Hamptons found that 20% of the 33,600 UK buy-to-let companies established during the first half of 2025 had at least one non-UK national shareholder. That was up from 13% in 2016, indicating that non-UK nationals have become more prominent within the limited-company buy-to-let market.
The figure does not mean that one in five UK landlords or one in five rental properties is foreign-owned. It measures the people connected to newly incorporated buy-to-let companies, rather than the entire population of landlords, properties or completed purchases.
Hamptons also estimated that approximately 80% of the non-UK shareholders it identified lived in the UK. Only around 20% were based overseas. The data therefore reflects migration and domestic investment as well as purchases by overseas landlords.
Key Takeaways:
- One in five new buy-to-let companies established in the first half of 2025 had at least one non-UK national shareholder.
- The proportion increased from 13% in 2016.
- Around four in five of the non-UK shareholders identified by Hamptons lived in the UK.
- Indian nationals established the most new buy-to-let companies, followed by Nigerian and Polish nationals.
- London had the highest regional concentration, but participation grew rapidly in the Midlands and Scotland.
- Company registration does not prove that a property purchase was completed.
- Nationality, residence, beneficial ownership and tax status are separate concepts.
- A record 66,587 buy-to-let companies were formed during 2025, showing that foreign participation is part of a wider move towards company ownership.
What Is A Foreign Landlord In The UK?
The term foreign landlord in the UK is widely used in news coverage and online searches, but it does not have one universal legal definition.
It may describe a non-UK national who owns rental property, a landlord who normally lives abroad, a UK company with foreign shareholders or a company incorporated outside the UK. Those situations should not be treated as interchangeable.
A Non-UK National
A non-UK national is a person whose nationality is recorded as something other than British.
The person may live in Britain permanently, have UK tax residence and operate a property business from within the country. Nationality alone does not establish where the investor lives.
An Overseas-resident Landlord
An overseas-resident landlord normally lives outside the UK while receiving income from UK property.
For the Non-resident Landlords Scheme, HM Revenue & Customs looks at whether the landlord’s usual place of abode is outside the UK. This is not always the same as nationality or formal tax residence.
HMRC normally treats an absence lasting six months or more as an indication that an individual’s usual place of abode is overseas.
A UK Company With Foreign Shareholders
A company incorporated in the UK may have one or more shareholders who are non-UK nationals.
The company remains a UK-registered business even when some or all of its owners have another nationality. It should not automatically be described as an overseas company.
An Overseas Entity
An overseas entity is a company or other legal organisation governed by the law of a country or territory outside the UK.
Overseas entities that wish to buy, sell or transfer UK property generally have to register with Companies House and disclose their registrable beneficial owners or managing officers. The Register of Overseas Entities came into force on 1 August 2022.
What Does the Hamptons Foreign Landlords Data Measure?
The Hamptons foreign landlords data is based on an analysis of Companies House information relating to newly established buy-to-let companies.
The research identified companies with at least one shareholder recorded as a non-UK national and compared their share with previous years. It also examined nationalities and the areas in which those companies were registered.
The analysis can help show how international participation in limited-company buy-to-let has changed. However, it does not provide a definitive count of:
- every foreign landlord in the UK
- every overseas-resident property owner
- every foreign-owned rental home
- the number of properties held by each company
- or the number of completed purchases
A company may be incorporated before an investor applies for a mortgage or makes an offer. The proposed purchase may be delayed, changed or abandoned.
Some companies may own one property, while others may control a portfolio. Company-formation totals therefore cannot be converted directly into landlord or property totals.
How Has Foreign Participation In UK Buy-to-Let Changed?
Hamptons found that the share of new buy-to-let companies with at least one non-UK national shareholder rose from 13% in 2016 to 20% in the first half of 2025. The proportion increased in nine of the 10 years covered by the analysis.
This growth happened alongside a much wider expansion of limited-company buy-to-let ownership.
Buy-to-let Company Registrations Reached A Record
A record 66,587 buy-to-let companies were formed during 2025. That was 8% more than in 2024 and 363% more than a decade earlier.
The number of registered buy-to-let companies reached 443,272 by the end of 2025. Hamptons reported that these companies held more than 755,000 property titles in England and Wales.
