Investments ensure record year for Helmsley Group

The York-based firm buys properties on behalf of syndicates of investors, who receive a proportionate share of the rental income and any long-term capital growth.

The figure tops last year's 11m investments. Recent transactions in Yorkshire includethe 1.6m acquisition of Duke House on Wellington Street, Leeds where Ison Harrison solicitors are the tenants and the 3.4m purchase of a retail warehouse in Huddersfield, let to Halfords.

Director Ian McAndrew said: "2010 has been a record year in our 18-year history of delivering syndicated property opportunities to clients. This reflects our long-term confidence in the commercial property sector in Yorkshire and beyond. We are always on the look-out for well tenanted commercial properties and have been delighted with the quality of our investments this year."

Unlike some other property portfolios, Helmsley Group's properties are bought with cash, so there is no reliance on borrowing and the vagaries of bank lending.There is a minimum investment of 25,000 and investors can spread their risk across a range of properties.