Demand for Property Investment Companies is Booming – How Landlords Can Benefit

If you’ve decided you’ve had enough of being a landlord, now’s the time to pay attention to an incredible trend: buyer demand for property companies is skyrocketing.

Investors are increasingly interested in buying property companies as a whole, rather than individual properties, and the reason is simple – the tax outcomes are immensely different.

Let me break down why buyers are so keen on this approach and how working with my team at Landlord Sales Agency can connect you with the right buyers ready to buy you out and give you that fast exit and retirement you’ve been yearning for.

The SDLT Advantage That’s Driving Demand

One of the biggest expenses property buyers face is Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT). When building a property portfolio, the SDLT costs can be overwhelming, especially with the recent surcharge increase to 5% on additional properties. However, when buyers acquire a property company as a whole, they’re only subject to 0.5% Stamp Duty on the company purchase, not the high SDLT rates on each individual property. This difference is driving a wave of interest from serious investors who are looking to acquire property companies as a going concern.

Consider a property company holding assets worth £3 million:

Buying Properties Directly: If a buyer were to purchase these properties individually, the SDLT cost would total *£421,250

Buying a Property Company: Acquiring the company that holds the properties would only incur 0.5% Stamp Duty, meaning a tax bill of just £15,000.

That’s a saving of *£406,250 — money that buyers can keep or reinvest into their portfolio.

For many investors, this SDLT saving makes buying a property company an extremely attractive option, which is why so many are turning to Landlord Sales Agency to find opportunities just like this. For landlords ready to sell, this demand offers a unique chance to sell at a premium to eager buyers. *SDLT technical calculations can be found below the form at the end of this article.

Why Selling a Property Company is Ideal for Landlords

In addition, selling your property company, rather than the properties individually, can be a far smoother process with benefits that go beyond buyer interest. Here’s why it’s worth considering:

Increased Buyer Demand: Investors looking for SDLT savings are driving up demand for property companies. This means more competitive offers for well-structured portfolios, and often a quicker sale.

Streamlined Sales Process: Selling the company as a whole means you’re not dealing with the hassle of transferring each property individually, renegotiating mortgages, or managing multiple transactions. Instead, the buyer takes on the entire business, making the process far simpler.

Potential for Higher Returns: Buyers save significantly on SDLT, and because of this, they may be willing to pay more to acquire the company. For landlords, this means potentially securing a better overall sale price than if you were to sell each property separately.

How Landlord Sales Agency Connects You with Serious Buyers

At Landlord Sales Agency, my team and I work with a network of over 30,000 buyers. These are serious investors, and many of those joining our list recently see the value in buying a property business as a whole, rather than dealing with high SDLT on individual properties. They understand the tax advantages and are motivated to move quickly when the right opportunity comes along.

If you’re a landlord with a property company, my team wants to connect you directly with buyers who are ready to invest. By working with committed investors, we make the sales process faster, easier, and more profitable for landlords who want to exit the market or reallocate their capital.

If you’re considering selling and have a portfolio held within a Limited Company, now’s the time to take advantage of this high demand. Investors are actively seeking property companies, and with the SDLT savings they can achieve, you’re in a strong position to secure a profitable, hassle-free sale.

Get in touch with me at Landlord Sales Agency today by completing the form below.

We’ll guide you through the process, introduce you to our extensive pool of buyers, and help you get the best possible price for your property company. Let’s work together to make the most of this market trend and achieve a smooth, successful sale.

*SDLT technical calculations as follows …

Scenario 1: Buying Five High End HMO’s Directly

For a £3 million property portfolio, SDLT would be calculated as follows:

1. £0 to £250,000 at 0%:
   • £250,000 x 0% = £0
2. £250,001 to £925,000 at 5%:
   • (£925,000 – £250,000) = £675,000
   • £675,000 x 5% = £33,750
3. £925,001 to £1,500,000 at 10%:
   • (£1,500,000 – £925,000) = £575,000
   • £575,000 x 10% = £57,500
4. £1,500,001 to £3,000,000 at 12%:
   • (£3,000,000 – £1,500,000) = £1,500,000
   • £1,500,000 x 12% = £180,000

Subtotal (before 5% surcharge) = £0 + £33,750 + £57,500 + £180,000 = £271,250

5. Applying the 5% Surcharge on the Total Purchase Price:
   • £3,000,000 x 5% = £150,000

Total SDLT for buying the properties directly:

• £271,250 + £150,000 = £421,250

Scenario 2: Buying a Property Company as a Whole (0.5% Stamp Duty)

For a purchase of the property company itself, rather than individual properties, 0.5% Stamp Duty would apply to the total price of £3 million:

• £3,000,000 x 0.5% = £15,000

Final Comparison Table

Total Savings

By purchasing the property company as a whole, the buyer saves £406,250 in tax compared to buying each property individually.

This clearly demonstrates the advantage of structuring property sales through a Limited Company for buyers, and it’s a key reason why demand for property companies is so high.

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