Rathbones' Coombs calls for innovation as suspended property funds prepare for 'significant' write-downs

RICS assurance offers glimmer of hope

Mike Sheen
clock • 4 min read

Innovation is needed within the UK property fund market to offer greater flexibility, diversification and protection for investors, according to head of multi-asset investments at Rathbones David Coombs, who is expecting substantial write-downs in the values of open-ended UK property vehicles when they eventually end their ongoing suspensions.

A number of funds across the IA UK Direct Property sector remain suspended owing to material uncertainty in the valuation of underlying holdings in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic, with billions of pounds of investor capital locked up in the vehicles since early March. However, the path towards reopening appears to be clearing, with the Royal Institution of Chartered Surveyors (RICS) having recommended a "general lifting" of material valuation uncertainty on a range of property sub sectors last week (9 September).  While fund suspensions remain in place, RICS has said there no lo...

To continue reading this article...

Join Investment Week for free

  • Unlimited access to real-time news, analysis and opinion from the investment industry, including the Sustainable Hub covering fund news from the ESG space
  • Get ahead of regulatory and technological changes affecting fund management
  • Important and breaking news stories selected by the editors delivered straight to your inbox each day
  • Weekly members-only newsletter with exclusive opinion pieces from leading industry experts
  • Be the first to hear about our extensive events schedule and awards programmes

Join now

 

Already an Investment Week
member?

Login

More on UK

UK inflation falls to 2.6% in March amid warnings of further price rises
UK

UK inflation falls to 2.6% in March amid warnings of further price rises

CPIH at 3.4% in March

Sorin Dojan
clock 16 April 2025 • 2 min read
UK retail sales defy expectations but outlook is taxing
UK

UK retail sales defy expectations but outlook is taxing

YoY retail sales growth below three-month average

Beth Brearley
clock 15 April 2025 • 2 min read
Treasury launches support package for businesses hit by tariffs
UK

Treasury launches support package for businesses hit by tariffs

£20bn in UKEF support

Sorin Dojan
clock 14 April 2025 • 2 min read
Trustpilot