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Independent article - How to invest in property without being a landlord

Journalist: Marc Shoffman, Freelance

ended 28. April 2025

Helloo,

I am writing a piece for The Independent on how to invest in property without being a landlord.

It would be great to get some comments and views on the pros and cons of alternatives such as property investment funds, investment trusts, p2p lending and any others I may have missed.

Kind regards

Marc

2 responses from the Newspage community

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Editor
Bob SinghVerified
Founder at Chess Mortgages
With property news featuring on a daily basis, it must seem like a daunting task for many who aspire to be homeowners. With a plethora of schemes now being launched by lenders, it’s no longer the case that you must have a large deposit to start your journey into property. With the re-emergence of 95% and 100% mortgages as well as other low deposit options, it’s never been easier to get on the housing ladder. If direct investment does not appeal then there are other means to profit from property depending on your risk appetite and goals. Rent to Rent is where you rent a property from a landlord for an agreed fee and then rent out to tenants for a higher sum giving you cashflow. As a landlord you must comply with the legislation. Option Agreements include identifying sites and properties that would benefit from planning gain and selling the option after planning permission has been obtained. Equally, consider becoming a deal sourcer and find below market deals and offer them to buyers.
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Kundan BhaduriVerified
Entrepreneur, Investor and Landlord at The Kushman Group
REITs are the Pot Noodle of investments if you do not fancy playing 24x7 landlord. They are quick, easy, diversified but returns can fizzle very quickly due to mandatory income payouts. For those seeking higher yields, real estate debt funds and private equity vehicles enable participation in curated property portfolios with professional management, targeting annual returns of 3%–5% from rental income and appreciation, albeit with reduced liquidity and investor control. Crowdfunding and P2P platforms, despite low entry barriers, often lack transparency in asset selection and face liquidity constraints, particularly during market stress. Tokenized assets, though innovative, remain nascent and untested across market cycles. While these alternatives mitigate landlord responsibilities, they introduce unique trade-offs. Beware though that REITs and debt funds will expose you to interest rate sensitivity and economic downturns, which can quickly erode dividends or fund valuations.