UK IFAs back residential property as ‘valuable’ pension option

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Nearly two out of three IFAs believe UK residential property would be a valuable investment option for pension investors, research from housing investment and shared equity mortgage provider Castle Trust shows.

A nationwide study of financial advisers found 63 per cent believe access to UK residential property investment would help investors with pension planning.
However, more than two out of five (42 per cent) are concerned that the minimum investment required to invest in UK residential property, typically through buy-to-let, is a major barrier for most investors.

Around a third (31 per cent) of IFAs themselves currently invest in UK residential property excluding their own homes, Castle Trust’s research shows.

Currently, investors in self-invested personal pensions (SIPPs) cannot invest directly in UK residential property, but they can use Castle Trust’s HouSAs to invest in UK residential property from GBP1,000. HouSAs are income and growth investment products linked to the Halifax House Price Index with returns that beat the Index, whether it rises or falls

Sean Oldfield, chief executive officer at Castle Trust, said:

“Financial advisers recognise the value of UK residential property as a valuable diversifier in a portfolio, but are concerned about having to invest in bricks and mortar to do so.

“House prices and household incomes are inherently linked over the long term making housing ideal for pension portfolios that need to keep pace with wage inflation.

“A fixed-term investment such as HouSAs can be used very effectively when you have a specific goal in mind, which is clearly the case for SIPP investors. They can include housing returns in their pension planning without having to consider downsizing their home when they stop work.”

 

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