Singing Pig

Pod, I think we have to agree to disagree. Yields in many areas in the south-east where I am are nowhere near profitable. Of course, if you take enough time, you could scout out the odd example, but the excpetions do not make the rule. You seem to suggest that I am naive because I look at general trends rather than what an experienced landlord is doing. That's your opinion, and you are entitled to it.

To me it's the general trend that matters mostly because it's so much easier to make money when you invest with the trend. It's also a lot easier to make money purchasing assets which have fallen very shaprly, which is nowhere near the case in UK property, but you have your views I have mine.

You seem to imply rents will have to rise, almost as a matter of course, because there is contracting supply. I heard that rental supply is actually increasing at about 30-40% in London against a 9% increase in demand. Yes there is increasing demand, but increased supply is more than making up for that. OK i'm sure you will say it is the opposite where you are and I'm sure that is the case, or that London is the exception or whatever. I just don't agree rents will rise in the way you believe, but it doesn't really matter what I think or what you think, give the market enough time and it will show us the answer.

fair enough .... i just find myself listening to people who have little actual on-the-street up-to-the-minute experience with wonder ... no offence to you intended.  it reminds me of how many of my employed friends tell me that my little accountancy practice can't be making much, the market's saturated, there just isn;t the demand, it might be different elsewhere, but not here........... yet i seem to do pretty well out of it ... !  i can assure you that there are landlords making good money out of renting out residential property in YOUR area, right now. 

"give the market enough time and it will show us the answer."

.. not "will" .... "is" ... rents ARE rising, right now.  nthat is not theory, not from bbc.co.uk, not from reading the papers, not from letting agents, not from a website ........ that is reality right now. 

Pod:

fair enough .... i just find myself listening to people who have little actual on-the-street up-to-the-minute experience with wonder ... no offence to you intended.  it reminds me of how many of my employed friends tell me that my little accountancy practice can't be making much, the market's saturated, there just isn;t the demand, it might be different elsewhere, but not here........... yet i seem to do pretty well out of it ... !

"give the market enough time and it will show us the answer."

.. not "will" .... "is" ... rents ARE rising, right now. 

OK for you they are, where I am they are 100% static, for others I am sure they are up, down or sideways, the overall market direction is what counts. I've heard reports of rents falling and rising, so take your pick for which report you want to listen to. Anyway, agree to disagree and all that