Open to own, but you must register
Real Estate & Property Business in the United Kingdom
There is no restriction on foreign ownership of UK property. There is a register you must be on first.
GCC business setup specialists
The register is now a precondition
Unlike most jurisdictions we work in, Britain places no restriction on who may own land. What it does require is that an overseas entity buying, selling or leasing UK property registers at Companies House, discloses its beneficial owners and obtains an identification number — without which the land registry will not register it as proprietor. A purchase planned without that step does not complete.
- Overseas entity registration handled before the transaction
- Stamp duty surcharges modelled into the purchase price
- Holding structure chosen on your actual purpose
20+
Mainland, free zone and offshore jurisdictions we file in — so the recommendation is based on your activity, not on which authority we happen to be registered with.
7,000+
Companies successfully established.
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What applies
The position for an overseas buyer
No restriction, but real obligations.
| Element | Position |
|---|---|
| Foreign ownership restriction | None. |
| Register of overseas entities | Registration and an identification number required. |
| Beneficial owner disclosure | Required, and publicly accessible in part. |
| Stamp duty surcharges | Non-resident and additional-property surcharges can apply. |
| Corporate residential holding | An annual charge can apply. |
| Rental income | Taxable, with a scheme for non-resident landlords. |
The overseas entities register, stamp duty rates and surcharges, annual charges on corporate residential property and the non-resident landlord scheme are set by legislation and change at Budget. Yours are confirmed before you commit.
How it works
Buying or holding UK property
Register before you exchange.
01
Settle the structure
Whether to hold personally or through an entity, with the stamp duty, annual charge and income tax consequences of each set out.
02
Register the entity
Overseas entity registration completed and the identification number obtained, because the land registry will not register the entity without it.
03
Complete and comply
Purchase completed with the conveyancer, stamp duty returned, and ongoing annual filings and tax obligations calendared.
Before you commit
What we need to know
Structure decisions are much cheaper before exchange.
- Whether you are buying, holding or selling
- The property and whether it is residential or commercial
- Purchase price
- Whether you already own other UK property
- Residence and tax residence of the buyers
- Whether you will hold personally or via an entity
- Where any entity is incorporated
- Beneficial owners of that entity
- Intended use — occupation, letting or development
- Whether financing is involved
- Whether a transaction is already under offer
- Whether you will let the property out
Scope
What is included, and what is not
Stated plainly, so nothing is added once the engagement starts.
Included in the service fee
- Holding structure recommendation with the tax consequences
- Overseas entity registration at Companies House
- Beneficial owner disclosure preparation
- Identification number obtained for the land registry
- Stamp duty position modelled including surcharges
- Co-ordination with your conveyancer
- Non-resident landlord scheme registration where relevant
- Annual update filings for the registered entity
Not included, quoted separately
- Registration and land registry fees, paid at cost
- Purchase price and stamp duty
- Conveyancing and legal fees
- Valuations and surveys
- Verification by a regulated agent where required
- Mortgage and finance arrangement
- Property management and letting
- Estate agency services
Verify independently
Relevant UK authorities
We file directly with these bodies on your behalf.
HM Revenue & CustomsCompanies HouseLocal authority licensing and planningEnvironment AgencyInsolvency ServiceOffice for Product Safety and Standards
Questions
UK property for overseas owners — FAQs
Can an overseas company own UK property?
Yes, there is no ownership restriction. But it must be on the register of overseas entities with an identification number, or the land registry will not register it as proprietor.
What happens if the entity is not registered?
The transaction cannot be registered, which in practice means it does not complete. It is a precondition, not a follow-up filing.
What stamp duty surcharges apply?
Surcharges can apply for non-resident buyers and for additional residential properties, and they stack. They should be modelled into the offer price, not discovered at completion.
Is there an annual charge on company-held homes?
An annual charge can apply where a company holds UK residential property above a value threshold, with reliefs for genuine letting and development businesses. We check whether it bites.
How is rental income taxed for a non-resident owner?
It is taxable in the UK, with a scheme allowing rent to be received without deduction at source where you register. Registering early avoids unnecessary withholding.
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