International Guide To Buying, Selling and Letting Property in London
Asia and London - Trusted Partnership with Expert Support
For over a decade, Asian buyers have trusted Circa London Sales & Lettings to help them acquire, sell, and rent central London residential properties.
For many, our Hong Kong office serves as the initial point of contact where our team can easily assist, advise, and communicate with our clients. They act as the gateway to London and are the 'middle man', spanning two continents and managing all and every part of the process for our clients.
In London, our Asia Desk is on hand to ensure a smooth, confidential, and transparent property journey. We give our clients the 'local' knowledge and a head start on the competition.
James Yan leads our Asia Desk. Born and raised in China and having studied in the UK, James brings extensive experience and valuable connections to our overseas clients, wherever they may be. James is fluent in English and Mandarin.
If you prefer communication in Mandarin, our Asia Desk is available. Please feel free to contact us via WeChat.
如果中文交流对您来说更加方便，我们的亚洲事务部可以为您提供中文服务。请联系我们的微信。
Why Choose London?
- London is renowned for attracting international buyers, especially from Asia and the Middle East, thanks to its favourable exchange rates, capital growth potential, and high demand for rental properties.
- London remains one of the world's safest and most desirable places to work, study, and live. This is why so many people choose to live here and why it is a fantastic place to buy property.
- Our multicultural city has always been open to everyone and a centre of trade for centuries. There are, and have always been, boundless opportunities in London.
- For foreign buyers, owning property requires no citizenship, visas, or residency.
The London property market offers many opportunities but navigating it can be challenging, which is why having a trusted team is crucial for a smooth buying process.
Contact Us
Why sell property through Circa London?
- We believe that selling a property in central London is not only about achieving the highest price but also about considering personal factors like time constraints and privacy.
- We offer bespoke services tailored to your unique needs.
- We have prominent high street offices in Bankside SE1 (Southwark) and Shoreditch EC2, along with an office in Hong Kong and desks in Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Shanghai.
- Our Asia Desk (London) is dedicated to assisting overseas buyers and investors.
- We provide honest, realistic valuations and insights, into your property’s potential. If there are ways to increase its value, we’ll let you know.
- Our focus is on achieving the best outcome ensuring a successful and positive selling experience.
- We provide a seamless, confidential and transparent property experience and the ability to communicate in your language and time zone is invaluable. We have it covered.
Why rent your property through Circa London?
- We manage over 90% of our portfolio, so we are used to shouldering a landlord's day-to-day responsibilities and taking measures to ensure the highest quality of service.
- As an independent agency, we can offer an entirely bespoke service to our landlords, tailored to their specific needs and requirements. This more personalised service also appeals to high-end professional tenants, which is why we deliver excellent results compared with corporate agencies.
- Asian investors prefer working with us because they value our attentive, personal service. Our focus has always been on growing long-term relationships, which builds trust and confidence so we can act effectively on our client's behalf, even 10,000 miles away.
- You can trust and depend on us to manage your investments in your absence and ensure client money protection. We offer the services you require, whether full property management, rent collection, or let-only.
- Asian investors can confidently navigate the London property market through our Asia Desk, secure high-value assets, and achieve a successful investment strategy.
- We know the central London rental market inside and out. Understanding that many of our clients are thousands of miles away, we offer property management services to ensure their investments are well-maintained, giving them peace of mind. This keeps tenants happy and wanting to stay long-term, ensuring long-lasting and secure rental yields.
CM
NS
JA
DC
ND
CM
PL
DD
FAQs
Investors often hesitate to buy off-plan properties due to concerns about completion times and finding reliable developers.
When purchasing property as an investment, two key factors to consider are strong returns and potential capital growth. Circa London's years of experience can help you navigate this process and maximise your investment.
Off-plan developments are currently seeing high sales levels. Their popularity is driven by the ability to negotiate directly with developers, who are focused on building and selling regardless of market conditions.
Learn More
When purchasing property as an investment, two key factors to consider are strong returns and potential capital growth. Circa London's years of experience can help you navigate this process and maximise your investment.
Off-plan developments are currently seeing high sales levels. Their popularity is driven by the ability to negotiate directly with developers, who are focused on building and selling regardless of market conditions.
Learn More
Buying a newly built property offers the convenience of having nothing to fix, apart from furnishing, before renting it out. However, this comes at a premium.
Developers typically charge significantly more than the market rate, knowing that many buyers either cannot or prefer not to do any work before moving in or letting the property. Not only is this more expensive, but it also consumes a lot of time and often involves complications. Managing contractors and suppliers can be both time-consuming and frustrating.
In contrast, older properties usually don’t carry the same premium price and can be purchased at a more competitive rate. The work needed to bring an older property up to standard for maximum rental value is often minimal and can be arranged with relative ease. Circa London has an excellent Property Management team who can handle the necessary repairs and improvements, saving you time and hassle while significantly boosting your investment return.
Developers typically charge significantly more than the market rate, knowing that many buyers either cannot or prefer not to do any work before moving in or letting the property. Not only is this more expensive, but it also consumes a lot of time and often involves complications. Managing contractors and suppliers can be both time-consuming and frustrating.
