In modern political theory, the United Kingdom is often regarded as a country of countries. Therefore, it should not be surprising to learn that the United Kingdom has three property systems that cater to the jurisdiction of the three devolved national administrative entities – England and Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland. The property law systems in all three national administrative entities in the United Kingdom follow the tenets of Common Law system. However, there are major differences. Scottish property law system has its roots in Feudal Law system. On the other hand, the property law system of England and Wales has its roots in Roman Law and Northern Ireland are similar to the laws of England and Wales. Although the United Kingdom is still a constitutional monarchy, the idea that all property is owned by the reigning monarch has been long shelved in the United Kingdom. Private possession underlines the basis of UK property laws and do not just govern the possession but also deal with the owner’s right to use.

UK Property laws make a clear distinction between two types – real and individual property. This is stark contrast to the Civil Law system where the distinction is made between movable and immovable. Real property can only have limited ownership while individual can have absolute ownership. Rent, dower, or escheat is not applicable to personal property under the UK laws. The transfer of ownership of real property can happen only through a notarized deed. Individual property can be transferred from one person to another without getting a notarized deed. However, real property is automatically inherited by the heir after the demise of individual owner. On the other hand, individual property has to be divided as per the laws laid down in the Statute of Distributions.

Under the English property law system, personal property can be acquired through several means including occupancy, invention, or by transfer, either by the act of the law or by the act of the party. UK Property laws come under the ambit of civil courts. Therefore, any disputes regarding real or individual can be settled only by civil courts in the United Kingdom. The jurisdiction of civil courts is limited to regions within the boundaries specified by the national administrative divisions.

The United Kingdom is home to plenty of important historical figures and famous personalities. These include notable writers, such as William Shakespeare and Sir Arthur Conan Doyle; popular musicians, such as The Beatles and the Spice Girls; and much-loved sports teams, such as football’s Manchester United. There are also numerous places to visit when in the United Kingdom, such as Stonehenge in Wiltshire, the Eden Project, the Canterbury Cathedral, the Giant’s Causeway and Oxford and Cambridge universities.

The commercial real estate industry in the United Kingdom is receiving much buzz in recent years. There are several factors that contribute to the real estate boom in the U.K. The high rate of immigration to the country, specifically from Asia, Africa and other countries of the European Union, has called on numerous individuals and companies to invest in business undertakings in the U.K. Aside from this, the U.K. is also one of the top ten tourist destinations in the world, with Heathrow Airport being the busiest airport worldwide. All these have called the attention of various local and international businesses to invest in commercial real estate in the U.K.

Interest in the commercial property market has increased in recent years. Along with this, rent and the value of these commercial properties have also increased considerably. This makes the market very attractive to local investors, especially in metropolitan areas, such as London, Edinburgh and Glasgow. Various financial institutions are creating funds that will enable different local investors to acquire commercial property in the U.K., further promoting the commercial real estate market in the country.

Local investors are not the only ones getting attracted to the commercial real estate market in the United Kingdom. A lot of foreign investors, specifically from the United States, are spending their hard-earned money in order to purchase a significant amount of commercial property in the United Kingdom. One of the reasons for the large number of foreign investors is the high returns of investments that commercial properties in the U.K. are able to generate. In general, there is a higher return of investment that one can receive from property investments than from government or corporate shares.

Aside from this, there is an intrinsic quality in the commercial real estate industry in the United Kingdom that makes it more appealing to investors. In the United Kingdom, tenants typically pay for the insurance of the said property and for any repairs necessary. The leases to commercial properties in the U.K. are also generally longer compared to other countries in Europe. All these factors make commercial property in the U.K. a relatively low risk, but high paying, investment.