Overseas-owned UK property doubles in value as volumes fall

The number of homes and buildings in England and Wales owned through overseas companies has almost doubled in a decade, even as the pace of new acquisitions slows, research reveals.

Figures compiled by Search Acumen indicate that 91,791 properties are now registered to overseas entities, up from 47,787 in 2015, a rise of 92%.

Those assets are collectively valued at more than £125bn, marking the highest total on record.

While overall ownership has expanded over time, the data shows 3,834 fewer titles held by overseas companies in 2025 than in 2022, pointing to a clear retreat in volume even as capital values continue to climb.

Eye-watering size of foreign ownership

The firm’s director, Andrew Lloyd, said: “The size of property wealth currently under ownership by overseas companies is eye watering, doubling in a decade.

“Whilst there are some gaps and inconsistencies in the data from its source through government records, it is widely indicative of wider investor trends and system that can and does protect the world’s most wealthy.”

He added: “However, it is telling that the number of properties purchased by overseas-based companies are falling, currently at a 10-year low.

“This tells us two things; that either investors and the wealthy are buying assets and storing capital outside the UK, which is a troubling sign that our global appeal may be in decline, or that our property transaction system is becoming more stringent, noting increased transparency measures and anti-money laundering regulation in recent years deterring illicit purchases.

“The likely answer is a bit of both. We know that the UK’s exit from the EU had huge economic consequences, including on the property industry.

Jersey home to most owners

The firm says the shift is most visible in the value figures with property assets under overseas company ownership rising 40% in just three years, adding £38.5bn since 2022.

In 2021 alone, new registrations by value reached £16bn, the strongest annual uplift in the series.

Jersey has emerged as the largest single holder of overseas-owned UK property, overtaking the British Virgin Islands.

Companies registered in Jersey now account for £57bn of assets, representing a quarter of the total market.

It is followed by the British Virgin Islands at 21%, Guernsey at 13% and the Isle of Man at 11%.

Changing ownership rules

Mr Lloyd said: “New taxes and rules for overseas investment has played a critical role in the decline since 2022, seen as a less attractive place post-Brexit, whilst in turn opening up opportunities for more domestic businesses.

“We also saw in August 2022 the Register of Overseas Entities newly require overseas entities owning UK property to declare who their beneficial owners are, which included non-UK companies.

“This move indicated to the wider market a tighter grip on compliance by the government. Whilst reducing anonymity has to be a good thing, it may have in turn deterred some investors.”

He adds: “This, combined with rising interest rates, higher borrowing costs, falling yields and slow capital growth, has likely made speculative investment less rewarding.”

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