The UK property market is very hot these days and many overseas people are looking to buy a UK property. However, many people do not have a good understanding of the basics of the UK property market, such as what costs are incurred during the holding phase of a property once it has been purchased? Therefore, in this article, the editors of UK Property will outline what costs are involved in owning a property in the UK?

　　1. Council Tax

　　The council property tax in the UK is based on the market value of properties in the UK as determined by the Valuation Office in April 1991 and is charged by local authorities. The higher the value of the property, the higher the amount of council tax will be. Typically, council property tax is between 0.05% and 0.4% of the current house price.

　　The council property tax is determined by local authorities in the UK based on the April 1991 market value as assessed by the UK Property Value Assessment Agency and is proportional to the value and size of the home. The amount of council tax varies depending on the value of the property and is generally between 0.05% and 0.4% of the current property price, which can cost between £900 and £2,000 per year.

　　2. Ground rent charges

　　In the UK, there are two types of property ownership: freehold and leasehold. Typically, villas are usually freehold, while flats are leasehold. If you buy a property that is freehold, then you have absolute ownership and do not need to pay ground rent. However, if you are buying a flat then you will need to pay ground rent as it is a leasehold property.

　　Ground rent is charged annually and depends on the location and type of property, ranging from £300-500 per year depending on the size of the property and the type of flat.

　　3、Property Management Fee

　　Property management fees are usually calculated based on the actual size of the property and can vary depending on the facilities and location of the property. For example, if a property is equipped with a 24-hour concierge service, gym, swimming pool, etc., the property management fee will increase accordingly. This fee is similar to property fees in China and is mainly used to maintain the building, its facilities and the management of the community. However, due to the relatively high cost of property management in the UK, it generally ranges between £3.50 and £8 per square foot per year.

　　4. House rental agency fees

　　If you choose to let and manage your purchased property with an agent, a service fee of 10% of the gross annual rental income of the property (including 20% VAT) will generally be charged. This agency fee is deducted from the rent and is only payable once a tenant has been found, so you do not have to worry about this money being wasted.

　　5. Personal income tax

　　If you rent out a property and receive rent, the net income from the rental will be subject to personal income tax at a rate of between 20% and 45% depending on your income.