This means that the rise of foreign-owned buy-to-let companies in the UK should be considered within a broader structural change. British and non-UK investors have increasingly used companies to acquire or hold rental property.
Most Non-UK Shareholders Were UK Residents
One of the most important findings is that most non-UK shareholders identified by Hamptons were not based overseas.
Approximately 80% lived in the UK, while about 20% lived abroad. Hamptons said the majority of purchases by non-UK nationals reflected domestic demand and changing migration patterns.
The result challenges the assumption that every company connected to a foreign citizen represents overseas money entering the housing market.
Why Are Foreign Landlords Investing In The UK?
There is no single reason why foreign landlords in the UK purchase rental property. Motivations differ according to the investor’s finances, residence, risk tolerance and long-term plans.
Common attractions can include established property law, transparent ownership records, access to specialist mortgages and strong rental demand in some locations.
Investors may also be attracted to regional markets where prices are lower than in London and gross rental yields are potentially higher. Reporting on the Hamptons findings indicates that international demand has increasingly moved towards lower-value markets outside the capital.
UK-based migrants may view buy-to-let property as a way to build a long-term asset, supplement retirement income or establish a family business. Overseas investors may be seeking geographic diversification, sterling-denominated income or exposure to the British property market.
These are possible motivations rather than explanations that apply to every non-UK landlord.
Why Do Foreign Landlords Use Limited Companies?
Foreign landlords may use limited companies for many of the same reasons as British property investors.
Treatment of Finance Costs
Individual residential landlords cannot deduct mortgage interest from rental income in the same way as companies. Instead, qualifying individual landlords generally receive a basic-rate tax reduction for residential-property finance costs.
A company’s borrowing costs are normally considered under Corporation Tax rules. This can make the company structure attractive to some financed investors, particularly those planning to retain profits or expand a portfolio.
Company ownership is not automatically more tax-efficient. Corporation Tax, dividend tax, salary taxation, mortgage costs, accountancy fees and the investor’s personal circumstances can all affect the final outcome.
Joint Ownership
A limited company can provide a defined structure for two or more people investing together.
Shares, voting rights and responsibilities can be divided between family members or business partners. This may help investors manage a portfolio and retain profits for deposits, maintenance or future purchases.
Business Separation
Using a company creates legal separation between the investor and the property-holding business.
However, lenders may still require personal guarantees, and directors remain responsible for meeting company, tax and regulatory obligations.
Administration and Costs
Buy-to-let companies must normally maintain accounting records, file annual accounts, submit confirmation statements and keep information about directors and people with significant control up to date.
A person with significant control is generally someone who holds more than 25% of the shares or voting rights, can appoint or remove most directors, or can otherwise exercise significant influence over the company. Companies House records the person’s nationality and country of residence as separate details.
Which Nationalities Are Establishing UK Buy-to-Let Companies?
Indian nationals formed the largest group of non-UK shareholders during the first half of 2025.
They established 684 new buy-to-let companies, followed by Nigerian nationals with 647 and Polish nationals with 473. Irish nationals ranked fourth.
Indian nationals had occupied the top position since 2023, while Nigerian nationals had ranked second during the same period. The figures suggest that the national mix of international landlords has shifted towards South Asia and Africa.
European Union nationals accounted for 65% of non-UK shareholders in 2016. Their share fell to 49% by 2025, although Polish and other Eastern European investors remained prominent.
These numbers measure nationality, not residence. An Indian, Nigerian, Polish or Irish shareholder may live permanently in the UK.
Where Are Foreign-Owned Buy-to-Let Companies Most Common?
London
London recorded the highest overall regional concentration of new companies with non-UK shareholders.
Approximately 27% of new buy-to-let companies registered in the capital had at least one non-UK national shareholder. The proportion reached 54% in Kensington and Chelsea and 51% in Hammersmith and Fulham.
London’s international population, mature property market and global business links may help explain its continued prominence.
Growth Outside London
The fastest growth was not limited to the capital.
Between 2016 and 2025, the share of new buy-to-let companies linked to non-UK nationals more than doubled in the East Midlands, West Midlands and Scotland. Runnymede recorded the highest reported local-authority share, at 59%.
