Britain's most iconic buy-to-let investor, sells up all 900 houses for £ 250 mln

[AtW]

" Britain’s most iconic buy-to-let landlords are to sell their entire property empire for £250m in what could mark the start of a wider sell-off by landlords.

Fergus and Judith Wilson, former maths teachers, will offload around 900 houses to a pool of foreign investors which include both wealthy individuals and institutions.

It comes after the Government imposed a string of measures designed to dramatically increase the amount of tax buy-to-let investors pay on their investment. Experts warn many other landlords may now be forced to sell, as their portfolios become loss-making.

Mr Wilson said he is sorry to be giving up on his properties but “common sense must prevail”. He said he is 67 years old and “getting no younger”.

The properties are all in Ashford, Maidstone and Folkestone in Kent. Mr Wilson said he had taken measures so that local prices, amid such a big sell-off, are not adversely affected. "

Source: Fergus Wilson, Britain's most iconic buy-to-let investor, sells up all 900 houses for £250m - Telegraph

[TheFaQQer]

They've been talking about selling it all for years now.

[NickFitz]

Nice example of journalistic jargon in the headline there. "Most iconic" can be translated to "has been mentioned in the papers a lot solely because he's always willing to give us a quick quote."

Remember, folks, if you want to be the "most iconic" something, just be ready at any time - night or day - to give journalists desperate to stand up a story something pithy, and that can be interpreted as supporting whatever viewpoint they're boosting today. If in doubt, ask them what they need you to say; they'll be happy to oblige. Then you just repeat it back to them so they can put speech marks around it. Do this a few times and bingo! You now have iconic status

[DimPrawn]

At last, some people we can look up to, and a dream we can aspire to. I hope they are on next years honours list.

[MrMarkyMark]

Is it just me, or does his wife's eyes seem too close together?
Little Britain?
Love his dress sense too

[BrilloPad]

Their timing is very good.

I just hope the government soon stops property ownership by foreigners.

[LucidDementia]

Love his dress sense too

I kinda like the jacket and tie. But not together.

[MrMarkyMark]

I kinda like the jacket and tie. But not together.

Exactly, don't mind the "squire" look, however, the (lack of) colour matching leaves a lot to be desired.

[DimPrawn]

Now if they've got any sense, they'd piss off to some tax haven with no inheritance tax, before the sale is completed.

[PurpleGorilla]

I kinda like the jacket and tie. But not together.

It's the shirt. A cream shirt would pull it together.