Sold STC Semi-detached

129 COTTONMILL LANE

ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE AL1 2EX

4 beds 98 m² Listed 13 May 2022 (-1529d)

£550,000

Guide Price

Reduced on 1 Aug 2022

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# 4 bedroom semi-detached house for sale (AL1 2EX)

## Property Details

| Key | Value |
|-----|-------|
| Address | 129 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE AL1 2EX |
| Price | £550,000 |
| Bedrooms | 4 |
| Council tax | TBC |
| Last sold | £545,000 Sep 2022 |

## EPC Rating & Upgrade Cost

- **Current rating:** D
- **Potential rating:** B
- **Expiry date:** 17/03/2025 — **EXPIRED** (no longer valid for marketing or letting)
- **Current heating cost:** £690/year
- **Est. upgrade cost to C:** £18,185

### Recommendations
- A (£100 - £350)
- B (£500 - £1,500)
- W2 (£4,000 - £6,000)
- E (£60)
- G (£350 - £450)
- N (£4,000 - £6,000)
- U (£5,000 - £8,000)

[View full EPC on gov.uk](https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/energy-certificate/9488-1081-7217-3845-3930)

## Description

The accommodation is arranged over two levels and comprises an entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen and fourth bedroom with an ensuite shower room. On the first floor there are three bedrooms, bathroom and separate WC. Externally, there is a front garden and rear garden with useful outbuilding.

The property does require modernisation but offers a buyer a wonderful opportunity to extend and refurbish to create a wonderful family home in an excellent sought after location, (subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.)

## Property Photos

- ![Picture No. 36](/listings/photos/123316475/1329997) - Picture No. 36
- ![Picture No. 33](/listings/photos/123316475/1329998) - Picture No. 33
- ![Picture No. 23](/listings/photos/123316475/1329999) - Picture No. 23
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- ![Picture No. 29](/listings/photos/123316475/1330006) - Picture No. 29
- ![Picture No. 25](/listings/photos/123316475/1330007) - Picture No. 25
- ![Picture No. 27](/listings/photos/123316475/1330008) - Picture No. 27
- ![Picture No. 32](/listings/photos/123316475/1330009) - Picture No. 32
- ![Picture No. 09](/listings/photos/123316475/1330010) - Picture No. 09
- ![Picture No. 28](/listings/photos/123316475/1330011) - Picture No. 28
- ![Picture No. 31](/listings/photos/123316475/1330012) - Picture No. 31
- ![Picture No. 35](/listings/photos/123316475/1330013) - Picture No. 35
- ![Picture No. 02](/listings/photos/123316475/1330014) - Picture No. 02

## Floorplans

- ![Floorplan](/listings/photos/123316475/1330015) - Floorplan

## FENSA Certificates

This property has 2 FENSA certificate(s) on record.

### FENSA Certificate #11163673
- **Address:** 129 Cottonmill Lane, ST. ALBANS, AL1 2EX
- **Certificate Issued:** 24/08/2015
- **Work Completed:** 27/07/2015
- **Items:** 1 door(s)

### FENSA Certificate #7578043
- **Address:** 129 Cottonmill Lane, ST. ALBANS, AL1 2EX
- **Certificate Issued:** 23/08/2010
- **Work Completed:** 25/06/2010
- **Items:** 1 window(s)

## Sales History

*Recorded sales for this property. Data from Land Registry Price Paid.*

| Address | Price | Date | Type |
|---------|-------|------|------|
| 129 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EX | £545,000 | 30/09/2022 | Semi-detached |

## Sold Comparables

*Same street and nearby sales within 0.25 miles. Data from Land Registry Price Paid. Last 5 years.*

| Address | Price | Date | Type |
|---------|-------|------|------|
| 100 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EP | £706,000 | 24/01/2025 | Semi-detached |
| 56 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EP | £515,000 | 27/04/2023 | Semi-detached |
| 55 GORHAM DRIVE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2HU | £612,500 | 26/08/2022 | Semi-detached |
| 50 BUTTERFIELD LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2HN | £840,000 | 26/08/2022 | Semi-detached |
| [Same street] 147 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EX | £730,000 | 18/02/2022 | Terraced |

**Street average:** £730,000 (1 sale)
**Area average:** £668,375 (4 sales)

## Price vs local average

*Outcode + property type (HousePrices, last 2 years).*

- **Local average:** £770,857 (22 Semi-detached, AL1, 2024–2026)
- **Deviation:** -28.7%

