I was putting in effort, reaching out to experts, brokers, agents and sourcers. I was talking to all kinds of people , but despite that, nothing seemed to click.
When I first considered investing in UK property, I was excited, but I quickly realised something, I was putting in effort, reaching out to experts, brokers, agents and sourcers. I was talking to all kinds of people , but despite that, nothing seemed to click.
Then, I remember sitting down with a friend one afternoon at lunch, we were both passionate about buying a property, but individually we weren’t making much traction.We decided to work together and as we crunched the numbers and looked at what was needed, our deposit, refurb budget, stamp duty & legal fees it became clear that neither of us was quite there on our own.But then something clicked.We evaluated what we each brought to the table—skills, funds, knowledge, time—and realised that together, we had everything we needed.
That was the beginning of my first joint venture—and the launchpad for everything that’s followed.Looking back, it was that honest evaluation that made the difference. Without it, I might still be waiting for “the right time”.A few things we considered.
1. Area to Invest In – We looked for locations with strong rental demand, good transport links, and signs of regeneration, up-and-coming areas with established and consistent growth. We balanced our budget with growth potential and eventually shortlisting a few postcodes that offered both affordability and upside. We then started viewing lots of properties in those areas within our budget. We worked with various agents and eventually narrowed down the exact area that seemed to give us the best value. We bounced off our questions, insecurities and fears on each other and helped think through the properties we were evaluating, so we were more confident to move through the process.
2. Maximum Budget – Together, we set a strict all-in budget (purchase + refurb + fees) with our spreadsheet we developed together. This helped us stay focused and avoid getting distracted. We asked, “What’s the maximum we’re comfortable risking?” How much could we raise based on our income? how we split the deposit? and were able to workout the deal backwards from there.
3. Investment Goals – My goal was to build long-term cash flow and appreciation. My friend wanted a medium term investment which she could cash out when she got married. So, we chose a strategy that allowed both—a light refurb and rent-to-hold, with equity uplift to refinance and pull some capital back out later.
4. Capital Raised – We listed out what we each could bring to the table:• she brought more time and handled the refurb and project management• I brought more savings/cash for the deposit and she covered the refurb costs.Together, we had just enough to comfortably take on a BTL project with refurb potential.
5. How We’d Split It – We agreed on a profit and ownership split that reflected our input:• 50/50 on ownership and when we eventually sold as it was an equal share split. Also, on the rental income.• Clear roles defined in writing, with an exit plan in case one of us wanted to sell. We agreed the legal ownership structure which suited us and ensured that we were both protected and could leave our share to our loved ones if anything was to happen.The market moved massively in our favour as Bank of England slashed annual interest rates to 0.25%, so it meant our projected rental income profit was much better than anticipated since we worked our margins based on 5% and our mortgage payment dropped significantly. We had decided to stay on a tracker mortgage as the broker had advised and we both assessed the market going into a downward spiral could mean a high chance that rates would be cut and that’s exactly what happened.
A few years later when she wanted to sell, we put the property on the market and based on the offer we got we agreed a buy out price and she sold her share to me. She got the nice lump sum for the deposit of her own home from the appreciation over the 5 years and I got to hold and refinance the property and pull out equity.
A win-win for all and exactly the way JVs should work taking all into consideration. Did we have issues along the way, for sure, but we both logically handled them and with patience and understanding worked through any problems that arose along the way.To summarise, and for you to assess where you are along your own journey, I’ve put together the UK Property Investing Readiness Checklist so you can sit down and evaluate exactly where you are, and what you initially need to get all your ducks in a row to buy your investment property. There are certainly more questions to get through once you’ve gone through this but this is a good start.
Download it here – it will give you some clarity you need to move forward:[Download the UK Property Investing Readiness Checklist] .Whether you’re thinking about buying your investment property or partnering up like I did, this checklist will help you figure out:• What you already have in place• Where the gaps are• And what your next steps should be & put a plan in placeYou don’t have to wait until everything’s perfect. You just need a clear view of where you stand and what to do to move forward.Here’s to smart steps and bold moves…Once you do, you can book a quick call with me.
