"The world is changing and it’s becoming much harder to afford a home. The ultimate goal is to provide for my daughter so that she has something to fall back on in the future."
Suarj's story
Suraj’s Story: Creating a legacy for his Children.
Suraj Shah
35
Pharmacy Owner
London
Tell us about your previous investment experience?
I purchased a maisonette in London back in 2013, which I ended up renting out. In 2018, I decided to re-mortgaged the property and release some equity to invest in Leeds with Lifestyle Property People. At the time we were expecting our first baby daughter and I wanted to start planning for her future.
What motivated you to want to invest in property?
The ultimate goal is to provide for my daughter (and any other children I have) so that they have something to fall back on in the future. The world is changing and it’s becoming much harder to buy a home in London. My dad helped me with buying my residential home and so if, in 20 years’ time my daughter wants to get her own property in London, I want to be in a position to be able to help her in the same way.
Why is providing for your daughter important to you?
Honestly, I think it is my duty as a father to do that. My dad had some strong beliefs and values and passed them on to me. In some way, by providing for my children, I want to be able to pass those same values on to them and let his legacy live on.
Who else is benefitting from your investment properties?
Of course, the extra income from the property investments helps as there’s a bit more money in our bank account. Some of it goes towards our daughter’s nursery fees and we’re also able to spend it on family holidays. This is really important for me because I work 6 days a week and so it’s a priority to be able to get away from life’s distractions and spend quality time together, without thinking about the money.
In the future I’d also like to put some of that money towards our daughter’s education – I’m not the most learned person but I want my daughter to be able to have all the opportunities open to her so she can achieve what she wants.
Why were you interested in investing in Leeds?
It’s really expensive to buy in London now and after speaking to the Lifestyle team I learned how much further my money could go in the North. For me, it’s not about making a quick buck – I’m looking to build a property portfolio over time – it’s safe to say that I’m in it for the long run.
What made you take on the risk of investing outside London?
Before meeting Lifestyle Property People, I was looking to invest in South London, but it was proving to be expensive. I was really only looking at areas where I knew someone personally who could look after the property for me, in case there were any issues. After chatting to Lifestyle Property People, reading reviews about their service and hearing recommendations from others, I warmed to the idea of investing in Leeds. I felt like I could trust them, and it felt like they really had my best interests at heart.
THE NUMBERS
Suraj’s Story: The numbers.
Funds Invested
Purchase Price: £92,000
Deposit: £23,000
Legal: £1,350
Mortgage: £500
Survey: £300
Stamp Duty: £2,760
Refurbishment: £11,380
Lettings: £500
Service Management Fee: £6,495
Funds Required: £46,285
Cash Flow Summary
Gross Rent: £6,600
Mortgage Interest: £2,415
Ongoing Management (3.5%): £726
Buildings Insurance (11%): £207
Cash Flow (PA): £3,252
Rental Return: 7.0%
Gross Yield 7.2%
Did you get what you wanted from the service?
Yes, absolutely! Lifestyle secured me a property that matched my requirements exactly. I wanted it to be close to the city centre, within my budget and I didn’t want there to be too much work to be done before it could be rented.
When I was initially speaking to Lifestyle, I’d specified I wanted a 3-bedroom property, but they explained that a 2-bedroom property would be more popular and easier to rent, and they were right. Once we purchased it, the tenants were in within a month! I recently had a change of tenancy and the Letting agent even negotiated a 10% increase in rent – increasing my already fantastic returns. What more can I ask for?!
What do you value about Lifestyle’s service?
The frequent communication was very helpful, and the team always made sure I was aware of what was going on in Leeds. They held my hand at every stage, which was reassuring. This made me feel even more confident that I’d made the right decision.
What was it about our service that impressed you the most?
The service was seamless – and you don’t see that with a lot of other companies. I was kept in the loop throughout and there were never any nasty surprises. Everyone and everything just clicked well together. The quality of the service was consistent across all the partners and everyone always knew exactly what was going on with my property – no matter who I spoke to.
What would you tell a prospective buyer about Lifestyle?
If you have excess capital, then invest in the North and look up Lifestyle as your trusted partner. They’ll put your mind at ease and deal with everything. I paid their fees and within the blink of an eye everything was done. They made sure I got exactly what I wanted, so I know that when I’m ready to buy another property in Leeds, Lifestyle will be my first port of call.
What 3 words or phrases would you use to describe Lifestyle Property People?
1. Efficient
2. Trustworthy
3. Integrated
THE PROPERTY
The Property: Sourced, Refurbished and Let by us
