List of UK REITS to invest in

Those who are new to investing in the United Kingdom’s real estate industry are more familiar with rental properties as investments. Some invest their finances in buying properties for the purpose of house flipping. However, these investments can have hidden expenses. They might also be difficult to maintain especially if you are a landlord who has many properties.

Would you like to invest in real estate but want to do away with preparing for downpayment, going through the mortgage process, and finding tenants? What about renovating and managing your properties, and other tasks involved in the traditional way of real estate investing? Try putting your money into well-established REITs in the country.

In this article, Mortgage Introducer will provide a list of UK REITs that you might be interested in investing in. We will also shed light on how to invest in UK REITs as well as the benefits that investors have. Do you want to know what the largest property REIT is in the UK? Read on for more.

To our usual pool of readers from the mortgage sector and connected industries like real estate, this is another one of our client education pieces. If you are a real estate agent or mortgage broker with clients who want to know about investing in UK REITs, make sure to share this with them!

What is a REIT?

A Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) is a company that owns and manages real estate properties to generate income. They can be either a single-company or group REIT. In the UK, REITs own and operate income-generating real estate assets that are created for commercial or residential purposes. However, REITs owner-occupied properties are not included.

REITs in the country are into targeted niche markets. For example, the shares of stock that they offer to investors are focused on one type of property segment. Still, there are UK REITs that provide additional protection to their investors by diversifying their investments in various segments of real estate properties. Some of them are:

• residential real estate
• retail properties
• healthcare properties
• warehouse properties
• office spaces
• industrial spaces
• data centres
• distribution complexes

Want to know more about UK REITs? Watch this video:

In case you don’t know, investing in UK REITs is a kind of passive real estate investment. If you are just starting out, read this article on real estate investments for beginners.

What is the largest property REIT in the UK?

The largest property REIT in the UK is Segro. It has the highest market capitalisation with approximately £12 billion. It is also the biggest REIT with shares that can be traded on the London Stock Exchange, as compared to all the other UK REITs.

Segro operates in nine countries:

• the UK
• Italy
• Germany
• the Netherlands
• France
• Poland
• Czech Republic
• Belgium
• Spain

How many REITs are there in the UK?

There are 48 UK REITs listed on the London Stock exchange. They have a combined market capitalisation of more than £40 billion. These UK REITs are focused on a number of real estate niche markets such as:

• industrial
• office
• residential
• retail
• specialty
• hotel and lodging

List of UK REITs

The London Stock Exchange (LSE) has an aggregate market capitalisation of more than £4 trillion in 2024. It has listed approximately 2,000 companies. The UK REITs below are all listed under the London Stock Exchange.

The top 20 UK REITs below are listed according to market capitalisation. As mentioned above, Segro is at number one with £12 billion. Here are the remaining 19:

1. Land Securities Group

Market capitalisation: £4.61 billion

Next to Segro is Land Securities Group PLC (trading as Landsec), a UK REIT that owns and develops these types of properties in the country:

• shopping centres
• retail parks
• office spaces

Land Securities Group PLC is registered in London.

2. LondonMetric Property

Market capitalisation: £3.95 billion

LondonMetric Property owns and manages UK properties that focus on segments such as:

• healthcare
• entertainment
• Logistics

In January 2024, LondonMetric announced an upcoming merger with LXi, another REIT. This merger will create a new REIT, predicted to be the fourth largest in the UK.

3. Unite Group

Market capitalisation: £3.91 billion

Purpose-built student accommodation spaces are the target market of Unite Group (trading as Unite Students). They own, manage, and develop properties where students around the UK can rent and reside.

4. Tritax Big Box REIT

Market capitalisation: £3.85 billion

Tritax Big Box REIT is a UK REIT in "Big Box" distribution centres. These are large-scale infrastructures that often have a plain design and look just like a big box—hence its name.

5. British Land Company

Market capitalisation: £3.82 billion

The fifth UK REIT on our list is British Land Company. It is a REIT that creates, owns, and manages commercial properties on campuses and retail parks. British Land also focuses on urban logistics across London.

6. Shaftesbury Capital

Market capitalisation: £2.72 billion

Shaftesbury Capital is a UK REIT that focuses on the capital’s West End covering these areas:

• Covent Garden
• Carnaby Street
• Soho
• Chinatown

Shaftesbury Capital’s properties span over 250,800 square metres of retail, hospitality and leisure, office, and residential spaces.

7. Derwent London

Market capitalisation: £2.54 billion

Derwent London secures the seventh spot on this list of UK REITs. The company is focused on commercial real estate.

8. Big Yellow Group PLC

Market capitalisation: £2.3 billion

At number 8 we have Big Yellow Group PLC, a UK REIT which is also the largest self-storage company in the country. The company started with a store in Richmond upon Thames in 1998 and has now grown to 109 facilities.

