UK Property Tax Advice for Expats and Non-UK Residents
Living abroad but owning UK property? The tax rules are more complex than for UK-resident landlords, and the penalties for getting them wrong are the same.
If you live outside the UK but own rental property here, you face a specific set of obligations that most general accountants aren’t equipped to handle. The Non-Resident Landlord Scheme, the 60-day CGT reporting requirement, the additional 2% SDLT surcharge, the interaction between UK tax and your country of residence — these are not edge cases for us. We advise expat and non-resident clients across the Middle East, Pakistan, and beyond, many of whom have UK property portfolios that need managing from a distance.
The most common issue we see is non-resident landlords having basic rate tax deducted from their rent by letting agents because they haven’t registered with HMRC to receive rent gross. The second most common is failing to file the 60-day CGT return when selling UK property — a requirement that applies to non-residents regardless of whether they have any other UK tax obligations.
With offices in Coventry, Qatar, and Islamabad, we’re structured to support clients across time zones. You don’t need to be in the UK to get proper UK tax advice.
We register you with HMRC so you receive your UK rental income without automatic tax deductions. Without registration, your letting agent or tenant must deduct 20% before paying you.
As a non-resident landlord, you must file a UK Self-Assessment return each year. We prepare and file this for you, claiming all available deductions and applying the correct residence position.
When a non-UK resident sells UK residential property, CGT must be reported and paid within 60 days — even if the gain is fully covered by reliefs. We handle this filing.
Your UK tax position depends partly on your residency status under the Statutory Residence Test. We advise on the rules and how they apply — particularly if you spend time in the UK for work or personal visits.
With offices in the UK, Qatar, and Pakistan, we work with expat clients across time zones. Face-to-face meetings, video calls, and WhatsApp — however you prefer to communicate.
Tell us what you need help with. Our team will contact you to agree a suitable time to discuss your property accountancy or tax enquiry.
