Well-known Yorkshire property duo join forces to launch new investment company

Alistair Russell, former agency and investment consultant at Dunlop Heywood, and his son-in-law Jordan Yorath, former director of rental company Flats in Leeds, have launched UK City Investment Group.

The pair aim to attract both large and small investors seeking out opportunities in Yorkshire and across the UK.

The group comprises two divisions: UK City Residential, launched earlier this year and run by Mr Yorath, and UK City Commercial, established in June and led by Mr Russell.

UK City Residential has already sold or is in legals on over £8m of residential property in Leeds, Huddersfield, Castleford, Barnsley, the Midlands and the North East.

Speaking to the Yorkshire Post, Mr Yorath said his primary focus was city centre apartments.

Mr Yorath, son of former Welsh international Terry, ran city apartment rental specialist Flats in Leeds with his mother Christine before the pair sold the business to Countrywide last year. “We mainly work with small buy-to-let investors in Leeds but elsewhere it tends to be large scale investors who might buy a block of apartments and get a better return,” he said.

Meanwhile, Mr Russell, who was former European director at JLL in Leeds for 11 years, is will deal with prime city centre offices, worth between £1m and £4m. “We wouldn’t have done this three years ago,” he said. “But I believe the current level of investment is sustainable. There are developer opportunities, occupier opportunities and investors have seen capital appreciation rise. It’s all about the economic health of the country. That is what drives demand and growth.”

The pair also hope to pool their expertise to advise on mixed-use schemes. “Developments have to be more integrated and people are having to understand both commercial and residential markets,” Mr Russell added.