Over the years, the UK has shown to be attractive not just as an investment opportunity, but also as a place to live as a lifestyle option. There has been an increase of purchasers from Singapore seeking to invest in the UK, hoping to take advantage of the higher rental returns and lower prices when compared to Singapore
Unlike some other places in the world, acquiring a UK property can be relative straightforward. It is a very open and accessible market for international investors. The rental market continues to draw buy-to-let investors throughout the UK, in all major cities and their surrounding areas due to high rental demand in the United Kingdom.
Before you begin your search, you must first organise your finances and determine how much money you may borrow. Speak with your lender or a mortgage broker to see how much you may borrow. Remember that you will still need to save money to cover stamp duty, legal expenses, surveyor fees, and furnishings. Major banks in Singapore also offer loans for your UK property purchase.
Purchasing a property will require the following documents.
Research the local property market: Before making any decisions, it's important to research the local property market in the UK. Look at the different areas and types of properties available, and consider factors such as demand, supply, rental yields, and capital growth potential. This will help you identify potential investment opportunities.
Look for properties that meet your requirements in terms of location, type of property, and budget. Consider whether you are looking for an investment property or a property to live in. It is also worth researching the area and the local property market to ensure you are making an informed decision.
Make an offer on the identified property. Once offer is accepted, proceed to reserve to take the unit off market. Note that there are no legal obligations until contracts are signed.
When your offer is accepted, Memorandum of Sales will be created and circulate to all parties including lawyers for both buyer and seller.
Once the offer has been accepted, the legal processes begin. You will need to appoint a solicitor to handle the conveyancing process, which involves transferring ownership of the property from the seller to the buyer. The solicitor will handle all legal paperwork, including property searches, contracts, and exchange of funds.
Conveyancing is the term used in the UK for the process of the buyer's solicitor and the seller' solicitor agreeing on all the legal paperwork and for your solicitor to check everything for you which will include checking that the seller has the right to sell the property.
If you are buying the property with another person, whether a friend or family member, then there are two ways to own the property - either as.
‘Tenants in Common’ where each owns a set share- this can either be half each, or a defined percentage and when one dies itis passed as set in their will;
or
Joint Tenants, then if one partner dies, the other automatically becomes the sole owner of the home - this is generally what married couples do.
The completion date is then set by mutual agreement, but is usually one month after exchange. With off-plan properties, completion can be in several years’ time and there will usually be staged payments as stated above.
You solicitor will need the following documents
As a non-UK resident buyer, you may encounter more rigorous financing criteria compared to UK residents. However, obtaining finance while residing overseas is still highly attainable.
It's important to have your finances in order and be prepared to provide proof of income, assets, and creditworthiness. You should also consider the exchange rate between your local currency and the pound sterling. You might also be required to provide evidence of your legal residency status in the country, along with comprehensive financial records spanning the past few years.
A specialist broker is crucial because they possess expertise tailored to Singapore residents and a deep comprehension of the UK property market. For instance, they have access to the complete lender market, insights into bank quotas for new builds, offer the most favourable terms to overseas applicants.
Completion is when the balance of the monies is transferred by your solicitor to the seller's solicitor’s account.
After the legal processes have been completed, you will need to pay the remaining balance of the purchase price and take possession of the property. You should also consider engaging a property manager or letting agent to manage the property if you plan to rent it out.
We offer a complete one-stop lettings service to source and find the best calibre tenants at the highest rent. For property management, we collect the rent and pay it into your account, deal with any maintenance issue and ensure the tenant looks after your property.
It is common to provide furnishings for your tenant should you decide to let it out. Find an experienced company who has experience in handling international clients to professionally designed and furnished apartments for rent.
We have an in-house furnishings arm that also caters to all kinds of home designs.
For more, visit www.instyledirect.comLandlords not resident in the UK must register with HMRC (UK Tax Authority), it is the Law in UK every investor must submit a tax return for their UK income, whether there is tax to pay or not.
Tax rules change regularly so it is vital to employ an expert to ensure you don’t pay tax unnecessarily.
Legal Fees to the UK Solicitor | £2,000 - £4,000 approx, depending on the property area and value In the UK, all property documentation must be prepared and vetted by UK Solicitors only. |
Property Maintenance Charges |
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Stamp duty Land Tax (SDLT) | For Non-UK Resident Individuals:
https://www.benhams.com/calculator/stamp-duty/ |
Disbursements Miscellaneous | £500- £700 approx Includes transaction or miscellaneous charges to be paid to the Solicitor or other parties, such as insurance, developer's Solicitor engrossment fees, search or due-diligence fees, transaction handling charges etc. |
Mortgage Lender's Fees | 1% of Loan amount approx. To be paid to the mortgage lender in case you need financing |
Furnishing & Refurbishment: Instyle Direct, a sister company of Benham & Reeves have been working with overseas investors for over 17 years. They provide furnishing, interior design and refurbishment services and always keep in mind the long-term benefits for the landlords.
Lettings: We have over 20 locations across London to handle every landlord and tenants needs. Getting the best tenants to maximise your investments is our top priority and we have established as the trusted letting agency since 1958.
Management: We assist in rental collection, handling tenant requests and ensuring your property is well maintain. We also help in managing the monthly payment on service fee and utility bills so you can have a peace of mind.
Tax return service: Overseas investors need to pay tax on profits from their rental income. We have the experience to deal with all your property tax matter.
Our well-trained sales negotiators are on-hand across Singapore to help you