A record-breaking sale and an £18.2 million portfolio disposal prove there’s still plenty of appetite for the right commercial properties.
Recent auction results suggest that the heat has gone out of the commercial property market. In April, Essential Information Group (EIG) reported that the number of commercial lots sold at auction had dropped by a significant 25.5% year-on-year. The money to be made from these sales also looked to be on the decline, with the amount raised dipping from £63 million in April 2025 to just £48.3 million in April 2026 – a decrease of 23.3%.
But has the momentum really gone from the market? Auction House London’s latest results indicate otherwise.
£18.2 million portfolio sold in one week
In May, Auction House London’s Associate Director Jordan Phillips successfully led negotiations for the staged sale of 19 retail units and residential uppers on Powis Street in Woolwich.
Owned by a long-standing client, the shops lined a key retail thoroughfare and boasted national and blue chip tenants including Vodafone and Santander.
The properties immediately caught the interest of a single buyer. Within days, Jordan Phillips had led the sale of all 19 properties, including those marketed by other auctioneers. In total, the portfolio was sold for an impressive £18.2 million in three transactions, indicating a high interest in Woolwich’s principal shopping area.
Commenting on the sale, Jordan Phillips said: “These sales show that investor demand for property in key London locations remains strong. The mix of tenanted and vacant lots meant that the buyer could benefit from an immediate income with the potential for more in the long term.
“Our market knowledge meant we instantly recognised the potential of these lots and the appeal they would have to the right investor. This understanding gave us the driving force to achieve this outstanding result in such a short timeframe.”
A record-breaking sale for Auction House Group
Auction House London’s outstanding results didn’t stop there. In their 27th May livestream auction, the company smashed the Auction House Group record for the largest sum raised for a single lot.
Penguin House, based in Lismarrine Industrial Park in Elstree, sold for £5,375,000, exceeding its guide price of £5,000,000+.
Currently arranged as two retail units, a warehouse and offices, the property is already generating a very healthy yearly income of £111,877. However, it had the potential to increase this sum to a very appealing £650,000 per annum.
Commenting on the result, Jamie Royston, Co-founder and Partner of Auction House London, said: “It’s no surprise that this lot attracted such a huge amount of interest. It immediately offered an investor a big boost in income but also had plenty of value-add opportunity to make an even larger profit in the future.”
The right property is still in demand
While the market in general may be cooling, these results demonstrate that well located commercial properties backed by strong marketing and auctioneer knowledge will continue to attract serious investor interest.
If you’re looking to sell up or expand your commercial portfolio, our skilled team can find you the right property or buyer. To begin, book a valuation or explore upcoming commercial lots now.