Lower purchase prices, potential rental yields, universities, employment centres and established migrant communities can all influence where investors look for property.
The figures do not prove that non-UK nationals dominate these local markets. They show that their share of new company formations has increased.
Key Figures At A Glance
| Metric | Reported figure | What it means |
| New buy-to-let companies formed in H1 2025 | 33,600 | Total companies created during the measured period |
| Companies with a non-UK shareholder | 20% | One in five had at least one non-UK national owner |
| Equivalent share in 2016 | 13% | International participation has increased |
| Indian-linked companies in H1 2025 | 684 | Largest non-UK nationality group |
| Nigerian-linked companies in H1 2025 | 647 | Second-largest group |
| Polish-linked companies in H1 2025 | 473 | Third-largest group |
| New London companies with non-UK shareholders | 27% | Higher than the national share |
| Non-UK shareholders living in the UK | About 80% | Most were not overseas residents |
| Buy-to-let companies established in 2025 | 66,587 | Record annual company-formation total |
The table combines Hamptons’ nationality analysis with its later full-year company-formation update.
Common Misinterpretations Of The Hamptons Data
“One In Five UK landlords Is Foreign”
- The 20% figure applies to new buy-to-let companies established during a specific period.
- It does not cover every individual or company landlord operating in the UK.
“One In Five UK Rental Properties Is Foreign-owned”
- The research does not measure the nationality of the owner of every rental property.
- One company can own several homes, while another newly formed company may not yet own any property.
“A Non-UK National Must Live Overseas”
- Approximately four in five of the non-UK shareholders identified by Hamptons lived in the UK.
- Nationality should therefore not be used as a substitute for residence.
“Every New company Has Completed A Purchase”
- Investors often incorporate a company before applying for finance or buying a property.
- Registration shows that a legal entity was created, not that a transaction was completed.
“Foreign-owned And Overseas-owned Mean The Same Thing”
- A UK company with a non-UK shareholder is legally different from an overseas entity incorporated under another country’s laws.
- Overseas entities face separate registration and beneficial-ownership requirements when dealing with UK land.
Real-Life Example: How Should The Data Be Interpreted?
Consider a fictional company called Northfield Rental Homes Ltd.
The company has two equal shareholders:
- a British citizen living in Birmingham
- and an Indian citizen who has lived and worked in Manchester for 10 years
Because one of the shareholders is a non-UK national, Northfield Rental Homes Ltd would be included in the Hamptons foreign landlords data.
However, it would be inaccurate to conclude that:
- the company is completely foreign-owned
- the investors are based overseas
- an overseas company owns the property
- or the business has already completed a purchase
The precise description would be that the UK buy-to-let company has at least one non-UK national shareholder.
Are Foreign Landlords Increasing Competition for UK Homes?
The Hamptons figures show that non-UK nationals have become more active in forming buy-to-let companies.
The data does not establish whether that activity has directly increased rents or house prices. It also does not show how many completed purchases involved competition between landlords and owner-occupiers.
To determine the effect on local housing markets, researchers would need additional evidence covering:
- completed Land Registry transactions
- the number and type of homes purchased
- whether the properties were new or existing
- rental supply and vacancy rates
- owner-occupier demand
- local construction
- mortgage costs
- and population changes
An investor buying an existing home may compete with an aspiring owner-occupier. An investor purchasing a newly built or vacant property and making it available to tenants may add to rental supply.
The effect depends on the property, location and outcome—not simply the buyer’s nationality.
What Could Foreign Landlord Growth Mean For The Rental Market?
Possible Benefits
- International and migrant investment may supply capital for purchases, renovations and professionally managed rental portfolios.
- Where investment brings empty, damaged or newly built homes into use, it may increase the number of properties available to tenants.
Possible Concerns
- Potential concerns include competition with local buyers, ownership transparency, tax compliance, remote property management and the concentration of investment in particular areas.
- These concerns require transaction and housing-supply evidence. Company-nationality data alone cannot establish the effect on affordability or rents.
Evidence Versus Analysis
- The confirmed evidence is that the proportion of new buy-to-let companies with non-UK shareholders increased between 2016 and 2025.
