I think Fred you would need to choose the location well (as im sure you would) as now in the local london papers developers are giving away 20 grands worth of freebies to sell places including travel for a year passes for cinema etc. Ie they are really really desperate.
The best bet round here for most small time landlords was the Local authority renting it out on your behalf and getting the gaff back in the same shape as you left it.
But I was told many of the developers in our area are offering whole blocks of luxury flats and houses in special deals so now at least our local council appears to be thinking this is easier than indivual houses and flats.