London accounts for 43% of all property titles owned by foreign companies in England and Wales, according to research by Benham and Reeves.
The analysis reveals that 39,172 of the 91,136 properties registered to overseas companies are located within Greater London, making the capital the dominant region for international corporate property ownership.
Regional distribution
Of the total properties held by overseas-registered companies, 88,933, or 97.6%, are located in England, with the remaining titles in Wales. The South East ranks second with 14,919 titles, accounting for 16.4% of the total—less than half of London’s concentration.
The data, which tracks property ownership through overseas-registered companies rather than individual foreign buyers, highlights London’s continued appeal to international corporate investors. While commercial property financing remains active in the capital, the figures demonstrate the scale of corporate international holdings across residential and commercial sectors.
Market context
Marc von Grundherr, director at Benham and Reeves, noted that London’s position has been established over decades and is not dependent on recent market conditions. “The sheer concentration within London is another indication of the international appeal that continues to underpin the capital’s property market both on personal and professional levels,” he said.
Von Grundherr added that softer market conditions could provide opportunities for international buyers taking a long-term view. “For those taking a long-term view, softer market conditions can actually provide an attractive opportunity to establish or increase their position within one of the world’s most established property markets,” he stated.
The concentration of overseas company ownership in London is notably higher than in other regions, with investment activity in cities such as Bristol representing a fraction of the capital’s totals.
Investment implications
The data suggests that London maintains its position as the primary destination for international corporate property investment in England and Wales, with more than two and a half times the number of overseas-owned titles compared to the next largest region. The figures provide insight into the geographical distribution of foreign corporate property holdings across the two nations.
