Have you invested a large amount of your pension into one or more of these property investments? If you have been convinced to invest in property via a SIPP, you may have been mis-sold.

Overseas property investment may initially seem like a great idea. Financial advisors predict very attractive returns on investment on sun-kissed villas that look like they are sure to succeed. The reality, however, is that both overseas and domestic property investments can be some of the most high-risk assets available, especially when investing through a SIPP.

Our panel of mis-sold SIPP solicitors regularly see a number of property investments that are illiquid, unsuitable, and often fail, leaving their investors out of pocket to the tune of thousands. These investments include the purchase of derelict residential properties, the construction of new high-rises, and the development of agricultural property.

The majority of these investments are unregulated by the FCA, with many getting into trouble and going into liquidation. Some never see the light of day, and many could have even been scams.

If you have been convinced by a financial advisor or SIPP provider to invest your pension pot into property, overseas or domestically, you may have been mis-sold a property investment. You may not even be aware yet that you have been mis-sold. Our panel of expert mis-sold SIPP solicitors can inform you whether you are eligible to claim. Find out today by using our eligibility checker.

Why are property investments high-risk?

Property investment is inherently risky, especially as the value, reputation, and the appeal of the location of the property can fluctuate through uncontrollable factors. However, unregulated, overseas property investments are particularly risky. These sorts of investments are not regulated which means that they are very easy to set up and market, without much scrutiny from any financial watchdog.

These investments are also highly illiquid, meaning investors cannot easily get their money out of the property once it has been invested. For those over the age of 50 who are starting to think about retirement, this is clearly unsuitable.

These investments are often registered abroad in places like Cyprus and Gibraltar. Financial advisors may flog these investments because they either charge more in fees, or offer large “introducer” payments. Here, the IFA is encouraging an investment without the best interests of their client at heart.

Investing into property via a SIPP is only suitable for high-net-worth investors who understand the risks and are okay with potentially losing thousands. If this is doesn’t ring true to you, you may have a mis-sold SIPP compensation claim.

What are the examples of high-risk property investments?

Our panel of mis-sold SIPP solicitors regularly see similar property investments crop up. These investments include:

• Commercial Property
• Residential Property
• Holiday Property
• Land Banking
• Agricultural Property
• Future Property Development Schemes

Recent high-profile examples of property investment that turned sour, and lost their investors thousands of their pension pots, include:

• Invest US - Renovating repossessed US properties
• Sterling Mortimer - Property funds across Cape Verde and Morocco
• The Resort Group - Investment scheme operating a chain of holiday resorts in Cape Verde
• The Rimondi Grand SIPP - Hotel resort in Crete
• Cool Blue Samui - Villa complex investment on the island of Koh Samui, Thailand
• The Dolphin Trust - German property group that lost £1.5billion of investment

Have you been advised to invest in any of the above? Have you invested your SIPP into a similar type of property investment? Even if you haven't been alerted that the investment is failing, you may have been mis-sold the investment and it simply hasn't yet come to light.

How could I have been mis-sold?

Our panel of experts will initially ask you a few questions in relation to your eligibility. Some of the factors they look for when determining if you have been mis-sold include:

• You have lost some or most of your pension value
• You can't "get out" of the investment (your investment is illiquid)
• The investment is not increasing in value
• The IFA who advised you to invest is not responding to communication
• The investment is decreasing in value
• The investment has not materialised -for example, construction was never finished
• The investment is higher risk than you thought
• The investment scheme operator is not responding to communication
• You were "cold-called", had someone knock on your door, or you responded to an online ad
• You were offered a cash incentive to invest
• The investment scheme operator in administration
• The IFA firm that advised you is in administration
• You were encouraged to invest in a SIPP despite a pension value of less than £100,000
• The investment guaranteed or promised higher returns than normal (over 7.5% PA)

Is there a time limit for mis-sold SIPP claims?

Yes, and while each case is different, there is standard limit of:

• Six years from when you were mis-sold the SIPP investment, or;
• Three years from the time you became aware of the mis-sold SIPP

Our panel would advise getting in touch as soon as possible if you believe you have been mis-sold a property investment, to avoid being time-barred. They will explore every avenue possible to try and get your pension pot back.

How much money can you receive for a mis-sold property investment claim?

The amount of compensation you could look to receive for a mis-sold property investment claim will depend on your individual case, and whether our panel of experts bring your case to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS).

If the financial firm you are claiming against has failed after a number of claims against it, the FSCS can award up to £85,000 per person, per claim. Our panel members will talk you through exactly how much they will look to recover.

How can ClaimExperts.co.uk Help?

Are you worried about your SIPP investment into overseas or domestic property? Are you concerned that you have been left out of pocket due to negligent advice from your financial advisor or SIPP provider? Let our panel of expert SIPP solicitors help.

If you have lost money by transferring your pension into a SIPP which was then used to invest into property, the panel at ClaimeExperts.co.uk can help get your money back. Even if you have not lost significant amounts, you still could have been mis-sold your SIPP. Get in touch with our expert panel today to find out if you are eligible to claim.

Important Information

Fairweather Claims Ltd t/a ClaimExperts.co.uk do not give legal advice. You do not need to use a claims management company to make a claim. You have the right to use the relevant Ombudsman to seek redress for free. More information on your particular Ombudsman can be found on our Terms & Conditions. You can also seek legal advice elsewhere.

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