UK tax refugees stoke offshore property prices

A new survey by The Sovereign Group indicates a robust property market in the offshore sector  

“The facts speak for themselves here,” said Howard Bilton, Chairman of The Sovereign Group. “Property prices in the south of France and southern Spain are languishing in the worst slump they’ve seen in many years but on their outskirts are two little areas – Monaco and Gibraltar - where the market is extraordinarily resilient. We believe, and all our local sources are telling us, that much of this disparity is because of interest from a new breed of British tax refugee as the UK government’s tax-and-spend folly begins to bite.”

“These findings confirmed what we already believed to be the case based on our own experience,” added Mr Bilton. “For many months now, 20% of all new business at our London office has been from wealthy individuals looking to move offshore to escape what they expect to be increasingly harsh tax rises. Very often, these clients are looking to take their businesses with them. It is no wonder that the offshore locations are benefitting with healthy property markets, but it is a very sorry situation for the UK and for those taxpayers who aren’t able to go offshore.”

“What is extraordinary is that the UK government appears to believe its most productive citizens will sit still to be fleeced,” said Mr Bilton. “This is not the 1960s, when currency controls and limited communications made it difficult to relocate yourself and your business. This is the broadband age, when voting with your feet where tax is concerned is a very viable option for many. Everyone has to compete these days and tax authorities should not be any different.”

Against a background of falling property prices across Europe, Sovereign used its extensive network of expert property and investment contacts in all the jurisdictions surveyed, as well as local and international public record resources, to compile the survey since the beginning of this year.

In Monaco (which, significantly, now boasts 100% broadband coverage), for instance, there have been reports that property prices have risen by as much as 30% - the same amount that even the most optimistic observer would acknowledge they have fallen in neighbouring Provence. One leading Monte Carlo estate agent said in a recent report that Monaco’s “tax haven status ensures the market remains buoyant and prices stable so investment in Monaco property continues to be attractive.”

The situation is similar in Gibraltar where despite prices on the Costa del Sol continuing to plummet by record levels - several major new residential property developments have recently been completed and the developers say they have been finished “in the nick of time” to satisfy a wave of new residents. Sovereign’s own sources confirm this, including Gibraltar property agent Justin Bray of Bray Properties. “Recently we have noted a marked increase in interest for Gibraltar properties and a greater proportion of these enquiries are leading to actual sales, allowing us to be even more confident for the future.”

Even closer to Britain, a few dozen miles from the English South Coast’s languishing property market, Jersey’s chief government statistician Dr Duncan Gibaut said property prices had risen 7% and the worst scenario to which homeowners and investors in Jersey might look forward in the coming months would be a period of “stabilising” house values. “Prices are still rising but at a lower annual rate,” said Dr Gibaut.

A stone’s throw away from Jersey, residential property prices in Guernsey were mixed, with small apartments falling in value by up to 17%, according to the island’s Policy Council. However, at the same time the price of houses - representing 60% of residential property sales - were up a fraction at 0.1%. “From what we have heard,” said Howard Bilton of Sovereign Group, “that buoyancy at the wealthier end of the market comes from a steady stream of new interest from the UK mainland.”

In the Isle of Man, property prices last year increased by 4% and this year are “holding steady” according to Chrystals estate agents, the leading commentator on Manx property trends.

In Geneva, housing demand hit a new peak when the apartment vacancy rate fell to between 0.25% and 0.5% last year and it will continue to hold firm this year, according to “Swiss Issues Real Estate 2009,” a report on Swiss housing published by bank Credit Suisse earlier this year. In addition, the international estate agents Savills have recently published extensive research on the residential market in Geneva, concluding: “The Geneva market is expected to plateau, but not decrease during 2009.”

For many months now, 20% of all new business at our London office has been from wealthy individuals looking to move offshore to escape what they expect to be increasingly harsh tax rises. Very often, these clients are looking to take their businesses with them

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