Lessons Learned Managing UK Property From Overseas

Expat Property Story

#218

Are you thinking of buying your first UK investment property?

Have you had enough of the UK and are thinking of leaving for pastures new and becoming an expat?

Are you perhaps scared to take the leap and are looking for a little inspiration?

Are you wondering what it would all look like for YOU?

These are just some of the questions that this week’s show will get you thinking about.

Tanya Summer's family moved to Dubai in 2022 following her husband's long-standing dream to teach in the city.

Initially, her husband and eldest moved in August 2022, while Tanya remained in the UK with her younger son,due to a recent promotion and her father's health.

Like many expats, their move overseas allowed them to turn their family home into a buy-to-let and get their Expat Property Story started.

During the episode, we discuss:

• Overcoming skepticism and fear of risk from others
• Transition from family home to buy-to-let investment in Tamworth
• Investment in a Welsh Holiday Let/Serviced Accommodation
• Dual-purpose purchase: own use vs. holiday letting for income
• Problems with void periods (especially winter)
• Mortgage considerations—higher rates for holiday lets
• Managing and Operating the Holiday Let Remotely
• Selection and experiences with managing agents (e.g., Sykes Cottages)
• High commission, poor performance, and financial losses
• Transition to self-management and improved outcomes
• Cleaning and local keyholder arrangements
• Issues with local tradespeople availability
• Using Airbnb, Booking.com, Vrbo, and other booking platforms
• Strategies for increasing direct bookings (e.g., Stayfi, QR codes, Wi-Fi codes)
• Compliance with changing platform rules (e.g., Airbnb messaging policies)
• Financial and Regulatory Challenges Specific to Welsh Holiday Lets
• High council tax for second homes (up to 300%)
• Stringent business rates qualification—requirement for 182 days’ occupancy
• Comparison of Buy-to-Let vs. Holiday Let Strategies
• Self-management vs. using agents—costs, involvement, and control
• Difficulty finding trustworthy local partners for property management and maintenance
• Importance of monitoring local property markets
• Benefits of local market knowledge
• Investment in Dubai vs. further UK investments
• Maintaining openness to opportunities as they arise

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Keywords

UK property investment, expat property investing, buy to let, holiday let, serviced accommodation, property portfolio, property management, self managing properties, property in Tamworth, property in Wales, Dubai property investment, property networking Hong Kong, mortgage rates, holiday let mortgage, void periods, remote property management, cleaning and maintenance, Airbnb management, Booking.com, Vrbo, Sykes holiday agency, business rates vs council tax, second home tax Wales, managing agents, finding tradespeople, capital growth, family relocation, sourcing property deals, property investment strategy, direct bookings, limited company property investment