MorifarPrivate Client

Countries/UK/UK Property Investment

UK · Property

UK Property Investment.
Prime real estate as a long-term store of value.

Prime central London remains one of the most globally recognised real-estate markets. We work with international families on sourcing, structuring (personal, company, trust), financing and the long-term tax and succession considerations.

Private consultationSee the process

What it is

The full picture, in plain language.

UK property investment covers prime central London residential, regional residential, build-to-rent and commercial — typically held as a long-term family asset rather than a trade.

Structure choice (personal name, UK company, offshore holding) has material implications for SDLT, income tax, capital gains and inheritance tax. We coordinate structuring through regulated UK tax partners.

Who it's for

Designed for these situations.

International families with UK schooling needs

Where a London property anchors the family in term-time.

Long-term capital allocators

Investors treating prime central London as a 10-20 year hold.

Buy-to-let portfolio builders

Regional residential portfolios with leveraged returns.

Commercial and mixed-use investors

Office, retail and BTR allocations through specialist managers.

Benefits

What the right structure delivers.

Globally recognised market

Deep, liquid, transparent — with the world's strongest title-registration system.

English-law contracting

Predictable, well-tested conveyancing and tenancy law.

Leverage availability

International banks offer 50-65% LTV for non-residents in prime postcodes.

Pound entry points

Sterling-denominated entry has historically been favourable for USD/AED base buyers.

Build-to-rent maturity

Institutional-grade BTR product now available alongside traditional buy-to-let.

Structuring optionality

Personal, company and trust structures all viable depending on plans.

The process

Step by step — nothing hidden, nothing skipped.

  1. 01

    Brief & structure

    Week 1

    Use case, hold period, structure choice, financing, succession overlay.

  2. 02

    Sourcing

    2-6 weeks

    Off-market and on-market shortlist via our broker network.

  3. 03

    Survey & legals

    3-6 weeks

    RICS survey, conveyancing solicitor, title and search review.

  4. 04

    Financing

    4-8 weeks

    Mortgage broker introduction; international lenders for non-residents.

  5. 05

    Exchange & completion

    Day of exchange / day of completion

    10% deposit on exchange; balance and SDLT on completion.

  6. 06

    Lettings or occupation

    Ongoing

    Tenant placement, management, or principal occupation setup.

Timeline

What a typical engagement looks like.

  • Weeks 1-4

    Brief, sourcing, viewings.

  • Weeks 4-8

    Offer agreed, survey, legals, financing.

  • Weeks 8-12

    Exchange and completion.

  • Ongoing

    Lettings and portfolio review.

Documents required

The evidence pack we will ask for.

  • Passport & address proof

    Buyer and any co-owners.

  • Source of funds

    Bank statements, sale proceeds, salary, dividend records — UK AML standard.

  • Existing entity documents

    Where buying via a UK or offshore company.

  • Tax residence position

    Material to SDLT (non-resident surcharge) and to ongoing tax.

Costs & fees

What you should budget for.

UK acquisition costs are dominated by Stamp Duty Land Tax, which scales sharply on prime properties.

  • SDLT (additional residential, non-resident)

    Up to 19%

    On the top slice; tiered rates apply.

  • Legal fees (conveyancing)

    £3,000 - £15,000+

    Scales with complexity.

  • RICS survey

    £500 - £3,000

  • Mortgage arrangement fee

    0.5% - 1.5% of loan

  • Morifar advisory fee

    From £15,000

    Sourcing, structuring, transaction management.

Non-UK resident buyers face a 2% SDLT surcharge on top of the additional-property rates. Plan around it; do not be surprised by it.

FAQs

Questions we are asked, and the honest answers.

Personal name or company?+

Personal is simplest and most tax-efficient for principal residences; company structures suit large portfolios but carry ATED and corporation tax. Decide before exchange.

How does the non-dom regime change things?+

The 2024-25 reforms have materially changed the planning landscape. UK property is no longer 'protected' by historic remittance-basis planning. Take advice.

Can non-residents get mortgages?+

Yes — typically 50-65% LTV via international or private banks.

How long should I hold?+

Transaction costs (SDLT especially) reward longer holds. We model 5-10 year scenarios as a baseline.

Common mistakes

What we see go wrong — so it doesn't happen to you.

Buying through a company without modelling SDLT and ATED

Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings can be punitive on residential held in companies. Always model both routes.

Ignoring inheritance tax

UK residential property is within UK IHT scope regardless of how it is held. Structure accordingly.

Underestimating non-resident SDLT

An extra 2% on top of an extra 5% adds up. Budget accurately from the start.

Short-let assumptions in prime central London

Many freeholds and leases prohibit short-letting. Read the lease before assuming Airbnb yields.

Explain like I'm 10

The simplest version of the whole thing.

Buying a house in London is a big decision. There are rules about who owns it, taxes you pay when you buy, and taxes you pay every year. We help you choose the right way to buy it so you don't pay more tax than you have to.

Related services

Private consultation

Discuss uk property investment with the team.

A confidential first conversation — no obligation, no sales pitch. We listen, map your situation, and tell you honestly whether and how we can help.

Request a consultation