L&G set to be come biggest landlord yet

The lord of the land has arrived. Legal & General (L&G) plan is to invest a whopping £15bn into housing , education, energy and transport over the next ten years. Mr Wilson has made a strong point that while house prices rising for house owners today is a very positive move on what has been a struggling property market since 2008, the rise in prices will only hinder the first time buyers of 2013 by making it even harder to reach that all important deposit. 

Nigel Wilson , head of Legal & General has stated to the BBC that there is  “intergenerational injustice” towards young people who simply can’t get jobs due to the recession and ridiculous  height of education fees.

Young people could feel their problems are exacerbated. Planning for more properties is hard and as Mr Wilson says "Planning in the UK is probably as difficult as it gets anywhere in the world,". Houses that are built are instead of a £120,000 house a year now scaled up to a £250,000 a year - a generous portion of which should be rented out to the FTB’s of society. Such an increase in supply will mean building on a green belt land - making it a positive move.

It is an excellent idea that before applauding ourselves when house prices increase, there should a system in place that allows a halt on value growth for a minimum of 3 years , encouraging supply on houses.

L&G have already made their first direct stamp within the housing sector, in March they purchased a 46.5% stake in the house builder Cala. Igniting their thirst for the rental market, as part of a strategy to target socially useful projects i.e. education. transport and energy sectors) to deliver high rates of return to Legal and General making them the next big thing - if not the biggest thing to come through into the land of landlords of since 2008 at the very least.

Get the Bristol Investment Buzz

Bristol is buzzing , with an exuberant night-life and eclectic mixture of arts. It’s pure heritage and the fact that's it’s homed the likes of ‘Banksy’ are just a few keys points of what draws a tenant from near or far.

A commuter city for the likes of London, Cardiff and Cornwall, the bright lights of Bristol are most certainly shining in the buy to let market. The university of Bristol is one of the UK's best , educating the likes of Darren Brown, James Blunt and Sir Jonathan Evans.

The SS Great Britain , Brunel Bridge and @Bristol explore building and University of Bristol  mean that Bristol is one of the few places to encapsulate modern and historic style in one city beat. Home to 13,000 students, the University of Bristol is a redbrick University and highly regarded in the UK. Whether looking to rent to student, business or professional tenants, there are many options to explore for the scoping prospective landlord.

Many people are now looking to rent in the vibrant Harbourside area of the city. Rental prices in On average rent paid for a one bedroom house was £543 per month, whilst the average price for property regardless of size is a collective of £707 per month. Rental prices in Bristol city expensive compared to the rest of the country due to the fact that it covers all niches and nik-pics of the average tenant aged 18-36yrs

The facts are clear, the rental is high but the perks are worth it . The education is rating , the history is still intact, the city is moving in a cosmopolitan and modern way with regards to attitude and architecture. Demand remains and the sight of a ‘to let’ board is rare - especially in the property hotspots of Clifton, Redland and Stokes Croft.

So, when choosing an investment property, one that will stand by you for the years to come - deliver a promising financial return. Move in the direction of the Bristol Property Centre (BPC) and select with people who know property AND the secret streets of the city it’s built in.

Renting in retirement

Did you know that 42% of private renters are retired? Well according to a report by Prudential they are and they pay an average of £423 a month in rent.

The report says that many have sold their own properties in order to release much needed cash. It lists the main reasons for this demographic choosing to rent as:

• A need to pay off debts – 40%
• To increase their retirement savings – 9%
• To pay for separations and divorces – 19%
• Because they can’t afford the cash deposit to buy a home – 35%
• Because they can’t afford to buy a home full stop – 41%
• As a lifestyle choice – 15%
• To financially aid their families

A retirement expert at Prudential, Stan Russell said: “Renting in retirement can make financial sense and accessing property wealth to boost retirement income is a genuine solution for many. Our research shows that many retired renters are perfectly happy with this arrangement.

“However, retirees should be aware of the extra financial burden they could be taking on if they choose to sell up and rent. I would urge everyone in the run up to retirement to speak with a financial adviser to help them plan and save for the income they’ll need to cover their costs when they stop working.”