United Kingdom

Anyone can buy property in the UK, whatever their nationality or residence. There is no approval process for foreign buyers. • Freehold: you own the building and land outright (common for houses). • Leasehold: you own a long lease (often 99–999 years) but not the land (common for flats). Check the years left, ground rent and service charges. • Ownership is recorded at HM Land Registry (England & Wales), Registers of Scotland, or Land & Property Services (Northern Ireland). • Overseas companies that own UK land must register on the Register of Overseas Entities at Companies House and declare their real owners. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/land-registry
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/register-an-overseas-entity
• https://www.gov.uk/leasehold-property

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Main purchase tax in England and Northern Ireland is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). Rates for homes from 1 April 2025: • 0% up to £125,000 · 2% £125,001–£250,000 · 5% £250,001–£925,000 · 10% £925,001–£1.5 million · 12% above £1.5 million. • +5% surcharge if you already own another home anywhere in the world (additional dwellings). • +2% surcharge for non-UK residents. • First-time buyers get relief on cheaper homes. • Scotland (LBTT) and Wales (LTT) have their own taxes and rates. • Yearly: Council Tax set by the local council. Use HMRC's official SDLT calculator for your case. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/residential-property-rates
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/rates-and-allowances-stamp-duty-land-tax
• https://www.revenue.scot/taxes/land-buildings-transaction-tax
• https://www.gov.wales/land-transaction-tax-guide

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Renting out property in the UK: • Rental profit is taxed in the UK even if you live abroad. Landlords overseas fall under the Non-Resident Landlord Scheme: the agent or tenant withholds basic-rate tax unless HMRC approves gross payment. • In England, deposits must be protected in a government-approved scheme; landlords need gas safety, electrical safety and energy (EPC) certificates, and "Right to Rent" checks. • The Renters' Rights Act changes English tenancies to rolling (periodic) tenancies and removes "no-fault" evictions; check GOV.UK for the dates that apply. • Selling a UK home later can trigger Capital Gains Tax, including for non-residents, with a 60-day reporting deadline. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/non-resident-landlord-scheme-guidance-notes-for-letting-agents-and-tenants
• https://www.gov.uk/renting-out-a-property
• https://www.gov.uk/tax-sell-property/overview

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Buying property does not give you any right to live in the UK. There is no property investment visa (the old Tier 1 Investor visa closed in 2022). • Living in the UK needs a separate visa (work, family, study, Innovator Founder, Global Talent etc.) from UK Visas and Immigration. • Tax residence is a separate test (the Statutory Residence Test) based on days spent and ties to the UK. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration
• https://www.gov.uk/tax-foreign-income/residence

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Commercial property: • Foreign buyers can buy offices, shops, hotels and other commercial property without approval. • SDLT on non-residential property is lower: 0% up to £150,000, 2% to £250,000, 5% above. • VAT (20%) may apply if the seller has "opted to tax" the building. • Business rates are paid yearly on most commercial property. • Non-residents pay UK Corporation Tax on UK property income held through companies. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/stamp-duty-land-tax/nonresidential-and-mixed-use-rates
• https://www.gov.uk/introduction-to-business-rates
• https://www.gov.uk/guidance/opting-to-tax-land-and-buildings-notice-742a

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Checks before you buy: • Use a solicitor or licensed conveyancer to check the title at HM Land Registry, local searches, planning permission and building regulations. • For leaseholds, check lease length, ground rent and service charges. • Get a survey (RICS-qualified surveyor). • Check the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) on the official register. • Buyers must prove source of funds under anti-money-laundering rules. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/buy-sell-your-home
• https://www.gov.uk/find-energy-certificate
• https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry

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Inheritance and wills: • UK property is within UK Inheritance Tax (IHT) whoever owns it. The standard rate is 40% above the £325,000 nil-rate band (an extra residence band can apply when a home passes to children). • From 6 April 2025, IHT on worldwide assets depends on long-term UK residence rather than domicile. • Spouses and civil partners usually inherit free of IHT. • Wills and probate rules differ in England & Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland. Without a will, intestacy rules decide who inherits. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.gov.uk/inheritance-tax
• https://www.gov.uk/inherits-someone-dies-without-will
• https://www.gov.uk/applying-for-probate

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People you will usually need: • Solicitor (SRA register) or licensed conveyancer (CLC register). • RICS surveyor. • Estate agent that belongs to a redress scheme (The Property Ombudsman or Property Redress Scheme). • Tax adviser for SDLT, non-resident landlord and Capital Gains Tax. No professionals on this site are verified for the UK yet. Researched 14 Oct 2026 from official sources. Not professionally reviewed.

• https://www.sra.org.uk/consumers/register/
• https://www.rics.org/
• https://www.gov.uk/estate-agents-what-they-must-do

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