## Rental Range

*ONS Price Index of Private Rents (St Albans). Low / Realistic / Optimistic = conservative / average / best case.*

- **Low:** £1,733/mo
- **Realistic:** £1,925/mo
- **Optimistic:** £2,118/mo

## LHA (Local Housing Allowance)

*VOA 30th percentile rent floor for Bedford (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026).*

- **LHA floor (this property size):** £1,296/mo

## 1% Rule

- **Rent ratio:** 0.35% (weak for cashflow)
- **Max investor price (0.8%):** £240,625
- **Target investor price (1%):** £192,500

*Monthly rent ÷ price. 1%+ = strong, 0.8–1% = okay, <0.8% = weak. Max investor price = rent ÷ 0.8% (Stoke-style target). Target investor price = rent ÷ 1% (strong cashflow band). Based on Area rent estimate.*

## Price per Square Metre

- **£/m²:** £5,612/m²

## Capital growth trend

*Land Registry outcode average from sold prices: last 12 months vs 5y and 10y ago.*

- **5y growth:** 17%
- **10y growth:** 16.3%

## House Price Index (HM Land Registry)

*Official index for St Albans; Semi-detached series; as of April 2026.*

- **1y growth (index):** 2.6%
- **5y growth (index):** 15.9%
- **10y growth (index):** 24.2%

## Flood risk

- **Zone:** 1
- **Risk:** Low
- **Source:** Job (default Low)

[Check long-term flood risk (GOV.UK)](https://check-long-term-flood-risk.service.gov.uk/postcode)

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Property details

Tenure

FREEHOLD

Floor area

98 m²

Council tax band

TBC

EPC rating

Last sold

£545,000 Sep 2022

Price per m²

£5,612/m²

Local average

£770,857 (-28.7%)

Deprivation

Decile 4 (11,269 of 33,755)

Street crime

236 incidents within 1 mile (May 2026)

Additional details

Garden: Yes

Description

A FOUR BEDROOM SEMI-DETACHED HOME in need of refurbishment throughout, offered for sale with NO UPPER CHAIN, close to excellent amenities and is well located for easy access to the City Centre, Thameslink and the motorway network. Please See Our New FlyBy Video

The accommodation is arranged over two levels and comprises an entrance hall, living room, dining room, kitchen and fourth bedroom with an ensuite shower room. On the first floor there are three bedrooms, bathroom and separate WC. Externally, there is a front garden and rear garden with useful outbuilding.

The property does require modernisation but offers a buyer a wonderful opportunity to extend and refurbish to create a wonderful family home in an excellent sought after location, (subject to obtaining the necessary planning consents.)

Listed by

St Albans

Collinson Hall

Reference: 123316475

EPC Rating & Upgrade Cost

This certificate expired on 17/03/2025. A new EPC may be required before the property can be marketed or let.

Current rating: D

Potential rating: B

Inspection date: 18/03/2015

Expiry date: 17/03/2025 (expired)

Current heating cost: £690/year

Potential heating cost: £534/year

Est. upgrade cost to C: £18,185

EPC D or below may face future regulation risk. Upgrading to C could improve long-term ROI.

Recommendations

Increase loft insulation to 270 mm (£100 - £350)
Cavity wall insulation (£500 - £1,500)
Floor insulation (solid floor) (£4,000 - £6,000)
Low energy lighting for all fixed outlets (£60)
Upgrade heating controls (£350 - £450)
Solar water heating (£4,000 - £6,000)
Solar photovoltaic panels, 2.5 kWp (£5,000 - £8,000)

View full EPC on gov.uk

Flood risk

Zone: 1

Risk: Low

Job (default Low)

Floorplans

Floorplan

FENSA Certificates

This property has 2 FENSA certificate(s) on record, indicating window/door installations by FENSA-approved installers.

FENSA Certificate #11163673

Property Details

Street: 129 Cottonmill Lane

Town: ST. ALBANS

Postcode: AL1 2EX

Installation Details

Items: 1 door

Certificate Issued: 24/08/2015

Work Completed: 27/07/2015

This certificate data was retrieved from FENSA's database

FENSA Certificate #7578043

Property Details

Street: 129 Cottonmill Lane

Town: ST. ALBANS

Postcode: AL1 2EX

Installation Details

Items: 1 window

Certificate Issued: 23/08/2010

Work Completed: 25/06/2010

This certificate data was retrieved from FENSA's database

What is FENSA? FENSA (Fenestration Self-Assessment Scheme) is a government-authorised scheme that monitors building regulation compliance for replacement windows and doors. Certificates indicate that work was completed by FENSA-approved installers.

