No. 2: The Off-Market Aigburth HMO That Didn't Need Gutting

Not every property needs gutting. Sometimes the smartest move is knowing what to leave alone.

No. 2 is a six-bed HMO in Aigburth, Liverpool, which we bought off-market and added to the portfolio in January 2026. It's a very different story from No. 70, and that's exactly why it's worth telling.

Finding it off-market

No. 2 never hit the open market. Deals like this come from relationships, local knowledge and being known as someone who can move properly when the right building comes along. Buying off-market gives us time to do our due diligence without competing against a room full of bidders.

A house that was already working

Unlike No. 70, No. 2 came to us mostly tenanted and in reasonable shape. The fundamentals were there: a good-sized period house, in a part of South Liverpool that professionals want to live in, already set up as an HMO.

So our focus wasn't a rebuild. It was managing the asset properly so it could perform at its best.

Turning a change into an opportunity

When the existing tenants moved on shortly after completion, we used the window to carry out a light-touch refurbishment while the house was empty. Doing the work between tenancies meant no disruption to anyone living there, and a better home for the people moving in.

We refreshed the décor throughout and added ensuite facilities, electrical improvements and new furniture to lift the standard of the home.

Spending where it counts

A targeted upgrade lives or dies on knowing where the money makes a difference. We kept what was working, like some of the existing flooring, and invested where it mattered most to the tenant experience.

We also kept the character that makes the house special. The period fireplaces and the shape of the loft rooms give No. 2 a personality that a new build can't match.

Shared spaces with a Wildegrove feel

The communal spaces were finished in our signature style, giving tenants a kitchen and lounge they can genuinely enjoy.

The other side of our approach

No. 70 shows what we do with a building that needs everything. No. 2 shows the other half: recognising a property that's already sound, and making the smart, tactical improvements that lift how it looks, feels and performs.

Both matter. Knowing which approach a building needs, and when, is a big part of how we work at Wildegrove.

Working with Wildegrove

We work with private investors who want their capital working in Liverpool property, without taking on the role of being a landlord themselves. If you'd like to understand how we structure our projects, get in touch at patrick@wildegroveproperty.co.uk or call 0151 440 3184.