New analysis has revealed that Guernsey holds more than £9bn-worth of UK property… but how does it compare to other jurisdictions?
Overseas company ownership of UK property has almost doubled over the past decade, with fresh data published by legaltech provider Search Acumen showing that the number of properties in England and Wales owned by overseas companies rose from 47,787 in 2015 to 91,791 in 2025 – a 92% increase over ten years.
The value of those properties has increased even more sharply over the past decade, rising from £15.9 billion in 2015 to more than £125 billion in 2025, the highest level on record.
How does Guernsey rank?
Entities based on the island are linked to 12,308 properties, with a combined value of £9.47 billion.
That accounts for 13% of all UK property owned by overseas companies – placing the island third among jurisdictions used to hold UK property through overseas companies.
However, Jersey tops the register, with assets valued at £57 billion, representing 25% of all overseas-owned UK property.
The British Virgin Islands follow with 21%, while the Isle of Man accounts for 11%.
The bigger picture
Search Acumen’s research draws on HM Land Registry data and includes both cumulative ownership over time and a comparison between 2022 and 2025.
While overseas company ownership has grown significantly over the long term, the data also shows a recent slowdown in new acquisitions.
In cumulative terms, 3,171 properties were registered under overseas company ownership in 2024, which was 210 fewer than the year before and 2,902 fewer than in 2019.
However, the figures showed a decline in the number properties owned by overseas company ownership overall, with 3,834 fewer titles in 2025 than 2022.
Despite fewer new purchases, the total value of overseas-owned property continues to rise.
Search Acumen found that values have increased by 44% since 2022, equivalent to £38.5 billion, with 2021 recording the highest annual increase by value at £16 billion in new assets added in a single year.
What do the trends show?
Andrew Lloyd, Managing Director at Search Acumen, said the scale of overseas-held property wealth was “eye-watering”.
While he acknowledged that there may be some “gaps and inconsistencies” in the data, he noted that “it is widely indicative of wider investor trends and system that can and does protect the world’s most wealthy”.
He added that the falling number of new purchases was notable.
“…It is telling that the number of properties purchased by overseas-based companies are falling, currently at a ten-year low.”
Mr Lloyd said this could reflect both changing investor behaviour and tighter regulation.
“…Either investors and the wealthy are buying assets and storing capital outside the UK, which is a troubling sign that our global appeal may be in decline, or that our property transaction system is becoming more stringent, noting increased transparency measures and anti-money laundering regulation in recent years deterring illicit purchases.”
He said the most likely explanation was a combination of factors.
“We know that the UK’s exit from the EU had huge economic consequences, including on the property industry,” Mr Lloyd commented.
“New taxes and rules for overseas investment has played a critical role in the decline since 2022, seen as a less attractive place post-Brexit, whilst in turn opening up opportunities for more domestic businesses.”
He also pointed to the introduction of the Register of Overseas Entities in August 2022, which requires overseas companies owning UK property to declare their beneficial owners.
“Whilst reducing anonymity has to be a good thing, it may have in turn deterred some investors,” Mr Lloyd explained.
“This, combined with rising interest rates, higher borrowing costs, falling yields and slow capital growth, has likely made speculative investment less rewarding.”