Property? Savings? Stock market? The UK’s best investment since 2006 revealed…

PROPERTY has been named as the most lucrative investment in the UK over the last decade, delivering a significantly larger return than alternative options including the stock market, gold and savings accounts.

New research by estate agents and sister companies Leaders and Romans compared the return an investor would have enjoyed in each of the four markets had they invested an initial £50,000 in 2006.

It showed the buy-to-let market has generated a 175 per cent return over the last 10 years, equating to a profit of £138,936.

In comparison, gold has delivered a profit of £50,673, interest on savings accounts was worth £14,447 and a £50,000 investment in the FTSE 100 has yielded just £2,969 over the same time.

Michael Cook, letting managing director at Romans, says: “Buy-to-let performs significantly better than other investments in terms of an overall return.

Our research shows a buy-to-let investor in 2006 would be almost £90,000 better off today than somebody who invested in gold and more than £135,000 up on somebody who bought stocks and shares.

“Although property investment can be more time-consuming and hands-on, with such incredible results at the end it’s certainly worth it.”

Whilst gold, stocks and shares and savings offer greater liquidity than property, which can take several weeks to buy or sell, this does not deter shrewd investors who value the dual benefits of an immediate monthly rental income and capital appreciation over time.

Allison Thompson, managing director at Leaders, comments: “Despite many changes over the last ten years to the housing market and wider economy, buy-to-let is still the clear winner.

As well as the most rewarding, it is also the safest of all the investment options over the long term.

We have seen historically that, although cyclical, house prices always rise in the long run.

With the acute shortage of housing across the UK, this is only likely to continue.

“Cautious investors can minimise their risks in a number of ways, including utilising rent guarantee schemes to effectively insure their income – an option not available with other investments. This, along with the substantial returns to be made, make property more attractive than all other types of investment.”

To help investors identify the best buy-to-let opportunities, Leaders and Romans have launched a new online hub which brings together the largest choice of buy-to-let properties available across the country.

All properties featured on the Property Investment Hub have been hand-picked for their investment potential and are in areas where rental demand is consistently high and predicted to remain high.

Many of them are currently let and managed by Leaders or Romans and come with a detailed rental history and a reliable tenant in situ so investors can buy with extreme confidence.

Property Investment Hub is set to revolutionise the way private landlords buy and sell properties, helping them to maximise their opportunities and returns from the start of an investment and all the way through.

Visit Property Investment Hub today and start planning your next move in the buy-to-let market.

For advice on buying to let to meet your investment goals contact your local Leaders or Romans branch.