Every development is underwritten with five-year forecasts, independent comparables and stress-tested voids. Filter, shortlist, compare, or request the full private list.
5-year growth forecasts for the UK's top 8 rental cities
Full breakdown of buy-to-let yields, running costs and tax
Off-plan vs completed: the 140-deal data comparison
How our clients structure portfolios for limited-company ownership
Frequently asked
UK property investments FAQ
Reservations are made directly with the developer or vendor on a reservation form we provide, after a Red Cardinal advisor has confirmed allocation. Typical reservation fee is £2,000-£5,000, deducted from your eventual deposit. Exchange follows within 21-28 days, by which point your solicitor has reviewed contracts and your mortgage offer (if applicable) is in hand.
Off-plan means buying a unit before the building is complete. You exchange contracts and pay 10-25% deposit (sometimes staged) at exchange, with the balance due at practical completion 12-36 months later. Off-plan typically prices 5-12% below resale value at the time of completion, the discount the developer pays in exchange for early-stage cashflow certainty.
Reservation to exchange is typically 21-28 days. Practical completion (when keys are handed over) follows 12-36 months later, depending on the development's construction stage at reservation. The longest gap is buying at pre-launch when the building is still in foundations or shell stage. Buying at structural complete or fit-out stage usually means completion within 6-12 months.
Yes. Every Red Cardinal investment comes with a 4-6 page Investment Brief covering rental comparables, voids, capital growth forecast, exit strategy, developer track record, and a stress-tested cashflow model. The brief is shared on the second consultation call once we understand your goals. Live developments also include planning portal records, supply pipeline, and a 22-point due-diligence summary.
They carry development risk that completed property does not: the developer must finish on time, on spec, and remain solvent. We mitigate this by sourcing only from developers with at least 3 prior completed UK schemes, deposit protection schemes (typically Buildmark or Premier Guarantee), and staged payment plans where possible. Roughly 60% of our 2024-2025 transactions were off-plan, with no client losing capital on a developer failure since 2019.
Deposits paid into developer-controlled accounts are protected by Buildmark, Premier Guarantee or LABC warranties (we only source from schemes with a recognised warranty). In the rare event of administration, the warranty either funds completion under a successor builder, or refunds your deposit. We also recommend solicitors who hold deposits in stakeholder client accounts where the contract structure permits, adding a second layer of protection.
Yes. UK property law permits remote completion via UK consulates or local notaries (apostilled under the Hague Convention 1961). 31% of our 2024 transactions completed without the client visiting the UK. We coordinate solicitor video calls, courier the completion pack, and arrange a post-completion video walkthrough of the unit. Non-resident buyers should budget 2-4 weeks extra for AML and notarisation.
Three channels. First, direct relationships with 30+ UK developers built since 2018, generating allocations on 60-70% of new schemes pre-launch. Second, three institutional pre-launch networks where pre-launch stock is shared between consultancies of trusted reputation. Third, owner-direct resale referrals from existing clients and our lettings book. We pass through 22-point due diligence and decline approximately 85% of schemes pitched to us.
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