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London & Surrey · Overseas landlords

UK property management for owners living in Spain

This guide is for British owners living in Madrid, Barcelona, Marbella or elsewhere in Spain, and Spanish residents who hold residential investment property in West London or Surrey.

Hermens Property is an independent, solicitor-led estate agency. We manage residential properties in West London and Surrey, rather than operating an office in Spain.

A familiar introduction

Español

¿Vive en España y tiene una vivienda en Londres o Surrey?

Hermens puede ayudarle con el alquiler y la gestión de su vivienda en Inglaterra: inquilinos, mantenimiento, cobro de rentas e informes periódicos. Trabajamos con inmuebles del oeste de Londres y Surrey. Los contratos y la comunicación habitual se realizan en inglés.

These short introductions are provided for convenience. Our ordinary working language and property management contracts are English; translation or interpretation can be arranged separately if needed.

A UK managing agent when you are overseas

A full management arrangement can include marketing and finding suitable tenants, organising the tenancy documentation, collecting rent, coordinating maintenance, arranging inspections and keeping owners informed. The exact services, approvals, expenditure limits and reporting will be agreed in our written terms.

Tenants & rent

A UK contact point for enquiries, tenancy administration and rent collection, with landlord statements showing income and expenditure.

Repairs & oversight

Local access arrangements, contractor coordination, inspections and agreed authority for urgent repairs.

Compliance & records

Assistance with safety certificates, deposit administration, licensing checks and records, while you remain the legal landlord.

What owners of UK property living in Spain should consider

Understanding the UK rental market

British lettings are ordinarily advertised in pounds per calendar month (pcm), not as an annual rental figure. Assess rent against possible void periods, maintenance, service charges and management costs before converting the result into euros.

Advertised rent is not a guaranteed net return: void periods, repairs, management fees, insurance and, for some flats, service charges can affect the result. A realistic market appraisal should reflect the property and the local comparable evidence.

Ownership, leasehold & buildings

If you are familiar with Spain's comunidad de propietarios, do not assume that English leasehold and freeholder relationships follow the same rules. Check the actual lease, service-charge arrangements and any letting restrictions.

A property's building managing agent and the letting agent serving its owner perform different functions. We can help identify who should receive service-charge demands, arrange building access and deal with day-to-day tenancy matters.

Letting under English law

From 1 May 2026, most private assured residential tenancies in England are assured periodic tenancies. Landlords must follow the applicable rules on tenancy information, rent increases and possession, alongside obligations concerning deposits, safety and licensing where relevant.

Read the current government landlord guidance

A workable remote handover

If you divide your time between Spain and the UK, distinguish a property kept for personal use from one offered as a long-term tenancy; insurance, occupancy and tax arrangements may differ.

We would also check property access, any existing tenancy, lender and insurance requirements, maintenance history, deposit details and available compliance certificates.

UK tax and the Non-resident Landlords Scheme

If your usual place of abode is outside the UK, the Non-resident Landlords Scheme may apply to rental income from your UK property. A UK letting agent operating the scheme normally has to account to HMRC for basic-rate tax on relevant rental income after allowable deductions, unless HMRC has authorised payment without deduction.

Approval to receive rental income without deduction does not itself remove any UK tax liability. Depending on your circumstances, the income may also need consideration in Spain. Individual tax residence, declarations and double-taxation relief should be checked with qualified advisers in the relevant countries.

The rules can apply even where the UK rent is paid into a British bank account. Hermens Property is an estate agency and management business, not a law firm, and does not provide personal legal, UK tax or overseas tax advice.

HMRC's Non-resident Landlords Scheme guidance

A common question from owners in Spain

Can Hermens handle repairs while I am living in Spain?

Under a suitable management agreement, repairs can be coordinated locally with agreed authority limits and escalation procedures. We would discuss those limits before taking instructions.

Managing a property in London or Surrey

Our work is focused on West London and Surrey, including Notting Hill, Kensington and Chelsea, Ealing, Weybridge and surrounding areas. We can start with a remote conversation about the property's location, current tenancy, rental potential and level of support needed.