Sold STC Cottage

81 THE CAUSEWAY

BEDFORD, CARLTON, BEDFORD MK43 7LU

2 beds 1 baths 570 sq ft Listed 21 Aug 2024 (-640d)

£220,000

Guide Price

Reduced on 16 Oct 2024

Save

# 2 bedroom cottage for sale (MK43 7LU)

## Property Details

| Key | Value |
|-----|-------|
| Address | 81 THE CAUSEWAY, BEDFORD, CARLTON, BEDFORD MK43 7LU |
| Price | £220,000 |
| Bedrooms | 2 |
| Bathrooms | 1 |
| Council tax | C |
| Construction age | England and Wales: before 1900 |
| Floor area | 53 m² |
| Last sold | £195,000 Dec 2024 |

## EPC Rating & Upgrade Cost

- **Current rating:** D
- **Potential rating:** B
- **Current heating cost:** £590/year
- **Est. upgrade cost to C:** £28,400

### Recommendations
- Q (£4,000 - £14,000)
- W2 (£4,000 - £6,000)
- N (£4,000 - £6,000)
- O (£3,300 - £6,500)
- U (£3,500 - £5,500)

[View full EPC on gov.uk](https://find-energy-certificate.service.gov.uk/energy-certificate/4190-1941-0822-4293-3923)

## Description

The property has been well cared for by the present owner and offers a living room to the front and a kitchen to the rear. Both are capable of accommodating a small table and chairs. There is a utility area close to the back door and a bathroom accessed from the rear hall.

On the first floor there is one double bedroom and a single bedroom.

The property has gas fired central heating supported by a service plan and the electrics were upgraded in 2018.

A real feature of the property is the impressively long rear garden that will always have sunshine somewhere!

There is also parking available right outside the front door.

Carlton is a very popular village location and benefits from two Public Houses and a village shop. There is a good choice of local schooling nearby with Sharnbrook Academy being within easy reach. Harrold Country Park is also within walking distance. Bedford’s town centre is around a fifteen-to-twenty-minute drive away and offers a whole host of services and amenities, which includes the mainline railway station for fast and frequent services to the capital and beyond.

## Property Photos

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## Floorplans

- ![Floorplan.jpg](/listings/photos/151584809/478134) - Floorplan.jpg

## EPC Graphs

- ![EE Rating](/listings/photos/151584809/478135) - EE Rating

## Sales History

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

| Address | Price | Date | Type |
|---------|-------|------|------|
| 81 THE CAUSEWAY, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LU | £195,000 | 20/12/2024 | Terraced |

## Sold Comparables

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

| Address | Price | Date | Type |
|---------|-------|------|------|
| 12 RECTORY CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JT | £342,000 | 31/03/2025 | Detached |
| 7 HIGH STREET, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JX | £499,950 | 03/05/2023 | Detached |
| 18 RECTORY CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JT | £375,000 | 16/03/2023 | Detached |
| [Same street] 106 THE CAUSEWAY, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LU | £378,000 | 05/10/2022 | Semi-detached |
| 33 RECTORY CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JT | £475,000 | 07/07/2022 | Detached |
| ENCHANTED COTTAGE, 26 HIGH STREET, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LA | £249,000 | 30/05/2022 | Detached |
| 3 HIGH STREET, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JX | £420,000 | 22/04/2022 | Detached |
| 10 THE CAUSEWAY, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LT | £505,000 | 04/02/2022 | Detached |
| 14 SHARPE CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7AW | £390,000 | 30/09/2021 | Detached |
| 13 SHARPE CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7AW | £389,995 | 10/08/2021 | Detached |
| 16 SHARPE CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7AW | £385,000 | 18/06/2021 | Detached |

**Street average:** £378,000 (1 sale)
**Area average:** £403,095 (10 sales)

## Price vs local average

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

- **Local average:** £563,000 (49 Detached, MK43, 2024–2026)
- **Deviation:** -60.9%

