Asked by: Madeleine Moon (Labour - Bridgend)
Question to the Department for Exiting the European Union :
To ask the Secretary of State for Exiting the European Union, what steps he is taking to ensure that British citizens with properties in EU member states maintain their rights in the event of the UK leaving the EU without a deal.
Answered by James Duddridge
All EU Member States are bound by Article 1 of Protocol 1 to the European Convention on Human Rights, which obliges them to respect property rights. This includes those who own property, own shares in a property and those who own a property and let it to tenants. UK national’s right to sell their existing property in the EU will remain unchanged and the property tax they pay on their properties will not be affected by the UK leaving the EU.
Some Member States have laws which govern property and land purchasing that differentiate between their own citizens, EU citizens and Third Country Nationals when purchasing property. Individuals considering purchasing a property in an EU Member State should check with local authorities to confirm how these laws apply to them.