Our approach to real estate investing
We have over five decades’ experience investing in UK and European real estate with a research-led, thematic approach, currently managing £22.3 billion in AUM (as at 30 September 2024). We are direct investors, sourcing and providing access to selected real estate opportunities across equity and debt markets at different points on the risk spectrum, enabling us to offer investment solutions aligned to various client outcomes. We focus on targeted locations and sectors, developing a deep knowledge of local markets, and building strong relationships with key players. We have proven advantages in terms of market access, and in our ability to deploy capital quickly and efficiently.
Moreover, our award-winning product suite and investment capabilities provide our clients with access to responsible investment solutions. Our team’s technical expertise combined with environmental, social and governance (ESG) integration,* allows us to create value for investors in European real estate.
Direct, thematic investors
Our research-led, thematic approach to investing allows us to be disciplined in originating and executing transactions, in opportunities we believe will deliver the best risk-adjusted returns. Rigorous relative value analysis is an essential part of our portfolio construction process.
Market reputation and reach
Our reputation as a trusted counterparty in the European real estate market means we see a significant volume of “off-market” opportunities. We combine in-house expertise with specialist platforms to create long-term pipeline and scale.
Responsible investment solutions
We have pioneered proprietary tools, such as our Sustainable Transition Loans framework and Sustainable Design Brief, to ensure responsible investment is truly embedded at the heart of our investment process for both debt and equity.*
*ESG integration means the integration of ESG factors and consideration of sustainability risk as part of the investment decision making process. This process is applied beyond any specific binding constraints (in the objective or strategy of the fund as detailed in the prospectus or investment management agreement and in accordance with our Baseline Exclusions Policy). The investment manager retains discretion on decision making taking all risks into account, beyond any binding criteria.
Real estate strategies
Real estate long income
Long-lease property acquisitions to generate stable, long-term, inflation-linked cash flows to de-risk real estate exposures or match long-dated liabilities. They provide an alternative to or complement fixed-income allocations.
Real estate debt
We source senior secured and whole loan debt of varying maturities, fixed or floating rate, on commercial property such as offices, retail, or logistics. Clients benefit from regular cashflows and the added security of high-quality collateral.
Real estate equity
Real-estate acquisition and management across traditional and alternative sectors in Europe that span the risk spectrum, from long-income to cyclical income and growth, development, and opportunistic investment.
Key risks of real estate strategies
Investment risk
The value of an investment and any income from it can go down as well as up and can fluctuate in response to changes in currency and exchange rates. Investors may not get back the original amount invested.
Real estate risk
Investments can be made in real estate, infrastructure and illiquid assets. Investors may not be able to switch or cash in an investment when they want to because real estate may not always be readily saleable. If this is the case we may defer a request to switch or cash in shares or units. Investors should also bear in mind that the valuation of real estate is generally a matter of valuers’ opinion rather than fact.
Investment insights
Investment thinking that brings together the collective insight of Aviva Investors’ teams from across the globe on the key themes influencing markets.
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Beyond buyout: Why DB schemes are reconsidering their endgame
10 Dec 2025
Significant shifts in the defined benefit (DB) pension schemes landscape mean that as schemes mature, trustees and sponsors now face a broader spectrum of strategic choices. We explain why the choice between buyout and run-on is no longer binary.
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Illiquidity premia in private debt: Q3 2025
12 Nov 2025
Having crunched the data, our private markets research team looks at how evolving macro conditions are impacting private debt returns.
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From niche to core: Asset-based finance emerges as a driving force as private debt markets continue to evolve
7 Oct 2025
Asset-based finance is capturing the attention of institutional investors – from pension schemes to insurers – thanks to its diverse risk-return drivers and its growing role as a strategic building block in investors’ portfolios.
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Solid foundations: The case is building for infrastructure equity
3 Oct 2025
In this article Viktor Dietrich, Research Director for infrastructure, venture capital and natural capital, revisits the case for investing in European infrastructure equity. He suggests reasons why small-to-mid-sized opportunities should feature prominently on investors’ radar.
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Energy-intensive industries: Unlocking low-carbon investment
16 Sep 2025
Vital industries for UK growth like steel or cement are also energy intensive, and their decarbonisation is essential. We convened a roundtable of experts to discuss barriers and solutions to unlocking low-carbon investment opportunities.
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Illiquidity premia in private debt: Q2 2025
14 Aug 2025
In our latest private markets deep dive, our research team crunches the data to see how evolving macro conditions are reflected in private debt returns.
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Building advantage: Finding a competitive edge in European high yield real estate debt
14 Jul 2025
While opportunities in European high yield real estate debt remain, growing competition underscores the need for deep market expertise, a robust underwriting framework, and disciplined deal selection to identify and capture resilient value.
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Show me the value: Investing in carbon removal, part three
11 Jul 2025
In this article, we explore the potential benefits of carbon removal strategies for institutional investors.
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MegaTRENDs: Why TRENDs matter for investing in private markets
27 Jun 2025
A set of megatrends is reshaping the world, creating new opportunities and risks for investments in private markets.
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Show me the value: Investing in carbon removal, part two
2 Jun 2025
In this article, we explore the different types of carbon credits, the development of the markets on which they are bought and sold, and how institutions can use them to achieve their investment and sustainability goals.
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Show me the value: Investing in carbon removal, part one
28 May 2025
New markets are emerging to enable institutions to invest in nature and potentially achieve sustainability-related objectives alongside key financial outcomes.
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Illiquidity premia in private debt: Q1 2025
16 May 2025
In our latest private markets deep dive, our research team crunches the data to see how evolving macro conditions are reflected in private debt returns.
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Private debt for DC pensions: The multi-sector opportunity
11 Feb 2025
As the search for better retirement outcomes for the 28 million members of the UK’s defined contribution (DC) pension schemes continues, where are the opportunities for DC investors in private debt and how can they be harnessed?
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Relative value in private markets: Positive but selective
29 Jan 2025
Using proprietary data, our private markets research team compares risk and return across sectors.
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Illiquidity premia in private debt: Q4 2024
27 Jan 2025
In our latest private markets deep dive, our research team crunches the data to see how evolving macroeconomic conditions are reflected in private debt returns.
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Infrastructure debt in 2025: Investor research and discipline are key to unlocking value in the sector
23 Jan 2025
European infrastructure debt issuance should pick up as governments look to stimulate their economies and support the energy transition. But with banks keen to fund some of the best opportunities, investors need to maintain their discipline.
Seizing the moment: The outlook for real estate debt
Gregor Bamert, Sima Kotecha and Nick Solomon discuss the recovery in real estate debt markets in 2024 and the opportunities emerging.
Private Markets Study 2025
In the seventh edition of the study, we collected the views of 500 institutional investors around the world. We delved into some of the key questions facing private market investors today: Why do they invest in private markets? How do they expect the asset classes to perform over the next few years? What are the biggest barriers to investing today? And how do they incorporate sustainability?
House View
No one can predict the future. But our quarterly House View sets out the collective wisdom of our investment teams on the current state of global markets – and where they might be heading.
Real estate team
Meet our real estate investment team.
Gregor Bamert
Head of Real Estate Debt
Renos Booth
Head of Real Estate Long Income
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Private markets
As one of Europe’s largest private markets investment managers, we have the scale to access the full depth and breadth of private markets.