Price history

Event	Date	Price	% change
Sold	30/09/2022 (3 years ago)	£545,000	—

Source: HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Crown copyright.

Sold Comparables

Same street and nearby sales within 0.25 miles (last 5 years). Data from Land Registry Price Paid.

Address	Price	Date	Type
100 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EP	£706,000	24/01/2025	Semi-detached
56 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EP	£515,000	27/04/2023	Semi-detached
55 GORHAM DRIVE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2HU	£612,500	26/08/2022	Semi-detached
50 BUTTERFIELD LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2HN	£840,000	26/08/2022	Semi-detached
Same street 147 COTTONMILL LANE, ST ALBANS, HERTFORDSHIRE, AL1 2EX	£730,000	18/02/2022	Terraced

Street average: £730,000 (1 sale)

Area average: £668,375 (4 sales)

Capital growth trend

Land Registry outcode average: last 12 months vs 5y and 10y ago (from sold prices).

5y growth 17%

10y growth 16.3%

House Price Index (HM Land Registry — official index, not sold-price averages): St Albans. Series: Semi-detached. As of April 2026.

1y (index) 2.6%

5y (index) 15.9%

10y (index) 24.2%

Rental Range

Estimated market rent for St Albans. Low = conservative, Realistic = average, Optimistic = best case.

Low £1,733/mo

Realistic £1,925/mo

Optimistic £2,118/mo

Based on Local Authority from postcode lookup → St Albans.

LHA (30th percentile) floor for Bedford: £1,296/mo (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026)

Location

Map view View on Google Maps View on OpenStreetMap Street View AL1 2EX

Nearby

Nearest stations, universities and amenities (distance from property).

Type	Name	Distance
Shop	St Albans Cycle Hub	0.1 miles
Bus stop	Church of St Julian	0.1 miles
Bus stop	Betty Entwistle House	0.2 miles
Shop	S M & Sons	0.3 miles
Train station	St Albans Abbey	0.7 miles
Train station	Park Street	0.9 miles
University	Boltons Park Farm	6.3 miles
University	University of Hertfordshire	6.9 miles
Hospital	Watford General Hospital	6.9 miles
Hospital	Priory Hospital	11.6 miles

Street-level crime

Category	Count
Anti-social behaviour	79
Violence and sexual offences	41
Other theft	27
Shoplifting	21
Vehicle crime	16
Burglary	13
Public order	12
Criminal damage and arson	8
Drugs	8
Bicycle theft	3
Other crime	3
Robbery	2
Theft from the person	2
Possession of weapons	1
Total incidents	236

Within 1 mile during May 2026. Source: data.police.uk (England & Wales).

Schools nearby

Nearest open schools with Ofsted ratings (England). Closed schools are not shown. Data from Get Information about Schools and Ofsted.

Name	Type	Distance	Ofsted
Mandeville Primary School	Primary	0.4 miles	Good — 4 Jul 2016
Watling View School	Other	0.5 miles	Good — 6 Sep 2016
St Adrian Roman Catholic Primary School	Primary	0.6 miles	Good — 18 Nov 2016
St Peter's School	Primary	0.7 miles	Good — 5 Sep 2014
The Marlborough Science Academy	Secondary	0.8 miles	Good — 28 Jan 2024

Rental Comparables

Loading rental comparables for this postcode. Refresh in a few minutes.

Rent-driven metrics

Based on Area rent estimate.

Rent ratio 0.35%

Max investor price (0.8%) £240,625

Target investor price (1%) £192,500

Rent ratio — Monthly rent ÷ purchase price (1% rule). 1%+ = strong, 0.8–1% = okay, <0.8% = weak for cashflow.
Max investor price — Rent ÷ 0.8%; the price at which rent would be 0.8% of price (Stoke-style target).
Target investor price — Rent ÷ 1%; the price at which rent would be 1% of price (strong cashflow band).
Gross yield — Annual rent as % of purchase price (no costs).