## Rental Range

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

- **Low:** £1,049/mo
- **Realistic:** £1,166/mo
- **Optimistic:** £1,283/mo

## LHA (Local Housing Allowance)

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

- **LHA floor (this property size):** £823/mo

## Rental Comparables

*Residential lets from OpenRent and Rightmove for the area (same bedroom count). Use to validate rent estimates. Student lets are excluded.*

| Title | Rent | Beds | Distance | As seen on |
|------|------|------|------|------|
| 2 Bed Semi-Detached House, Bedford, MK43 | £1,300/mo | 2 | 0.98 miles | OpenRent |
| 2 Bed Semi-Detached House, High Street, MK43 | £1,350/mo | 2 | 0.99 miles | OpenRent |
| 2 Bed Terraced House, Mansion Lane, MK43 | £950/mo | 2 | 1.03 miles | OpenRent |

**Average rent: £1,200/mo (3 listings)**

## 1% Rule

- **Rent ratio:** 0.59% (weak for cashflow)
- **Max investor price (0.8%):** £162,500
- **Target investor price (1%):** £130,000

*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 OpenRent comparables.*

## Rent-driven metrics

*Based on OpenRent comparables (median £1,300/mo).*

- **Gross yield:** 7.1%
- **Cost-to-rent:** 14.1×
- **Monthly cashflow:** £279/mo (75% LTV, 3.95% APR (5yr fixed), 25yr term)
- **Cash-on-cash ROI:** 5.2%

*Gross yield = annual rent as % of price (no costs). Cost-to-rent = price ÷ annual rent (from OpenRent comparables); under 14× = strong, 14–16× = acceptable, 17×+ = compressed. Cashflow = rent − mortgage − 10% maintenance − £25/mo compliance; assumes 75% LTV, 3.95% APR (5yr fixed), 25yr term. ROI = annual profit ÷ cash in (deposit + 4% purchase costs).*

## Price per Square Metre

- **£/m²:** £4,151/m²

## Capital growth trend

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

- **5y growth:** 20.3%
- **10y growth:** 56.9%

## House Price Index (HM Land Registry)

*Official index for Bedford; Detached series; as of February 2026.*

- **1y growth (index):** 2.8%
- **5y growth (index):** 19.2%
- **10y growth (index):** 44.1%

## 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

53 m²

Council tax band

EPC rating

Year built

England and Wales: before 1900

Last sold

£195,000 Dec 2024

Price per m²

£4,151/m²

Local average

£563,000 (-60.9%)

Deprivation

Decile 7 (23,501 of 33,755)

Street crime

11 incidents within 1 mile (Mar 2026)

Key features

Living room
Kitchen
Bathroom
Two bedrooms
Gas fired central heating
Large rear garden
Popular village location
Freehold

Additional details

Parking: Yes
Garden: Yes

Description

This is an excellent opportunity to acquire a two bedroom terrace cottage located in one of North Bedfordshire’s most popular villages within walking distance of two popular Public Houses and the village store.

The property has been well cared for by the present owner and offers a living room to the front and a kitchen to the rear. Both are capable of accommodating a small table and chairs. There is a utility area close to the back door and a bathroom accessed from the rear hall.

On the first floor there is one double bedroom and a single bedroom.

The property has gas fired central heating supported by a service plan and the electrics were upgraded in 2018.

A real feature of the property is the impressively long rear garden that will always have sunshine somewhere!

There is also parking available right outside the front door.

Carlton is a very popular village location and benefits from two Public Houses and a village shop. There is a good choice of local schooling nearby with Sharnbrook Academy being within easy reach. Harrold Country Park is also within walking distance. Bedford’s town centre is around a fifteen-to-twenty-minute drive away and offers a whole host of services and amenities, which includes the mainline railway station for fast and frequent services to the capital and beyond.

Listed by

Bedford

Lane & Holmes LLP

Reference: 151584809

EPC Rating & Upgrade Cost

Current rating: D

Potential rating: B

Inspection date: 14/11/2022

Current heating cost: £590/year

Potential heating cost: £427/year

Est. upgrade cost to C: £28,400

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

Recommendations

50 mm internal or external wall insulation (£4,000 - £14,000)
Floor insulation (solid floor) (£4,000 - £6,000)
Solar water heating (£4,000 - £6,000)
Replace single glazed windows with low-E double glazing (£3,300 - £6,500)
Solar photovoltaic panels, 2.5 kWp (£3,500 - £5,500)

View full EPC on gov.uk

Flood risk

Zone: 1

Risk: Low

Job (default Low)

