Buying property in a limited company - Do I need one company per property or just one?
Liability Protection Using a company to hold your property investments inherently lowers the associated risks, providing a protective barrier around your personal assets and credit score. However, the protection is maximised when each property is placed in its own company. If something goes wrong with a property, having it in a separate legal entity means the lender can only access the assets within that specific company, plus potentially your personal assets if there’s a personal guarantee. Flexibility Owning properties through individual companies provides unmatched flexibility. For instance, if you wish to sell 30 shares of a property to a friend, it’s straightforward if the property is in its own company. In contrast, if multiple properties are held in one company, selling shares would mean selling a portion of the entire portfolio. Disadvantages The more Ltd companies you have, the more associated companies you have, which means the more you are impacted by the Corporate rate thresholds for Corporation Tax The more Ltd companies you have, the more accounting fees you have, and, the more administrative burden as a director e.g. filing confirmation statements and accounts annually Check out the video to see Mark and Neil's take on it !