Rare homes in London.

We found no rule that bars an individual from another country from buying. The rules concern tax, identity and source-of-funds checks and, for an overseas company, registration at Companies House. Your solicitor confirms the position before you reserve.

From 1 April 2025 the standard rates are 0% to £125,000, 2% to £250,000, 5% to £925,000, 10% to £1.5 million and 12% above. A non-UK resident pays 2 points more in every band, and a buyer of an additional home pays 5 points more again. For a non-resident individual buying the only home at £1.2 million, SDLT is £87,750; as an additional home it is £147,750.

The government’s guidance says an individual is non-UK resident if they were not in the UK for at least 183 days in the 12 months before the purchase. If one of several joint buyers is non-resident, all are treated so. Your solicitor should confirm the test for your case.

Freehold is outright ownership of the property and its land. Leasehold is a long lease from the freeholder, with service charges. At London Square Wandsworth Common the apartments are sold on leases of 999 years from 1 January 2024, and the townhouses and The Residences are freehold.

An overseas entity must register on the Register of Overseas Entities at Companies House before it buys; an individual does not. Companies that buy a home above £500,000 pay a single SDLT rate of 17%, so take tax advice before you choose the structure.

Council Tax every year, and for homes worth £2 million or more a High Value Council Tax Surcharge announced from April 2028. If you let the home, income tax on the rent applies under the Non-Resident Landlords scheme. On a later sale, a non-resident reports the sale and pays any Capital Gains Tax within 60 days of completion.

The government’s visa pages do not link buying a home to a right to live in the UK. The Tier 1 (Investor) visa has been closed to new applicants since 17 February 2022. Check the current routes on GOV.UK or with an immigration adviser.

Most visitors who do not need a visa need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) before they travel; it costs £20 and has been enforced since 25 February 2026 for visitors of 85 nationalities. British and Irish citizens do not need one. A standard visitor can stay for up to six months.

Yes, subject to the lease and to tax. Under the Non-Resident Landlords scheme the letting agent or tenant deducts tax at the basic rate from the rent and pays it to HMRC, and sends HMRC an annual return by 5 July. Section 21 no-fault evictions have been abolished for private tenancies since 1 May 2026.

Inheritance tax can reach UK property. Since 6 April 2025 the test is long-term residence in the UK, ten of the previous twenty tax years, and UK residential property held through an overseas company has been within inheritance tax since 2017. Make a will and take advice before you buy.

Send a request on a residence page or through the contact form. Your advisor will reply, arrange a viewing in person or by video, send the developer’s price list and documents, and introduce a solicitor in England.