Key themes for UK property
Office
Good quality refurbishments in the cores of the big seven regional cities will mirror the strong performance that has been seen on similar assets in London in recent years. In London, future core development in locations that offer cheaper rents looks persuasive.
Retail
Prime West End retail rents to continue to rise at over 6% per annum. The strongest locations will be emerging luxury submarkets rather than the traditional core streets. Outside London the best shopping centre and retail warehouse parks will be those that dominate their catchments.
Industrial
Still good opportunities in the core distribution markets if you can find the land. The biggest play in this segment may be in multi-let industrial estates in London and the South where the new permitted development rights could enable conversion to residential.
London hotspots
Though price growth across London as a whole is likely to be limited by mortgage regulation and interest rates, specific areas such as Ealing, Acton, Greenwich and boroughs such as Lewisham and Waltham Forest may buck the trend as they attract more affluent buyer groups.
Attractive commuter towns
These continue to offer good medium term price growth compared to more expensive London locations, particularly where travel times are shortened by rail improvements.
Graduate hotspots in regional cities
Good second hand stock in centrally located areas of regional cities that are favoured by graduates are likely to deliver higher yields than their London counterparts, without rental incomes being reliant on welfare payments. Improving regional employment markets should underpin tenant demand.
Agricultural
- Residential/Amenity farms - These may offer opportunities as the economy improves especially where they are recognised as good value compared to arable land and where improvements will enhance future value.
- Rural estates - Over £2 trillion of net housing wealth held is by owner occupiers who have paid off their mortgage. Owners of stock in the private rented sector hold broadly the same amount of equity as mortgaged owner occupiers, reflecting the respective rise and decline of each sector.
- Commercial farms - These offer the opportunity for top-quartile income potential whilst owning a tax efficient asset for the transfer of wealth and especially for farms in Scotland where values are more affordable compared with areas south of the border.
15 Mar 16