9. Safestore Holdings

Market capitalisation: £1.68 billion

Safestore Holdings takes the ninth spot with 177 stores across Europe. They operate in and out of the UK via numerous brands.

10. Hammerson

Market capitalisation: £1.38 billion

Up next is Hammerson, a UK REIT that owns, operates and develops sustainable prime urban real estate. They also have interest in several major retail developments.

11. Great Portland Estates

Market capitalisation: £1.36 billion

Great Portland Estates is into properties such as:

• retail spaces
• office spaces
• residential properties
• freehold and leasehold

The company prioritises sustainability with a goal to become net zero by 2040.

12. Sirius Real Estate Limited

Market capitalisation: £1.27 billion

Sirius Real Estate Limited joins our list of UK REITs at number 12. They own and operate these properties in the UK and Germany:

• business parks
• office spaces
• mixed-use workspaces

Sirius owns and manages 68 properties in Germany and 74 in the UK.

13. Primary Health Properties

Market capitalisation: £1.23 billion

If you want to buy shares in a UK REIT that specialises in the rental of flexible and modern primary healthcare facilities, then Primary Health Properties might be for you. They operate both in the UK and Ireland.

14. Assura

Market capitalisation: £1.21 billion

Assura is a UK REIT with headquarters in Altrincham. It designs and builds healthcare facilities in the country. They also manage and invest in primary care buildings.

15. Workspace Group

Market capitalisation: £1.14 billion

Next on our list of UK REITs is Workspace Group. It lets business accommodation properties to small and medium-sized enterprises. Their property portfolio includes:

• office spaces
• workshop spaces
• industrial properties

Workspace has been in the industry for over 30 years and owns nearly 465,000 square metres of property in London and the South East.

16. Supermarket Income REIT

Market capitalisation: £900 million

At number 16 on our list of UK REITs is Supermarket Income REIT. This UK REIT invests in properties which are an essential part of grocery infrastructure. They hold a large real estate portfolio of properties for supermarkets.

17. Balanced Commercial Property Trust

Market capitalisation: £560 million

Changes are in store for Balanced Commercial Property Trust. In September 2024, Starlight Bidco Ltd. made a bid to acquire Balanced Commercial Property Trust for £673.5 million. Shareholders stand to receive 96p per share in cash.

18. Urban Logistics REIT

Market capitalisation: £560 million

From the name itself, Urban Logistics REIT is a UK REIT that invests in urban logistics as well as industrial properties. They also invest in warehouses.

19. Empiric Student Property

Market capitalisation: £550 million

Ending our list of UK REITs based on market capitalisation is Empiric Student Property. They focus on student accommodation properties.

Notable mentions

Do you want to check out other options aside from those above? Here is a list of UK REITs that you might want to look into if you wish to diversify your real estate investment portfolio: 

What is the best UK REIT to invest in?

The best UK REIT to invest in are those that are in line with your personal goals. If you want to grow your wealth portfolio without the waiting game, you can take a small amount of risk and invest in REITs with high volatility but also with high returns. Just remember to take precautions and study the market to avoid pitfalls.

If you want a steady flow of funds, choose REITS that are under stable industries. Their dividends might not be as high, but you are more secure with your money.

Diversifying your investment in UK REITs can be a safety net. This means that you are not just depending on one industry. Plus, if you encounter negative returns on some of your investments, you will have others to rely on.

Curious to learn the top UK REITs for steady income? Check out this clip below:

In connection with these tips on finding the best UK REIT to invest in, are real estate investment trusts bust or boom?

What are the benefits of investing in UK REITs?

There are many benefits when you invest in any of the UK REITs on our list. For example, you get to invest in the country’s real estate sector without actually buying and managing a property. Here are other perks that you can enjoy if you become a UK REIT investor:

• potential for high returns and dividends
• transparency on taxes
• access to property for minimal outlay
• liquid asset
• diversification of investment portfolio
• low or controlled gearing

Are REITs a good investment now in the UK?

The answer to this question depends on your personal and financial objectives. UK REITs are companies that own real estate properties that generate income. Most of the time, they are also the ones that operate and manage these spaces. If you want to invest in rental flats and industrial warehouses without actually owning them, investing in REITs might be for you.

Would you like to have shares in corporations that own properties where hospitals, hotels, and big retail stores are renting? Again, you can choose to become an investor in UK REITs to improve your wealth. Overall, putting your money where it can grow is always a good idea—you must simply evaluate what you want to do with it and weigh the risks.

Would you wish to invest in any of the companies on our list of UK REITs? Tell us in the comments section below