Floorplans

Floorplan.jpg

EPC Graphs

EE Rating

Price history

Event	Date	Price	% change
Sold	20/12/2024 (1 year ago)	£195,000	—

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
12 RECTORY CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JT	£342,000	31/03/2025	Detached
7 HIGH STREET, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JX	£499,950	03/05/2023	Detached
18 RECTORY CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JT	£375,000	16/03/2023	Detached
Same street 106 THE CAUSEWAY, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LU	£378,000	05/10/2022	Semi-detached
33 RECTORY CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JT	£475,000	07/07/2022	Detached
ENCHANTED COTTAGE, 26 HIGH STREET, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LA	£249,000	30/05/2022	Detached
3 HIGH STREET, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7JX	£420,000	22/04/2022	Detached
10 THE CAUSEWAY, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7LT	£505,000	04/02/2022	Detached
14 SHARPE CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7AW	£390,000	30/09/2021	Detached
13 SHARPE CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7AW	£389,995	10/08/2021	Detached
16 SHARPE CLOSE, CARLTON, BEDFORD, MK43 7AW	£385,000	18/06/2021	Detached

Street average: £378,000 (1 sale)

Area average: £403,095 (10 sales)

Capital growth trend

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

5y growth 20.3%

10y growth 56.9%

House Price Index (HM Land Registry — official index, not sold-price averages): Bedford. Series: Detached. As of February 2026.

1y (index) 2.8%

5y (index) 19.2%

10y (index) 44.1%

Rental Range

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

Low £1,049/mo

Realistic £1,166/mo

Optimistic £1,283/mo

Based on Local Authority from postcode lookup → Bedford.

LHA (30th percentile) floor for Bedford: £823/mo (Apr 2025 – Mar 2026)

Location

Map view View on Google Maps View on OpenStreetMap Street View MK43 7LU

Nearby

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

Type	Name	Distance
Shop	Ousevalley Dairy	0.4 miles
Shop	Bevistan Dairy	0.7 miles
Bus stop	Brayfield House	2.4 miles
Hospital	The Manor	5.2 miles
Train station	Bedford	6.4 miles
Hospital	Bedford Hospital SDEC - Same Day Emergency Care	7.1 miles
Train station	Bedford St Johns	7.1 miles
University	University of Bedfordshire Polhill Campus	7.6 miles
University	Cranfield University	8.2 miles

Street-level crime

Category	Count
Burglary	4
Public order	2
Violence and sexual offences	2
Drugs	1
Other crime	1
Vehicle crime	1
Total incidents	11

Within 1 mile during Mar 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
Carlton CofE Primary School	Primary	0.2 miles	— (Inspected (no overall grade))
Harrold Primary Academy	Primary	0.9 miles	Good — 8 Nov 2023
Turvey Primary School	Primary	1.8 miles	Good — 5 Sep 2013
Lavendon School	Primary	2.5 miles	Outstanding — 14 Feb 2014
Pinchmill Primary School	Primary	2.9 miles	Good — 10 Oct 2014

Rental Comparables

Residential lets from OpenRent and Rightmove for the area (same bedroom count). Use to validate rent estimates. Student lets are excluded.

Title	Rent	Beds	Distance	As seen on
2 Bed Semi-Detached House, Bedford, MK43	£1,300/mo	2	0.98 miles	OpenRent
2 Bed Semi-Detached House, High Street, MK43	£1,350/mo	2	0.99 miles	OpenRent
2 Bed Terraced House, Mansion Lane, MK43	£950/mo	2	1.03 miles	OpenRent

Average rent: £1,200/mo (3 listings)

Rent-driven metrics

Based on OpenRent comparables.

Rent ratio 0.59%

Max investor price (0.8%) £162,500

Target investor price (1%) £130,000

Gross yield 7.1%

Cost-to-rent ratio 14.1×

Monthly cashflow £279/mo 75% LTV, 3.95% APR (5yr fixed), 25yr term

Cash-on-cash ROI 5.2%

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).
Cost-to-rent — Price ÷ annual rent (from OpenRent comparables). Under 14× = strong, 14–16× = acceptable, 17×+ = compressed.
Cashflow — Rent minus mortgage, 10% maintenance, £25/mo compliance. Assumes 75% LTV, 3.95% APR (5yr fixed), 25yr term.
ROI — Annual profit ÷ cash in (deposit + 4% purchase costs).