Can I Buy UK Property If I Don't Live There?

If you’re living overseas, whether in the UAE, Switzerland, Hong Kong, Australia or anywhere else, you may be wondering: Can I buy UK property if I don’t live there?

The short answer is: yes, absolutely.

In fact, the UK is one of the most accessible property markets in the world. Every year, hundreds of thousands of non-UK residents successfully purchase buy-to-let investments, second homes and even future homes.

However, that doesn’t mean the process is simple. UK property can be challenging. We know this because we offer a hands-off investment service for people around the world who want to buy property in the UK.

Based on our experience, we've detailed below the key things to be aware of if you're buying in the UK whilst based abroad.

If you want to invest in UK property from overseas without the hassle and logistics issues, we help many people like you. Schedule a free call with me here for us to discuss what you're looking to do, and I'll share some guidance and points on how our services can help

Now, let's get into the details answer to the question "Can I buy UK property if I don’t live there?".

Can You Buy Property in the UK Whilst Living Outside The UK?

Yes. The UK imposes no restrictions on foreign or non-resident buyers. You don’t need to be a British citizen, hold a UK visa or even step foot in the country during the purchase.

You can buy:

• A buy-to-let investment property

• A property for your future return to the UK

• A holiday home

• A property under a personal name or through a company

The only major difference for non-UK residents is usually around mortgages, taxation, and compliance, which we’ll cover next.

Getting a Mortgage as a Non-UK Resident

This is where most people overestimate the difficulty. Yes, it’s harder than if you lived in the UK, but it’s far from impossible. The majority of our non-UK based clients buy with mortgages.

What lenders look for:

• Stable employment or self-employment income

• Evidence of affordability

• A deposit of 25%–40% (depends on lender and country of residence)

• Clean credit history

• Proof of address in your country of residence

• Traceable money to legit sources

If you’re paid in AED, CHF, SGD, USD or AUD, the lender will simply assess your income in GBP terms using their exchange-rate models.

Different lenders favour different countries. A lender that loves UAE residents might decline someone in Switzerland, and vice versa. Working with a broker who specialises in non-UK residents is essential.

I can introduce you to the broker who we use for our clients, just ask here.

UK Property Taxes For Non-UK Based Buyers

1. Stamp Duty

Non-UK residents pay a 2% surcharge on top of normal rates. We will also assess the property purchase taking into account stamp duty. This is just a cost of doing business in UK property.

2. Income Tax

If you own property in your personal name, you'll pay tax on your UK rental profits even if you live abroad. The rate will depend on your total taxable income.

However, if you buy in a Ltd company (majority of our clients do) you only pay income tax when you take money out of this company as a salary or dividends.

3. Capital Gains Tax (CGT)

If you sell the property at a profit in your personal name, CGT is charged on the gain. If you own in a Ltd company, this profit is not taxed via CGT but instead will be taxed via corporation tax if the company makes a profit that tax year.

Limited Company Ownership

Many of our clients based in places like Qatar, Dubai & Switzerland buy through a UK registered Ltd company for tax efficiency. This comes with accountancy costs and compliance obligations, so it’s worth getting tailored advice first.

The Biggest Watch-Outs for Overseas Buyers

1. Overpaying for Poor Properties

When you’re overseas, you can’t easily view properties. This is where many buyers get caught out, buying shiny new-build apartments sold off-plan which look great but generate weak rental income meaning that you're probably going to make little monthly profit (if any).

2. Compliance Mistakes

The UK rental market has become heavily regulated. As an investor you’re responsible for:

• Gas safety

• Electrical safety

• Licensing

• Right-to-rent

• Deposits

• The Renters’ Rights Act (2025)

• EPC rules

• Anti-money-laundering checks

Missing any of these can result in fines. Many overseas buyers underestimate this part. We cover all of this for our clients.

3. Currency Risk

If your income is in AED, CHF or SGD, exchange rates can help or hurt you. Timing matters, especially for mortgage affordability. We use Wise for our transfers from overseas to GBP.

4. Choosing the Wrong Strategy

The numbers of overseas buyers who I've spoken to that don't have a clear strategy is scary. Buying low and renting high is not a strategy, unfortunately.

Here are some others I come across all of the time:

• “Buy cheap, rent it out”

• “Look for high yields”

• “Focus on where I grew up”

None of these take into account the below

• Monthly income?

• Long-term equity?

• Refinancing options

• Exit strategies

Without a proper strategy comes problems. If you don't have the knowledge to perfect your strategy, outsource this to UK property consultants (like us).

The Most Friendly UK Locations For Overseas Buyers

While “best place” depends on your strategy, non-UK residents typically benefit from:

• Stronger rental demand

• Reliable long-term growth

• Lower void risk

• Local property management who know what they’re doing

Some consistently strong locations include:

• Stoke-on-Trent

• Greater Manchester

• West Yorkshire

• The Northeast

• East Midlands

The key is matching the area to your goals, which is where professional sourcing becomes invaluable. We do this for all of our client's.

How Expat Property Investments Helps (Without Hard-Selling You)

Buying from overseas is completely doable, but it’s also easy to make expensive mistakes. At Expat Property Investments, our role is to remove the guesswork. We help British expats & non-UK passport holders.

Here’s what we help with:

• Full sourcing: Finding vetted, high-performing properties you couldn’t access yourself

• Clear rental projections & ROI calculations

• Hand-off management: Renovations, letting, and ongoing oversight

• Support across time zones

• Compliance-overload simplified: We build new regulations into your investment plan

We're a one-stop shop for all overseas buyers of UK property. Our client reviews speak for themselves,

Most clients come to us not because they can’t invest alone, but because they want:

1. Less risk

2. Better returns

3. No admin or hassle

Practical Tips if You’re Starting Today

1. Define your primary goal

Is it income? Growth? Diversification? A future home? Your entire strategy hinges on this.

2. Get a lender-approved mortgage plan early

Don’t view properties until you know:

• How much you can borrow

• What rate to expect

• Whether a personal or company mortgage suits you

3. Research areas based on data, not opinions

Use:

• Rental demand

• Historic growth

• Vacancy rates

• Tenant profiles

• Regeneration plans

4. Don’t rely on developer sales pitches

New-build “guaranteed rent” deals almost always favour the developer, not the investor.

Work with a specialist company who will assess every property on the market, and bring you the best ones for you, your situation and your goals.

5. Build a UK-based team

You need:

• A mortgage broker

• A solicitor used to non-UK resident cases

• A RICS surveyor

• A trusted builder

• A property manager

• Someone quality-checking everything on the ground

We have all of this ready to go for our clients, taking the hassle off their plate.

6. Stress test your numbers

A good deal should still work even if:

• Interest rates rise

• Rents dip

• Refurbishment costs run over

• Voids occur

If it only works in perfect conditions, it’s not a good investment.

So… Can You Buy UK Property If You Don’t Live There?

Yes, and thousands of overseas buyers do it successfully every single year. Many using our services.

But the winners are the ones who:

• Choose areas strategically

• Run the numbers properly

• Understand tax & compliance

• Work with the right people

• Stay objective and data-driven

Whether you want monthly income, long-term wealth, or a base for your future return to the UK, property can be one of the most reliable ways to build it from overseas.

If you want to invest in profitable UK properties from overseas with minimal risk, unlimited consulting & no admin, let us help. Book some time with us here.