BTL as a pension fund - why not?

[Huntsman]

My wife and I are pretty secure financially, she is mid 30's, I am early 40's. Our pension provision is a train crash.

We could put a 20 or 30% deposit down on a couple of flats, put tenants in, 20 years time the rent has paid the mortgages and the income becomes part of our pension plan.

Reasons not to?

[Huntsman]

jdw1234 said:

Risk of capital loss.

Yields are extremely low compared to the hassle and risk.

Tenants are a massive pain in the bum.

I personally think BTL is a massive "sitting duck" for increased taxation.

I assume you are exposed to UK property through your principal residence. Why not diversify?

Not sure I understand the capital loss risk?

Where else are there higher yields with lower risk?

Agree ref taxation, its a risk.

Yes, we have UK property, our home, not mortgaged. A lot of hard work, bit of inheritance and a lot of money made on a couple of classic cars (well this is PH!) finished the mortgage. Diversify? Not sure what you mean.

[Huntsman]

We seem to have drifted off a bit since I asked the question, but all interesting stuff.

As a datapoint, I bought my first house in 1997 for £53k on a £14k graduate engineer salary, same house today is £160k, we're taking on engineering graduates at work at £22k. They can't do what I did by a long way.

Anyhoo, nothing in this thread screams don't do BTL. For sure, there's risks, but as as long term plan to bring in come income?

15 years ago the FTSE 100 was over 6k, but less than 7k, this year, its been over 6k, but less than 7k with a couple of massive dips along the way, suppose I invest my cash in the markets and plan to retire when a massive dip happens? I have to wait? Does look like other forms of investment are much better than BTL?