Who are the major owners of properties in London?

 

As of 2024, Hong Kong nationals are the most prominent foreign property owners in London, holding approximately 25,972 homes across the capital. This accounts for 13.7% of all properties owned by foreign nationals in the city, marking a 5.7% increase from the previous year .

Their ownership is particularly concentrated in several boroughs:

    Barking and Dagenham: 31% of foreign-owned homes

    Tower Hamlets: 26%

    Newham: 24%

    Lewisham and Hackney: 23% each

    Greenwich: 22%

    Southwark: 21%

    Islington: 20%

This trend has been significantly influenced by the British National (Overseas) visa scheme introduced in 2021, which has facilitated increased migration and investment from Hong Kong residentes.

Following Hong Kong, the top foreign nationalities owning property in London are:

    Singapore: 15,635 properties (8.2%)

    United States: 12,405 properties (6.5%)

    United Arab Emirates: 11,065 properties (5.8%)

    China: 9,867 properties (5.2%)

Notably, Chinese ownership saw a 12.9% increase year-on-year, the largest among the top 20 foreign nationalities . Additionally, Indian nationals have emerged as significant property owners in London. According to Barratt London, Indians now own more properties in the city than native white Britons. Their investments typically range from £290,000 to £450,000, often focusing on properties intended for both residential use and rental income .

In summary, while Hong Kong nationals currently hold the largest share of foreign-owned properties in London, Indian nationals have become a major force in the city's property market, particularly in the mid-range housing segment.