Why UK property still appeals to SAns: Undersupply, 7–8% net yields, low rates – Mikayla Morkel-Brink

The United Kingdom remains a stable and attractive property investment destination for South Africans, says Mikayla Morkel-Brink from immigration specialists Sable International. She explained to Biznews in an interview that rental demand is driven by a chronic undersupply of housing and consistently high tenant demand. For South Africans, the appeal is reinforced by realistic net yields of 7–8% and mortgage rates of around 4–5%, far lower than in South Africa. Asked whether the upcoming Renters’ Rights Act will affect landlords, MorkelBrink says the shift toward more openended leases, rather than fixed 12month contracts, is unlikely to have a significant impact in the regional university university cities such as Leeds and Birmingham where Sable operates. The company is also highlighting new opportunities in Reading, a regeneration hotspot on the Thames within easy reach of London. – Linda van Tilburg