Over 1,800 Bradford properties under foreign ownership, data shows

A report by the Centre for Public Data said foreign purchases of properties in the UK have risen sharply in the past decade.

Around three-quarters of homes are owned by people from just 20 countries – dominated by tax haven nations – while ownership in the Middle East and South East Asia has shot up in recent years.

The CFPD has said it hopes this new data, obtained from the Land Registry through a Freedom of Information request, means better analysis can be done on how foreign ownership impacts the prices and availability of homes for British people.

Wealthy overseas cash buyers, who often buy property before it has even been built, have been blamed for pushing up prices and rents, however some Bradford estate agents have cast doubt on the impact this has.

From 2010 to 2021, foreign property ownership increased by 180 per cent, from 87,810 titles to 247,016.

While London dominates the growth, Northern cities have also seen a large rise in foreign ownership, which the CFPD has said is likely investment opportunities rather than second homes.

In Bradford, 1,878 titles are owned by people in 85 foreign nations, with just 13 countries accounting for 842 titles.

This map shows every country where people own property in Bradford

Malaysia accounts for the most with 189 properties in Bradford owned there, followed by Hong Kong with 164, 98 in Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates with 91.

There are also properties owned by people from China (32), Taiwan (74), the USA (76), and even the Australian Antarctic Territory (1), which has a population of less than 200 people, while 39 titles are owned by Russians.

Muhammad Usman, owner of Bradford Estates, said he has noticed city centre flats being bought up by foreign investors, but also an influx of buyers from the South.

He said: "I've not seen a big increase personally, but particularly with flats in the city I have found there is more foreign ownership.

"It's mostly Hong Kong and China from my experience, along with from Europe and then the Middle East, like the UAE.

"I don't think it's a big factor in rising prices, that's more due to a national shortage in houses coming to market. Even if foreign buyers weren't there it would be the same.

"I deal more with houses and have noticed a rise in buyers from the South, the Midlands, investing in Bradford where they get more for their money."

John Watts, from estate agents Robert Watts, added: "A few of our landlords are based abroad but I haven't seen a surge.

"We have some who are based in Dubai, but we sold hundreds of homes last year and I've not noticed any trends towards foreign ownership."

Robert McCarthy, from Hunters Bradford, said the same, with less than 10 per cent of sales going to foreign buyers.

"It's not something I've have seen," he said, "there hasn't been an influx.

"It might be more with flats and buy-to-let properties, but our buyers tend to mainly be UK based."

In its report, the CFPD said: “An overseas correspondence address on the property’s title suggests the buyer is based at least partly overseas.

“HM Land Registry asks the buyer of a title for a correspondence address on transfer or first registration, as a security measure so it can write to the registered owner if an attempt is made to change the title.

“Such an address does not necessarily mean the property owner is non-tax-resident, but it indicates they expect to be based overseas to a significant extent (perhaps as an overseas investor or second-home buyer), and as such is a reasonable proxy for non-residence.”