JLL Predicts Investment Volumes In UK property To Total £55bn In 2018

Capital gains tax will be a short-term blow but Japanese and Korean capital will help support the market according to JLL’s property predictions

London, 11 January 2018 – JLL UK has predicted that investment volumes in the UK property market in 2018 will total around £55bn, with returns of 6.4%. This is slightly down on the £60bn investment volumes and 10% returns for 2017.

The real estate firm has cited the impact of the removal of the capital gains tax exemption for overseas investors in UK commercial property as a temporary blow to the market but that the new regime will not deter investors in the long term. JLL also predicts that the UK, and London in particular, is likely to be a key destination for Japanese and Korean capital.

Jon Neale, Head of UK Research, JLL, said: “Undoubtedly there will be investors who are dissuaded by the capital gains tax changes, but the change only aligns the UK with most other developed countries. In spite of this, the major reasons for investing in UK property remain – liquidity, lot sizes, landlord-favourable leases, the strong economic and leasing fundamentals, and at present, relatively high yields and a weak currency.”

“We also expect Korean investors to add weight to the broader push from Asia this year. While they have held back from adding to their UK exposure in the aftermath of the referendum, we expect a return in 2018, attracted by the market’s resilient performance and high pricing in other global markets.”

JLL’s property predictions for 2018 also include the sustained and resilient performance of the industrial and logistics sector and a continuation of the boom in deals for flexible office providers as more corporates take space. While proptech will continue to transform the industry, JLL highlights digital construction as one area that could have more dramatic impacts over the next few years.

Following a number of recent landmark deals, JLL forecasts that 2018 will see wider participation by institutions and pension funds in the alternative sectors. Appetite is being driven by a mix of long income opportunities linked to inflation, exposure to strong demographic trends and a number of sectors which benefit from a structural supply and demand imbalance. There will be a rise of mixed-use alternatives as investors and operators will increasingly regard themselves as providers of living space and social infrastructure. The shortage of supply will result in established operators in one sector moving into a similar or complementary market.

Finally, amid continued political uncertainty, 2018 will be the year in which many companies finally make decisions about their business strategies post-Brexit, according to JLL. Nevertheless, GDP growth looks set to be around 1.5% in 2018, roughly in line with 2017 and well ahead of some of the more pessimistic forecasts produced at the time of the referendum.

Neale added: “A deal with the European Union, even if it only covers transition, is likely to emerge towards the end of the year, but this means that this will be another year of Brexit uncertainty, with many in property still unable to make informed decisions. But in spite of this mood music, inflation will fall back, base rates will remain unchanged and employment growth will be solid, suggesting that the economy will grow at roughly the same rate as in 2016.”

Today, JLL surveyed nearly 400 guests at its predictions event held at The Rosewood Hotel in London where they were asked what they expect returns in the UK property market to be in 2018. Approximately 60% of respondents said 4-8%; in line with JLL’s own 6.4% prediction. Attendees were also asked what they expect their level of investment in business or property to be by 2021, with 46% saying somewhat larger than levels seen today.

To read JLL UK’s property predictions 2018 report, click here.

About JLL

JLL (NYSE: JLL) is a leading professional services firm that specializes in real estate and investment management. A Fortune 500 company, JLL helps real estate owners, occupiers and investors achieve their business ambitions. In 2016, JLL had revenue of $6.8 billion and fee revenue of $5.8 billion and, on behalf of clients, managed 4.4 billion square feet, or 409 million square meters, and completed sales acquisitions and finance transactions of approximately $145 billion. At the end of the third quarter of 2017, JLL had nearly 300 corporate offices, operations in over 80 countries and a global workforce of over 80,000. As of September 30, 2017, LaSalle Investment Management had $59.0 billion of real estate under asset management. JLL is the brand name, and a registered trademark, of Jones Lang LaSalle Incorporated. For further information, visit jll.co.uk.