless with your standards, make your values visible and to trim your business for excellence."-Maria Moreira-Edwards

Visit www.perpetualstarproperties.co.uk to discuss a tailored coastal Essex property sourcing strategy and to review current opportunities from Southend On Sea, Leigh On Sea, Westcliff on Sea, Benfleet, Basildon, Billericay, Chelmsford, along the A127, A13 corridor, coastal Essex, through to Greater London.

We have a reliable POWER TEAM with a combined 47 years of property experience to support you on your end-to end property journey. This team's experience and knowledge is the answer for your goals because we also own and run our own portfolios!

My tip is for you to "GET OUT OF YOUR HEAD AND CALL SOMEONE"

Would you like to chat more and discover just how to maximize your wealth through creative property strategy? Then I want to hear from you!

Happy 2026 and let's harness our best year ever,

Maria💫

P.s. Office are closed till the 5th of Jan 2026. Afterwards you can call our line Monday to Friday 9 am to 5pm

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