In contrast, older properties usually don’t carry the same premium price and can be purchased at a more competitive rate. The work needed to bring an older property up to standard for maximum rental value is often minimal and can be arranged with relative ease. Circa London has an excellent Property Management team who can handle the necessary repairs and improvements, saving you time and hassle while significantly boosting your investment return.
New home construction is one of the most exciting and modern options for buying a property. Its clean, spacious rooms, cutting-edge technology, and energy-efficient features represent 21st-century living at its best.
When considering whether a new-build property is right for you, it's essential to examine all the benefits of this type of home.
Learn More
When considering whether a new-build property is right for you, it's essential to examine all the benefits of this type of home.
Learn More
When arranging a buy-to-let mortgage, you will have to provide comprehensive paperwork to show proof of funds for your deposit, typically 25%. The lender will also require proof that you can afford the monthly repayments, giving evidence that the rent will cover them.
It is advisable to have the property professionally managed by a reliable property management company with a dedicated property manager to address any issues.
A happy tenant stays longer, and busy landlords don't have the time to manage their properties when they are in a different time zone. A fully managed service is invaluable.
A happy tenant stays longer, and busy landlords don't have the time to manage their properties when they are in a different time zone. A fully managed service is invaluable.
Landlords outside the UK for more than 6 months in a tax year are considered overseas landlords and must pay tax on their rental income. By law, we are required to deduct tax from your rent until HMRC issues a gross payment notice.
If you're already approved for the NRL scheme, simply call HMRC at 0300 322 9433 and inform them of our details (below in red).
Once linked to us, HMRC will notify us, and we can transfer your rent without tax deductions.
If you haven't registered for the NRL scheme, you'll need to apply to HMRC for consent to receive gross rental income. The form you need depends on your situation:
If you're already approved for the NRL scheme, simply call HMRC at 0300 322 9433 and inform them of our details (below in red).
Once linked to us, HMRC will notify us, and we can transfer your rent without tax deductions.
If you haven't registered for the NRL scheme, you'll need to apply to HMRC for consent to receive gross rental income. The form you need depends on your situation:
- Form NRL1 for individual landlords
- Form NRL2 for companies
- Form NRL3 for trusts
Ultimately, the property you own will always be your responsibility.
We will take away the day-to-day management and keep everything under control, from maintenance, payments, and inspections, while you sit back and wait for the rent to hit your bank account. However, you can choose whether they have complete control or want to be involved in the decision process. If you decide to pass on the control to us, be warned that you're still legally responsible in the eyes of the law.
We will take away the day-to-day management and keep everything under control, from maintenance, payments, and inspections, while you sit back and wait for the rent to hit your bank account. However, you can choose whether they have complete control or want to be involved in the decision process. If you decide to pass on the control to us, be warned that you're still legally responsible in the eyes of the law.
Rental demand in the UK is booming, and we're finding that our properties are being snapped up instantly; plenty of fully referenced tenants are waiting to pounce.
If a tenant doesn't pay their rent, they'll have broken the terms of their tenancy agreement. We will make every effort to resolve the situation by liaising with the tenants. If they refuse to make payment, we can gain possession of the property by serving a notice to evict them.
Blogs
Why Southwark's place on the Sunday Times 2026 'Best Places To Live' list comes as no surprise to us
We've worked in Southwark long enough to have an opinion on most things written about it, and most of it tends towards the same handful of phrases. So it was good to see the Sunday Times take a more considered look this year, naming Southwark, the stretch running from Bermondsey to Waterloo, on its Best...
Why Historic Homes Around Bankside and Roupell Street Are Southwark’s Best Kept Secrets for Buyers
When you think of buying a historic home in London, many automatically think of areas like Notting Hill, Chelsea, or Islington. But what if we told you that some of the city’s most beautiful, underrated properties are tucked away in the heart of Southwark, just steps away from the Thames and the...
How Hybrid Working Is Redefining Property Demand in London
If you’re wondering how hybrid working is affecting the London property market, you’re not alone.
What started as a temporary solution during lockdowns has quietly reshaped how people choose where and how they live in London. And it’s not a short-term shift. It’s structural.
From...
What started as a temporary solution during lockdowns has quietly reshaped how people choose where and how they live in London. And it’s not a short-term shift. It’s structural.
From...
Discover Warehouse Living at Jam Factory in Bermondsey
Iconic Warehouse Living at Jam Factory - A Landmark Development in Bermondsey SE1Discover a rare blend of Victorian industrial heritage and contemporary city living at Jam Factory, Bermondsey SE1. One of South London’s most recognisable warehouse conversions, this landmark residential development...
The Future of Urban Living
The Future of Urban Living: How Property Is Evolving in Bankside, Shoreditch & Southwark
The central London property market has always reflected how we work, live, and connect, but in recent years, the pace of change has accelerated dramatically. In London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods,...
The central London property market has always reflected how we work, live, and connect, but in recent years, the pace of change has accelerated dramatically. In London’s most dynamic neighbourhoods,...
