Things are getting much tougher for the average buy-to-let landlord, but that’s not something many real estate investment trust (REIT) investors have to worry about.
When held inside an ISA, REITs can generate chunky dividend yields from rental property for shareholders who don’t have to worry about paying any taxes. That’s quite the opposite compared to a direct investment in a property, which also comes with all the extra costs of repairs and managing tenants.
This doesn’t mean buy-to-let’s dead. It’s still a good way for experienced landlords to profit from the UK property market. But with new rules coming in this year, there’s no denying that it’s becoming harder.
That’s why REITs remain my favourite way to invest in real estate. And in 2026, there’s one REIT in particular that looks like an excellent investment, in my eyes.
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A tasty 6.6% dividend yield
Out of all the REITs listed on the London Stock Exchange, my personal favourite right now is LondonMetric Property (LSE:LMP).
The firm’s vast commercial real estate portfolio covers a wide range of property types, including healthcare, convenience, entertainment, and a large concentration in urban logistics. But what makes its business model unusually robust is its triple-net lease (NNN) structure.
NNN means that tenants are ultimately responsible for paying rent, maintenance, insurance, running costs, and taxes like business rates. As such, beyond the initial cost of acquiring or building a property, LondonMetric has virtually no property-level operating costs, turning it into a free cash flow-generating machine.
This structural advantage is a big reason why the business is on track to deliver its 11th year of consecutive dividend increases. And even in April, with a chunky 6.6% dividend yield, the group’s rental cash flows are still more than enough to cover its substantial payout.
Pair that with an average lease duration of 16.4 years, 98% occupancy, and 67% of lease agreements including an annual contractual uplift, and LondonMetric’s dividends look exceptionally secure.
So what’s the catch?
Where is the risk?
Even as a bullish shareholder, LondonMetric Property isn’t a risk-free REIT, and there are some important risk factors that investors need to consider carefully.
The company carries a lot of debt on its balance sheet. And while management has recently refinanced £1.5bn of its outstanding loans to remove maturity risk until 2029, interest rates also impact the group’s property valuations.
Changes in real estate prices don’t impact its rental cash flows. But it does nonetheless move its share price.
Another potential risk factor is over-expansion. In the past, LondonMetric focused exclusively on logistics properties. But following its acquisition of LXi, a wide range of new property types were thrown into the mix.
Yet with a limited history and experience of being a landlord to supermarkets, hotels and theme parks, the impact of poor execution in the short-term could have a noticeable impact in the long run.
Are these risks worth taking?
Every investor has their own personal risk tolerance limit. So before buying any shares in LondonMetric, it’s crucial to consider both the risks and potential rewards.
For me personally, the combination of rock-solid fundamentals paired with a juicy 6.6% yield makes LondonMetric a REIT worth buying. That’s why it’s already in my passive income portfolio.