- Claims about the effect on house prices, rents or first-time buyers are analysis unless supported by separate housing-market data.
What Rules Do Foreign Landlords Need to Consider?
Non-resident Landlords Scheme
The Non-resident Landlords Scheme applies when someone receives UK rental income and their usual place of abode is outside the UK.
Letting agents generally have to deduct tax from rental income unless HMRC has authorised the landlord to receive it without deduction. A tenant may have to operate the scheme when there is no letting agent and the rent exceeds £100 a week.
Receiving rent without deduction does not mean the income is tax-free. The landlord may still have to report the income and pay any tax due.
Company-reporting Duties
A UK buy-to-let company may need to:
- file annual accounts
- submit a confirmation statement
- report changes to directors
- maintain accurate shareholder information
- identify people with significant control
- and complete applicable identity-verification requirements
Companies House requires PSC information to include nationality and country of residence.
Overseas-entity Rules
A company incorporated outside the UK that owns or wishes to transact in UK property may have to join the Register of Overseas Entities.
It must provide information about its beneficial owners or managing officers and file annual updates.
Property and Tenancy Obligations
Foreign landlords must follow the housing rules applying where the property is located.
Requirements can include property licensing, deposit protection, safety checks, repairs, energy-performance standards and tenancy documentation. The rules differ between England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Landlords should obtain current professional advice on tax, mortgages, conveyancing and housing law before buying or restructuring a property portfolio.
What Data Should Readers Watch Next?
A clearer picture of foreign landlords in the UK would require several connected datasets.
Future analysis should examine:
- Full-year nationality figures for new buy-to-let companies
- Nationality and country of residence separately
- Completed Land Registry transactions
- The number of properties owned by each company
- Company dissolutions and inactive businesses
- Regional changes outside London
- Overseas-entity registrations
- Rental supply, rents and property-price outcomes
Connecting Companies House records with completed property transactions would help distinguish company-formation intentions from actual investment.
What Does the Foreign Landlord Data Really Show?
Use the figures, check a common claim and complete a short quiz to see whether the data has been interpreted accurately.
Check a Common Claim
Select a statement often associated with the data. The tool explains what can and cannot reasonably be concluded.
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Your Result
Conclusion
The Hamptons foreign landlords data shows a clear increase in non-UK participation in British buy-to-let companies.
One in five companies established during the first half of 2025 had at least one non-UK national shareholder, compared with 13% in 2016. Indian nationals formed the largest group, followed by Nigerian and Polish nationals.
London retained the highest regional concentration, while international participation expanded across lower-priced markets in the Midlands and Scotland.
The most important qualification is that nationality does not equal overseas residence. Around 80% of the non-UK shareholders identified by Hamptons lived in Britain.
The data therefore shows growing participation by foreign nationals in limited-company buy-to-let—not that one in five UK landlords or rental homes is owned from overseas.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many foreign landlords are there in the UK?
No single dataset provides a definitive total. Hamptons found that 20% of buy-to-let companies established during the first half of 2025 had at least one non-UK national shareholder, but that is not a count of all landlords.
What does the Hamptons foreign landlords data measure?
It measures newly incorporated buy-to-let companies with at least one shareholder recorded as a non-UK national.
Why do foreign landlords use limited companies?
Possible reasons include the treatment of finance costs, joint ownership, portfolio management and the ability to retain profits within a business. The best structure depends on the investor’s circumstances.
Does a non-UK shareholder make a company foreign-owned?
It means the company has at least some ownership connected to a non-UK national. It does not necessarily mean that the company is wholly foreign-owned or controlled from overseas.
Do overseas landlords pay tax on UK rental income?
UK rental income remains subject to UK tax rules. The Non-resident Landlords Scheme may apply when the landlord’s usual place of abode is outside the UK.
Where are foreign-owned buy-to-let companies most common?
London had the highest overall regional concentration, while Runnymede recorded the highest reported local-authority share in the 2025 analysis.
Are foreign landlords causing UK rents to rise?
The company data does not prove this. Rent changes are influenced by housing supply, tenant demand, borrowing costs, wages, regulation and local economic conditions.
