Asset class · Real assetsUpdated September 2026

    Real Estate for UK Private Investors

    Beyond buy-to-let: property funds, REITs, crowdfunding and LTAFs give UK investors income and inflation-linked growth without owning bricks directly. Here are the routes, the risks and the platforms.

    Compare real estate platforms →Learn how it works
    40
    active UK platforms
    £100+
    entry via crowdfunding
    3–10 yrs
    investment horizon
    Medium–high
    risk · low liquidity
    At a glance

    Real Estate in ten seconds

    Drawn from the 40 UK platforms we track in this category and our editorial research.

    Typical investment
    £100–£25k+
    Investment horizon
    3–10 years
    Liquidity
    Low (REITs: daily)
    Risk
    Medium–high
    Return potential
    Medium
    Income
    Medium–high
    UK retail access
    High
    Common structures
    REITs, PAIFs, crowdfunding, debt, LTAFs
    What it is

    What is real estate?

    Real estate investing means owning, lending against or funding property, whether commercial, residential or development, for rental income and capital growth.

    Private routes give access to institutional-grade assets and development returns that listed REITs cannot, at the cost of liquidity and platform risk.

    How it works

    The real estate lifecycle

    Equity and debt deals follow different paths
    1. 01

      Source

      Sponsors identify assets or developments and structure the deal.

    2. 02

      Fund

      Investors provide equity or lend against the asset via a fund or platform.

    3. 03

      Operate

      Assets are let, refurbished or built out over the hold period.

    4. 04

      Income

      Rent or loan interest is distributed, typically quarterly.

    5. 05

      Exit

      Sale or refinance returns capital, plus any uplift.

    Ways to invest

    Three ways to get real estate exposure

    Listed

    REITs and property trusts

    Daily-traded property companies, eligible for an ISA or SIPP and focused on income.

    1 share minimumHigh liquidity
    Platforms

    Property crowdfunding

    Fractional equity or secured loans against specific properties, from £100.

    £100+ minimumLow liquidity
    Funds

    Private funds and LTAFs

    Institutional-grade portfolios through PAIFs, unit trusts and the LTAF structure.

    £1k+ minimumLow–medium liquidity
    Returns

    What returns look like

    Real estate blends income and growth. Debt deals pay steady interest; development equity is back-ended and higher risk.

    Yield
    Annual rent or interest divided by capital invested.
    LTV
    Loan-to-value: how much debt sits ahead of, or is, your position.
    Total return
    Income plus capital change over the hold period.
    Risks

    What can go wrong

    Capital is at risk. Most real estate products are high-risk investments under FCA rules and may require an appropriateness assessment.

    Illiquidity

    Crowdfunding and private funds can suspend redemptions.

    Platform failure

    More platforms have closed in this category than in any other we track.

    Leverage

    Debt-funded deals amplify falls in value.

    Development risk

    Cost overruns and delays hit equity investors first.

    Void periods

    Empty property earns nothing but still costs money.

    Valuation

    Private valuations lag the market.

    Access

    How UK investors can access real estate

    From least to most accessible. Each route trades off minimums, liquidity and control.

    Direct

    Buy-to-let

    Own property outright; high entry cost and effort.

    Institutional

    Private funds

    Segregated mandates and institutional PAIFs.

    New

    LTAFs

    Open-ended private property with liquidity windows.

    Platforms

    Crowdfunding and P2P

    Fractional equity and secured loans from £100.

    Listed

    REITs

    Daily liquidity inside an ISA or SIPP.

    Platforms

    Real Estate platforms in the UK

    40 active · 29 closed or inactive

    Housemartin logoHousemartinFCA regulatedFormerly Assetz Exchange.Min £1EquityLondon House Exchange logoLondon House ExchangeFCA regulatedLondon House Exchange Limited (formerly Property Partner) is directly authorised by the FCA (FRN 613499) and operates a regulated multilateral trading facility (MTF) for fractional shares in UK.Min £1 (shares) / £1,000 (debt & plans)Debt, EquityCrowd With Us logoCrowd With UsUnregulatedLondon-based property crowdfunding platform founded in 2014, connecting investors with UK property development opportunities through mezzanine finance and equity structures.Min £1Debt, EquityLoanpad logoLoanpadFCA regulatedLoanpad Limited is a UK peer-to-peer property-lending platform directly authorised by the FCA (FRN 741576, permissions granted 5 May 2018).Min £10 (no stated platform minimum; IFISA transfers from £500)DebtShare Credit logoShare CreditFCA regulatedShareCredit (Share Credit Limited, FRN claimed 719365) is a London-based P2P platform offering UK property-related loans with a £10 primary-market minimum and an IFISA wrapper.Min £10DebteasyMoney logoeasyMoneyFCA regulatedeasyMoney (E-Money Capital Ltd, FRN 231680) is a directly FCA-authorised UK property-backed P2P lender, part of the easy® brand family.Min £100Debt
    Compare all 40 platforms →Best real estate crowdfunding platforms UK, our picks →
    Guides

    Go deeper on real estate

    Insights

    Recent research

    FAQ

    Real Estate questions

    Is property crowdfunding safe?
    It is a high-risk investment. Many platforms have closed, and secured loans reduce but do not remove the risk of loss.
    How much do I need?
    From £100 on crowdfunding and P2P platforms, £1,000 to £5,000 for development equity, and the price of one share for a REIT.
    Do I get income?
    Usually. Income deals pay quarterly rent or interest, while development equity pays at exit.
    Can I use an ISA?
    REITs and some property funds qualify for a Stocks and Shares ISA, and property-backed loans may qualify for an Innovative Finance ISA.
    What is the difference between a REIT and a private fund?
    REITs are listed and liquid but move with the stock market. Private funds are valued periodically and offer limited redemptions.
    How do I check a platform?
    Look for FCA authorisation, client money segregation, track record and how loans are secured. Our directory records each of these.
    Related

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    Looking for the full list? Browse every real estate platform in the directory.

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