United Kingdom, and particularly London, property has for many years been a popular mode of investment for foreign investors and indeed, at one recent time, it was estimated that some 60% of London residential property was owned by offshore companies. London real estate has also performed well in investment terms. There are no restrictions on the ownership of real estate in the United Kingdom by non-residents and, other than the matters which influence the choice of the property itself, perhaps the most important factor to be taken into account is the impact of the various forms of taxation which will be encountered. These can be divided into direct and indirect taxes:

Stamp duty is levied on the purchase price at rates, which range from 1% for a property costing £125,000, to 4% where the purchase price exceeds £500,000.

Council tax is levied by the Local Authority. The rate is set annually and depends on the locality, the size of the property and its value.

The United Kingdom levies three main forms of direct taxation:

• Income tax – This tax will not apply to an owner occupier.

• Capital gains tax – Non –residents are exempt from capital gains tax in respect of property held only as an investment.

• Inheritance tax – For which any investor holding assets in the United Kingdom is potentially liable. Fortunately it is avoided easily by the purchaser who has a foreign domicile.

Where the value of chargeable assets passing on death exceeds £285,000 the excess over that figure is taxed at 40%. This threshold will increase to £300,000 for the year 2007/8, £312,000 for 2008/9 and £325,000 for 2009/10. Where the investor had a foreign domicile, only U.K. property is taken into account in the calculation and it may be necessary to take into account the value of gifts of U.K. assets in the seven years preceding death.

If the property is purchased in the name of the individual there can be no doubt that its value will be assessed for inheritance tax purposes on his death. If however it is purchased in the name of an offshore company, the investor does not own an asset in the U.K, but the shares in a foreign company, which, in his circumstances are not chargeable with inheritance tax. If the company is incorporated in a tax-free jurisdiction, such as the British Virgin Islands, the final result will be that the property passes tax free to the heirs.

Huge German investment has seen our commercial property market back on steady ground in recent weeks. The German investors clearly feel now is the right time to buy up our cut price property as is the emerging trend from many Middle Eastern investors. Many middle eastern investors have pounced on the low market and are investing in commercial property with long leases and good tenants. UK investors may be set to follow suite and snap up property bargains, before foreign funds gain a dominancy over the commercial property spectrum.

The UK has seen a sharp fall in property yields due to overvaluation and the availability of cheap debt. UK capital values have dropped by over 15% to date, according to Philip Ingram of financial management advisory company Merrill Lynch. For some of the best available London commercial property it is worth going through a reputable specialist who can help you find the best available deals. Property in London is a buoyant marketplace as interest does not tend to be as strongly affected as other area in the UK. Commercial property bargains can still be found on the market however, without the help of experts you will find it hard to locate the kind of property you want or on the rental side the kind of lease that is best suited to you. London based RIB combines 40 years of industry experience and specialist knowledge to seek out the hottest properties in the marketplace. Using their dedicated and experienced team of property professionals you can find your search for the right commercial property is as stress free as possible.