CITY GUIDE · London
London. A place for your next chapter.
Understand the neighbourhoods, journeys and ownership costs behind your London plans. Build a clear brief before you begin a property search.
For your next home, investment or business.
PROPERTY GUIDESExplore your options
Explore your options
in London.
Choose a property category to find the guide relevant to your plans.
Commercial
Industrial
Land
Investments
The numbers behind your next move.
Read the London market in context, then assess the costs and obligations of the specific property.
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
- £569,000
- Average monthly rent
- £2,332
- Annual house-price change
- −3.3%
- Annual rent change
- +3.5%
- Net rental outcome
- Model the full costs
Sources & details
General information
Transaction currency
London · EnglandBudget for currency movements between your home currency and the pound sterling. Confirm the exchange rate and payment date with your provider.
GOV.UK · ConveyancingOwnership
London · EnglandFreehold 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
London · EnglandProperty 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
London · EnglandReview 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
London · July 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate. All residential property types; local markets and individual properties can differ.
ONS · September 2026Average monthly rent
London · August 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate covering new and existing private tenancies, not only newly advertised rents.
ONS · September 2026Annual house-price change
London · year to July 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate. All residential property types; local markets and individual properties can differ.
ONS · September 2026Annual rent change
London · year to August 2026 · provisionalProvisional estimate covering new and existing private tenancies, not only newly advertised rents.
ONS · September 2026Net rental outcome
London · EnglandUse 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.
MAKE IT HOME
Living in London.
A home that fits your everyday life, not just your property brief.
Plan around your journeys
Compare the door-to-door trip to work, school and everyday services, including walking time and changes.
Explore local informationChoose a neighbourhood rhythm
Consider shops, parks, noise and the local streets you will use. A borough name alone cannot describe daily life.
Match the home to your household
Assess room sizes, storage, accessibility and outdoor space alongside schools and the move-in timetable.
Build a realistic monthly budget
Include housing, transport, utilities, local charges and upkeep. Check the actual property and household assumptions.
BUILD YOUR PLAN
Investing in London.
Different property strategies call for different questions. Start with your goal, budget and time horizon.
Long-term residential letting
Start with the intended tenant, comparable rents and a sustainable ownership budget.
What to consider
Tenancy rules, licensing, vacancy, building charges and ongoing management.
Business premises
Compare how the location supports operations, staff and customers before evaluating an investment case.
What to consider
Permitted use, lease terms, tenant quality, repairs and business rates.
Refurbishment or redevelopment
Define the work, consent pathway and funding before relying on a future resale value.
What to consider
Survey findings, planning constraints, delivery risk and a contingency budget.
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
GOOD TO KNOW
Your questions about London.
Practical answers for your move, investment or property search.
How should I compare London neighbourhoods?
Start with the journeys you will make regularly, the type of home or premises you need and your complete budget. Compare actual travel times and visit the immediate surroundings at different times of day.
What should I check when buying a London flat?
Review tenure, the remaining lease where relevant, service charges, planned works, building condition and use restrictions with your conveyancer and surveyor.
Is the London market figure relevant to every borough?
No. A London-wide index combines different locations and property types. Use it as context and compare evidence for the specific building, street and tenure.
Can a London property work as both a home and an investment?
Possibly, but the intended use affects location, financing, costs and any letting permissions. Discuss the two scenarios separately before choosing a property.
What happens after the first consultation?
We clarify the location, intended use, budget and timetable. That brief guides further research and a tailored property search, with responsibilities agreed before the next step.