UK Real Estate Structuring
Your experts
Real Estate is an increasingly popular asset class for overseas investors, and many of our clients have substantial commercial and residential portfolios.
The structuring of real estate investments and the funds themselves can be complex. The most appropriate vehicle overall depends on several factors, for example whether residential or commercial real estate is to be acquired, the intended use and tax efficiency, both in the UK and elsewhere.
We bring together our expertise in tax, succession planning, trusts, funds, company formation, real estate expertise and more to provide clear and expert guidance to real estate investors from all over the world.
How we help
- Taxation – It is important to take professional advice from the outset, as UK real estate transactions are potentially exposed to a variety of UK taxes, including Stamp Duty Land Tax, Value Added Tax, Corporation Tax, Income Tax, Inheritance Tax and the Annul Tax on Enveloped Dwellings. Our expert lawyers help investors and developers to choose the most tax-efficient structure. In many cases certain taxes can be mitigated or entirely eliminated through careful planning and structuring from the beginning so it is important to take advice at an early stage
- Succession Planning – We advise clients on integrating their real estate portfolio into their overall succession planning strategy in the UK and globally to facilitate the long term preservation of wealth for the benefit of future generations
- Real Estate Acquisition – We have market leading teams in the acquisition of commercial real estate across a wide range of sectors from offices and mixed use developments to hotel and warehouses
Our residential real estate team advise on the purchase of the full range of residential property from prime London and country houses to residential investment portfolios around the UK. We advise on purchases made by individuals, through corporate structures, trusts and funds.
At Boodle Hatfield our private client, tax, real estate and corporate teams work seamlessly together to ensure our clients’ investment into real estate is tax efficient and integrated into the most appropriate worldwide structure.
Recommended reading
The Finance Bill published yesterday confirms that, as we highlighted in our 23 December briefing, the increased £2.5m inheritance tax relief for agricultural and business property will apply from 6 April 2026. Qualifying ‘relevant property’ trusts can also benefit from 100% relief up to this threshold, aligning trustee allowances with individual transfers.
Read more 23 Dec 2025 Breaking news on IHT reformIn a welcome announcement for farmers and business owners, the government has confirmed an increase to the 100% IHT relief allowance to £2.5m per person from April 2026. Partner and Head of Private Wealth, Hayden Bailey and Legal Director, Emma Haley comment on what this means in practice and stress that now may be the right time to review wills and succession planning.
Read more 10 Dec 2025 Five key proposals left out of the UK Budget – and what it meansWhat is missing from the Autumn Budget and what might this signal about the Government’s direction of travel? No wealth tax. No exit tax. Limited inheritance tax reform. Few incentives for entrepreneurs. Hayden Bailey, Partner & Head of Private Wealth shares his perspective on what these could mean for families, globally mobile individuals and business owners.
Read more 04 Dec 2025 Mansion tax: High-value homes and higher billsBehind the headlines of the Autumn Budget lies a significant change for high-value residential properties: the new High Value Council Tax Surcharge (‘mansion tax’). Partners, Saskia Arthur and Andrew Loan break down what this means for property owners and why it matters.
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