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Foreign investorsInvesting and beyond

Setting up a UK property company as a non-resident

Royal Crescent, Notting Hill · photograph by No Swan So Fine, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0

Owning UK property through a company can seem a straightforward way to manage your investment, but it brings its own set of administrative tasks and responsibilities that must be taken care of every year.

Unreviewed draft. Written by llama-4-scout-17b-16e-instruct on 2026-09-10 and not yet checked by an editor. Every rate and duty below is maintained by hand against GOV.UK and is not written by the model.

Setting up the Company

Incorporating a UK company to hold property involves several steps, including choosing a company name and registering it with the relevant authorities. A registered office and a UK address for service are required, which can be a physical address or a service provided by a third-party agent. The company will also need to have at least one director and one person with significant control, who must be identified and recorded.

The company's directors and people with significant control must be individuals, and their details will be publicly available on the companies register. The company's registered office and address for service will also be publicly available.

Ongoing Administrative Tasks

The company will need to open a bank account in its own name, but this can be a challenge for non-resident investors. The company's accounts and records must be maintained and filed annually, which may require the help of an accountant or bookkeeper. The company will also need to file a confirmation statement each year, which confirms the company's details and business activities.

The company's accounts and confirmation statement must be filed with the relevant authorities, and failure to do so can result in penalties. The company's directors and people with significant control must also ensure that the company's records are accurate and up-to-date.

Tax Obligations and Compliance

The company's tax obligations will depend on its specific circumstances, and it may be necessary to consult with a tax professional to ensure compliance. The company may be required to file tax returns and pay tax on its profits, and it may also be necessary to consider other tax implications, such as stamp duty land tax on property purchases.

The company's tax obligations will be determined by its residency status and the specific tax laws that apply to it. A tax professional can provide guidance on the company's specific tax obligations and ensure that it is in compliance with all relevant tax laws.

Maintaining the Company's Records

The company's records must be maintained and updated regularly, including its accounts, confirmation statements, and other documents. The company's directors and people with significant control must ensure that the company's records are accurate and up-to-date, and that all necessary filings are made on time.

The company's records will be publicly available, and it is essential to ensure that they are accurate and up-to-date to avoid any potential issues or penalties.

Before you commit

  • a registered office and UK address for service are required
  • the company must have at least one director and one person with significant control
  • annual accounts and confirmation statements must be filed with the relevant authorities

Work out your own numbers

The stamp duty calculator applies the non-resident addition alongside the ordinary rates for every UK nation. The purchase cost planner takes it further, into cash required and monthly commitments.

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Information, not advice. Version 3, last updated 2026-09-10. Nothing here is tax, legal, mortgage or investment advice, and rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.