Gulf and Indian investors bulk-buy property in prime London

Three high-value property deals totaling nearly £80 million were finalized in London over the summer, according to The National. Investors from the Gulf and Asia bought multiple properties, reflecting a surge in rental values amid a decline in available investment properties in prime neighborhoods. The purchases qualify for a lower tax rate of 5 percent due to being classified as non-residential transactions.

Two of the deals were in Mayfair, involving Gulf buyers who acquired apartments in Curzon Street and Conduit Street for around £67 million each. An Indian investor purchased nine apartments in Notting Hill for £11 million. In contrast, only one bulk investment deal worth £16 million occurred in London during the first half of 2025.

This follows a separate sale of a Chelsea mansion by property developer Nick Candy to hedge fund manager Suneil Setiya for £265 million. The Notting Hill deal, conducted by Beauchamp Estates, involved selling nine out of 19 apartments in the Pembridge development, a Victorian building with a large garden. Rental values for London properties have reached a five-year high, with average weekly rents for houses and mansions at £4,177, up 67.15 percent from £2,499 in 2025, and luxury apartments and penthouses at £1,957, up 15.12 percent from £1,700 in 2025.

Middle Eastern and US applicants have shown increased interest in renting luxury homes in London, while the number of UK applicants has slightly decreased. Beauchamp Estates' managing director, Jeremy Gee, attributes the rise in rental values to strong demand from wealthy tenants from various regions, coupled with low void periods due to well-maintained properties in desirable areas.

Speculation over potential tax changes, such as a mansion tax on homes above £2 million, introduces uncertainty to the property market, potentially affecting prices and negotiations.