In five years, Shahan Lall has built up a rented property portfolio worth £10 million across Kent.

The property expert, who grew up in Maidstone, is aiming to have £50 million of private rented sector schemes, known as PRS, on the books of his development firm Lall Group by 2021.

Investors are queueing up for the company’s over-subscribed investment funds which will buy buildings and convert them into high-end flats.

Mr Lall expects to generate a 55% return to shareholders over five years. His ambitions look achieveable, with the Halifax reporting the average house price in Kent increased by 14% last year to more than £326,000.

Chatham – not traditionally seen as a property hotspot – was among the top five towns across the UK for house price growth, with property values jumping 17.1% to £237,545.

The surge was more than double the 7.5% annual growth seen across the UK generally.

Mr Lall believes high speed rail is the key reason for Kent’s surge, as the London population moves out, unable to afford house prices in the capital.

Chatham is a prime example, with a 30-minute commute to St Pancras International and a weekday service of 84 London-bound trains.

Mr Lall said: “High speed rail is the biggest reason for the drive towards Kent. We have acquired a 6,000sq ft site in Folkestone for a PRS scheme which we would not have touched four or five years ago. Now it’s 40 minutes away from Kings Cross.

“The average age to get on the property ladder in London is 42 so there is a migration coming out who want quick access to central London.”

The rising interest from investors in Kent property has allowed Lall Group to make investments in the last year at New Road in Chatham and Brewer Street and Marsham Street in Maidstone.

Mr Lall rejects the idea his company is contributing to rising house prices. He laid the blame for that on councils for not approving enough homes.

He said: “People look at developers as an evil entity but there are not enough houses in the market.”

Mr Lall said measures by the government to curb the buy-to-let market – such as increasing stamp duty on second homes from April – have simply pushed out individual landlords.

“The private rented schemes are a model which is going to continue. Unfortunately, with the supply differential it’s just going to lead to increased house prices unless developers can get on site and build more homes...” - Shahan Lall, Lall Group

That has made the landscape easier for large scale PRS investors, increasing their attraction.

He said: “First-time buyers can’t get onto the market but still want independence from mum and dad.

“The private rented schemes are a model which is going to continue.

“Unfortunately, with the supply differential it’s just going to lead to increased house prices unless developers can get on site and build more homes.”

Shahan Lall launched Lall Group in 2011 after working as divisional director for pub company Enterprise Inns, making him the youngest divisional portfolio manager of a FTSE 250 company at the age of 32.

His company, which is based in Maidstone, employs 17 people and acquired investment and development company Porters three years ago.

He went to Oakwood Park Grammar School in Maidstone and began his career in sales and marketing at Shepherd Neame.

He has worked for Port of London Properties and became a member of the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors in 2008. He lives in Rainham with his fiancee.