COUNTRY GUIDE
Your next chapter in the United Kingdom.
Explore the practical choices behind a move, investment or business in the UK. Understand the local context, then shape a property search around your priorities.
For your next home, investment or business.
PROPERTY GUIDESExplore your options
Explore your options
in the United Kingdom.
Choose a property category to find the guide relevant to your plans.
Commercial
Industrial
Land
Investments
The numbers behind your next move.
A national starting point. Purchase taxes and legal processes differ across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
General information
- Transaction currency
- GBP
- Ownership
- Check the title
- Relocation
- Check immigration separately
Real estate costs
- Residential purchase tax
- Progressive bands
- Non-resident surcharge
- +2 percentage points
- Building costs
- Property-specific
Tax & regulation
- Commercial purchase tax
- Separate rules
- Planning & permitted use
- Local authority checks
- Letting a home
- Ongoing obligations
Investment snapshot
- Average home price
- £273,000
- Average monthly rent
- £1,400
- Annual house-price change
- +1.4%
- Annual rent change
- +3.8%
- Net rental outcome
- Model the full costs
Sources & details
General information
Transaction currency
United Kingdom · national contextBudget for currency movements between your home currency and the pound sterling. Confirm the exchange rate and payment date with your provider.
GOV.UK · ConveyancingOwnership
United Kingdom · national contextFreehold and leasehold require different checks. Ask a conveyancer to explain the tenure, restrictions and any shared obligations; terminology differs in Scotland.
GOV.UK · Leasehold costsRelocation
United Kingdom · national contextProperty research and immigration planning are separate steps. Confirm your right to live, work or study before agreeing a relocation timetable.
GOV.UK · Visa requirementsReal estate costs
Residential purchase tax
England & Northern Ireland; separate systems elsewhereIn England and Northern Ireland, standard residential SDLT bands range from 0% to 12%. Additional-property and non-resident rules may add surcharges. Scotland and Wales use different taxes.
HMRC · Residential SDLTNon-resident surcharge
England & Northern Ireland · qualifying transactionsA residential SDLT surcharge generally applies to non-resident buyers in England and Northern Ireland. The SDLT residence test is distinct from nationality; exemptions and refunds can apply.
HMRC · Non-resident buyersBuilding costs
Leasehold property · EnglandFor leasehold property, review service-charge accounts, reserve funds, planned works and ground-rent clauses. Do not assume a quoted annual charge is fixed.
GOV.UK · Leasehold costsTax & regulation
Commercial purchase tax
England & Northern IrelandNon-residential and mixed-use purchases follow different SDLT bands. A new lease may also create tax on the rent; ask for a transaction-specific calculation.
HMRC · Non-residential SDLTPlanning & permitted use
England & Wales · local authorityCheck the existing use, proposed alterations, access and planning restrictions before committing. Permission is not implied by a sales description.
GOV.UK · Planning permissionLetting a home
United Kingdom · national contextReview safety, licensing and tenancy requirements for the location and rental model. Rules vary between UK nations and can change during your ownership.
GOV.UK · Landlord responsibilitiesInvestment snapshot
Average home price
UK · July 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate. All residential property types; local markets and individual properties can differ.
ONS · September 2026Average monthly rent
UK · August 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate covering new and existing private tenancies, not only newly advertised rents.
ONS · September 2026Annual house-price change
UK · year to July 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate. All residential property types; local markets and individual properties can differ.
ONS · September 2026Annual rent change
UK · year to August 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate covering new and existing private tenancies, not only newly advertised rents.
ONS · September 2026Net rental outcome
United Kingdom · national contextUse evidence for the intended tenant and deduct vacancy, maintenance, management, financing and tax. A headline gross yield is not a personal net return.
GOV.UK · Landlord responsibilitiesData & conversion
July 2025 = 100. July 2026 is derived from the published annual percentage change. No currency conversion is used; published data can be revised.
HM Land Registry · July 2026HOW WE CAN HELP
Support that starts with you.
Choose the support that fits your plans, from understanding a market to finding a suitable property.
Ready to find the right property?
Property Finder
Turn your priorities, budget and preferred location into a focused search and a relevant shortlist.
Explore serviceDoes the investment add up?
Investment Advisory
Compare the purchase costs, potential rental income and ongoing expenses behind an investment decision.
Explore serviceWhere would you feel at home?
Relocation Consultation
Explore neighbourhoods, everyday life and housing options for your move abroad.
Explore serviceNeed clarity on the local market?
Local Expert Guidance
Work through local questions and coordinate the next steps with people who know the market.
Explore serviceTHE PROCESS
How it works.
Five steps, from your first questions to finding the right property.
Share your plans
Tell us your goals, preferred destination and budget.
Get local guidance
We discuss your priorities, explain the market and agree on the next steps.
Find suitable options
When you are ready, our local team helps build a focused shortlist.
View and compare
Visit in person or online, then compare the options with your adviser.
Move towards purchase
We coordinate checks, purchase and handover with local partners and specialists.
Berkeley Group
Berkeley Group specialises in regenerating previously used land.
1 project on Locaro
United Kingdom
Ballymore
Ballymore’s London projects offer different settings and purchase timelines.
2 projects on Locaro
United Kingdom
Official project image
Developer Berkeley GroupCompleted phases
White City Living
White City, London
- Apartment types
- 1–3 bedrooms
- Setting
- Landscaped gardens
- Wellness
- Gym & spa
Official project imageDeveloper BallymoreCompleted phases
The Brentford Project
Brentford, London
- Apartment types
- 1–3 bedrooms
- Setting
- Riverside neighbourhood
- Residents’ club
- Pool & fitness
Official project imageDeveloper BallymoreOff-plan
25 Cuba
Canary Wharf, London
- Apartment types
- Studio–3 bedrooms
- Outdoor space
- Private balconies
- Fitness
- Planned residents’ gym
WHY LOCARO
Your plans first. Property comes next.
Start with your priorities. We help you compare locations, understand the costs and turn a clear brief into a focused property search.
Your priorities
A home, rental income or business premises: define what the property needs to do for you.
Local context
Compare neighbourhoods, everyday access and the surroundings that matter to your plans.
Costs in perspective
Consider the purchase budget, recurring expenses and different scenarios together.
A focused shortlist
Compare suitable properties and developers with a clear point of contact along the way.
GOOD TO KNOW
Your questions about United Kingdom.
Answers to help you plan your next move in this market.
Is there one buying process for the whole UK?
No. England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland have different legal and tax frameworks. Confirm the property location first, then ask a local conveyancer to outline the relevant process.
Should I choose a city before a property type?
Start with why you are moving or investing. Employment, family routines, business access and the full budget help determine the location before you compare individual properties.
Does buying a property give me permission to live in the UK?
Treat immigration as a separate decision. Check the visa or residence route appropriate to your circumstances before committing to relocation.
Can I begin while living abroad?
You can start with a remote consultation and a clear brief. Your conveyancer and lender will explain identity checks, source-of-funds evidence and any requirements for representation.
Are the properties on this site a complete inventory?
No. Locaro provides destination and property-type guidance. We first discuss your plans, then establish what a suitable search should cover and which specialists are needed.