Previously 10 years the variety of corporations registered abroad has virtually doubled, outlining how buyers have been pushed in direction of that route by the present tax panorama.
There are 91,791 properties owned by abroad corporations, whereas the worth of properties has risen from £15.9 billion in 2015 to £125 billion immediately, evaluation from legaltech agency Search Acumen reveals.
Jersey is the highest location, with £57 billion value of belongings. That is adopted by the British Virgin Islands at 21%, Guernsey at 13%, and the Isle of Man at 11%.
Regardless of this development, lately the variety of overseas-owned properties has declined. In 2017 some 6,955 properties had been added by way of an abroad firm, whereas in 2025 that quantity dropped to three,171.
Andrew Lloyd, director at Search Acumen, mentioned: “The dimensions of property wealth presently underneath possession by abroad corporations is eye watering, doubling in a decade.
“While there are some gaps and inconsistencies within the information from its supply by means of authorities data, it’s broadly indicative of wider investor developments and system that may and does defend the world’s most rich.
“Nonetheless, it’s telling that the variety of properties bought by overseas-based corporations are falling, presently at a 10-year low.
“This tells us two issues; that both buyers and the rich are shopping for belongings and storing capital outdoors the UK, which is a troubling signal that our world enchantment could also be in decline, or that our property transaction system is turning into extra stringent, noting elevated transparency measures and anti-money laundering regulation lately deterring illicit purchases.”
He added: “The possible reply is a little bit of each. We all know that the UK’s exit from the EU had enormous financial penalties, together with on the property trade.
“New taxes and guidelines for abroad funding has performed a vital position within the decline since 2022, seen as a much less enticing place post-Bexit, while in flip opening up alternatives for extra home companies.
“We additionally noticed in August 2022 the Register of Abroad Entities newly require abroad entities proudly owning UK property to declare who their helpful homeowners are, which included non-UK corporations.
“This transfer indicated to the broader market a tighter grip on compliance by the federal government. While lowering anonymity needs to be a very good factor, it might have in flip deterred some buyers.
“This, mixed with rising rates of interest, greater borrowing prices, falling yields and gradual capital development, has possible made speculative funding much less rewarding.”
