FAQ 004 | Do You Need to Travel to the UK in Person to Buy a Property?

Author: SJW Research Intelligence

Brand: SJW UK Properties

Do you need to travel to the UK in person to buy a property?

The answer is: not necessarily. This is one of the questions overseas clients have asked us most often since SJW UK Properties was founded in 2015. Today, the great majority of overseas clients can complete the whole purchase remotely. Whether you travel to the UK is now more a matter of personal preference than a requirement of the process itself.

The pandemic changed how UK property transactions are conducted

Before 2020 our answer would have been rather different. At that time, some UK lenders required overseas buyers to attend a mortgage interview in the UK in person, and many law firms preferred to verify proof of identity and address face to face. A client who could not travel usually had to find an approved professional in their own country to certify the documents. Travelling to the UK to deal with the formalities of a purchase was therefore fairly common.

The pandemic reshaped the whole industry

From 2020 onwards, lenders, law firms, developers and the wider property industry graduallybuilt far more capable online services. Many lenders dropped the requirement for overseas clients to attend a UK mortgage interview, more and more law firms began to accept video ID verification, and electronic signature, video viewings, online communication and remote exchange steadily became standard practice.

Which stages can be handled remotely today?

For the great majority of overseas buyers, the initial consultation, video viewings, preparing the purchase strategy, the solicitor’s legal work, signing documents online, paying the purchase money by international transfer, and completion and registration of title can all be handled remotely.

When would we suggest coming to the UK?

If time allows, we still encourage clients to visit in person. The character of a neighbourhood, local amenities, transport links, schools and the atmosphere of different areas are difficult to judge at a distance. Many clients revise their choice once they have seen an area for themselves.

We have acted for clients who have never set foot in the UK

Since 2015 we have indeed acted for clients who, from the first enquiry through to purchase, completion, lettings management and even a resale several years later, never came to the UK at all. Such clients are not the majority, but their experience shows what is possible: with thorough planning, a compliant process and a professional team, the entire life cycle of a UK property, from purchase through lettings management to eventual sale, can be managed remotely.

In business since 2015: the real concern is not distance, but trust

When clients first contact us, many ask: “We are overseas, and we are placing a very large sum in your hands. Is it really safe?” We have always believed that the value of a property adviser lies not in recommending properties, but in coordinating the developer, the solicitor, the mortgage adviser and the managing agent throughout the transaction, so that a client abroad can complete the purchase with confidence.

SJW Insight

Since 2015 we have watched UK property transactions move from an almost entirely offline process to the highly digital one we see today. Whether a client chooses to travel to the UK or to complete the purchase entirely at a distance, we provide the same professional support. What shapes the experience of buying is not where the client happens to be, but whether they have a team they can rely on.

Last updated: July 2026

Disclaimer: This article is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, tax, financial or investment advice. The actual process may vary depending on the type of property, the lender, the solicitor’s requirements and individual circumstances. Please rely on the requirements applicable at the time of the transaction and the advice of the relevant professionals.