Cost comparison · GB vs FR
Cost of buying property: the United Kingdom vs France
Buying costs differ sharply between the United Kingdom and France. Below, the one-off purchase costs and the annual costs of ownership for each — pivoted from the same researched basis as our calculators, side by side, so you can compare like for like.
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All-in one-off cost — side by side
the United Kingdom
SDLT can reach ~19% for a non-resident second home; fees add ~£2–5k
All-in one-off cost — side by side
France
≈ 7–8% of price (older property, all-in one-off)
the United Kingdom
All-in estimate
SDLT can reach ~19% for a non-resident second home; fees add ~£2–5k
One-off costs — the United Kingdom
Progressive by band on the purchase price (England & NI; Scotland/Wales differ).
If you spent fewer than 183 days in the UK in the relevant 12 months — most foreign buyers.
Since 31 Oct 2024, if you already own any property anywhere in the world.
Plus VAT; handles contracts and completion.
Local authority searches and registration of title.
Annual costs — the United Kingdom
Annual, banded by property value and local authority.
Most London flats are leasehold; service charges can run to thousands/year.
Avoid corporate ownership of homes — the Annual Tax on Enveloped Dwellings is punitive.
France
All-in estimate
≈ 7–8% of price (older property, all-in one-off)
One-off costs — France
Mostly droits de mutation (transfer duty ~5.80%), plus the notaire's regulated émoluments and disbursements.
New-builds carry reduced transfer duty (~0.715%); VAT is in the price.
Regulated scale: 3.870% / 1.596% / 1.064% / 0.799% by price band, +20% TVA. Included in frais de notaire.
Often included in the displayed price (FAI — frais d'agence inclus); confirm who pays.
Annual costs — France
Annual owner's property tax, set locally; has risen sharply in many communes.
Abolished on main homes; still applies to second homes, with local surcharges in tense zones.
Real-estate wealth tax on net property assets above €1.3m (worldwide for French residents).
Costs are only half the decision. Get fair-price analysis, legal flags and rental ROI for a specific address.
Run the full dossier on a property →Frequently asked
Is it cheaper to buy property in the United Kingdom or France?
Typical all-in one-off costs are SDLT can reach ~19% for a non-resident second home; fees add ~£2–5k in the United Kingdom and ≈ 7–8% of price (older property, all-in one-off) in France. Compare the full breakdowns above and use each country's calculator for a price-specific figure before deciding.
How much stamp duty does a foreigner pay in the UK?
On top of the standard SDLT bands, a non-UK-resident buying an additional property pays both the 2% non-resident surcharge and the 5% additional-dwelling surcharge — about 7 percentage points extra across all bands. If it is your only home worldwide and you'll live in it, only the 2% non-resident surcharge applies.
What are frais de notaire in France?
They are the bundle of costs paid at completion: mostly transfer duties (droits de mutation, ~5.80% on older property) and the notaire's regulated fee (émoluments), plus disbursements. They total roughly 7–8% on an older property and only ~2–3% on a new-build — despite the name, most of it is tax, not the notaire's pay.