London remains destination of choice for international property wealth
The latest research from London lettings and estate agent, Benham and Reeves, has revealed that London accounts for 43% of all property titles owned by overseas companies across England and Wales, highlighting the capital’s enduring appeal as an international property investment destination.
Benham and Reeves analysed the latest Land Registry Overseas Companies Ownership Data to reveal where properties owned by overseas-registered companies are located across England and Wales, as well as how this ownership is distributed across the London market.
The research shows that there are currently 91,136 property titles owned by overseas companies across England and Wales, with 88,933, or 97.6%, located in England.
London dominates overseas company property ownership
Of the total number of titles owned by overseas companies across England and Wales, 39,172 are located within Greater London, meaning the capital alone accounts for 43% of the national total.
This makes London by far the most prominent region for overseas company property ownership, with more than two and a half times as many titles as the South East, where 14,919 account for 16.4% of the national total.
The North West ranks third, accounting for 11.6% of all overseas-company-owned titles, followed by Yorkshire and the Humber at 6%.
In fact, London is home to more property titles owned by overseas companies than the South East, North West and Yorkshire and the Humber combined.
Prime London remains at the heart of international ownership
Within London itself, overseas company property ownership is most heavily concentrated within the capital’s prime central markets.
The City of Westminster alone is home to 9,666 overseas-company-owned property titles, accounting for almost a quarter (24.7%) of the London total.
Kensington and Chelsea ranks second, with 4,958 titles representing a further 12.7%.
Combined, Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea account for 14,624 overseas-company-owned titles, equivalent to 37.3% of all such ownership across the capital.
However, international property ownership extends well beyond London’s traditional prime heartlands.
Tower Hamlets accounts for 5.9% of London’s overseas-company-owned titles, followed by Camden at 5.3%, Wandsworth at 5%, Lambeth at 4.4%, Southwark at 3.8% and the City of London at 3.6%.
Marc von Grundherr, Director of Benham and Reeves, commented:
“London’s position as a destination of choice for high-net-worth international buyers has been built over decades and isn’t dictated by the recent period of house price stagnation.
Of course, this particular data relates specifically to property owned through overseas-registered companies rather than individual foreign ownership, but the sheer concentration within London is another indication of the international appeal that continues to underpin the capital’s property market both on personal and professional levels.
For many international buyers, purchasing a London property is a long-term decision. Wealth preservation and investment potential are important considerations, but those relocating with their families are also looking at the quality and safety of a neighbourhood, lifestyle, connectivity and, very often, access to London’s leading schools.
It’s therefore no coincidence that Westminster and Kensington and Chelsea remain such prominent locations. They offer the combination of prime property, world-class amenities and connectivity that has made London attractive to international wealth for generations.
We also see this international demand very clearly within the rental market. Many high-net-worth families relocating to London will rent before they buy, particularly when they are unfamiliar with the nuances of the capital and want to be certain that an area works for them before committing to a significant property purchase.
Renting first allows them to experience everything from the school run and daily commute to the restaurants, parks and wider lifestyle of a neighbourhood. Once they’re confident they have found the right location for their family, many then make the transition into homeownership.
This ‘try before you buy’ dynamic means that many of the locations attracting significant international ownership are also extremely sought after from a rental perspective, helping to provide landlords with a deep and diverse pool of prospective tenants.
London may have experienced a more subdued period with respect to house price performance, but international buyers tend to look beyond short-term fluctuations. For those taking a long-term view, softer market conditions can actually provide an attractive opportunity to establish or increase their position within one of the world’s most established property markets.”
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