It seems that more and more people are waking up to the idea of using a Stocks and Shares ISA as the main place to invest and aim for passive income. And in many cases, this will be instead of buying property. Some might be opting against a buy-to-let because of the new rules for landlords that are being brought in. Some might simply prefer renting and want a more mobile place to park some cash.
The average house price in 2026 has grown to £274,000. What would that kind of sum look like in a Stocks and Shares ISA? And how much passive income might it return? Let’s answer those questions.
How much?
In simple terms, an investor might aim for a 5% dividend yield in the ISA, which would return £13,700 yearly from the £274k. This compares favourably to the current yields from housing, which hovers around 3%-7%. That figure does vary massively depending on location, house type, and other factors.
The long-term average, including share price appreciation, is closer to 10%. This would return an average of £27k a year. However, this would not be at all consistent with many down as well as up years along the way. Given the often volatile nature of the stock markets, it’s considered a bad idea to try to rely on such a high figure as passive income.
One side of the coin? Historical performance suggests stocks win handsomely in purely financial matters over long periods. The other side? There are no guarantees the future will be the same. A stuttering economy, a potential AI bubble popping, or a multi-decade stagnation like that Japan experienced are all risks investors should be aware of.
One option
Another advantage to the Stocks and Shares ISA is the flexibility of the type of investments within it. Let’s say you were bullish on the housing market in general. Then you might wish to consider a stock in a company like Taylor Wimpey (LSE: TW.) that builds houses up and down the country.
This does require doing the research of course. The housing sector is being rocked at the moment by inflation. The rising cost of materials and wages has led to a rough few years for such stocks. Taylor Wimpey shares have dropped 55% down to 79p. Someone who is not willing to take the rough with the smooth may think a house is a safer place to invest in.
Amid the turmoil, there may be a bargain hiding in plain sight too. Taylor Wimpey pays a huge dividend of 9.57% which looks stable for the short term. The possibility of falling interest rates could be a boon for the stock too. If general conditions improve, then this could be one of those stocks that perform above average and deliver passive income for years to come.
