Buying UK property with Thai partner

[theprice01]

Hi everyone,
Have any of you before brought a U.K. property with a Thai partner, whilst residing in Thailand?
First thing I'll need is real good translator (writing Thai from English). And also would a Thai solicitor be needed to transfer money to uk or did you do it yourself?

Thoughts and experiences welcome

[Dannie Boy]

Are you going to buy the property and put it in joint names?

[theprice01]

No, she's providing most of the funds from the sale of some land. My bit is from savings and a small re-mortgage of my uk house

[Dannie Boy]

So is it going to be registered in your partners name?

[theprice01]

Yes, if my bank is ok with that. A percentage may have to be in my name to get the remortgage on my house.

[Khundon1975]

theprice01

What you should do, if you haven't already, is employ a solicitor in the UK to handle the transaction.
Wife and I did it back in 2001for MIL.
We did not need translator, as wife speaks perfect English and all was done over the phone with solicitor

We did not employ a Thai solicitor, as no need for one, what can they do, except take your money, plus they are a waste of time when it come to English law, IMHO.
Why would you give all your money to a Thai lawyer, when you can do the transfer yourself.

My wife transferred money to our English solicitors client account (which is protected) in UK, who did all the necessary legal searches ETC and he registered property ownership details at land registry in UK.

He also set up all utility bills (gas, electric, council tax and water payments), ETC on direct debits, as we were not going to be back in UK for several years.

I'm not sure, as you don't say, if your partner/wife has British citizenship, but that does not matter. Does she hold a UK bank account, or is money transfer going to your UK bank?
Just out of curiosity, If you are putting money into the property, why are you not going to be on the title deeds. I suspect that your mortgage company will insist that you hold some share in the property. But, as I have no knowledge on mortgages, I am only guessing on that one.
Are you going to be acting as a guarantor for this purchase, using the equity in your UK property?

Good Luck.

[PET]

As Khundon says you need a UK solicitor and there is absolutely no need to use any Thai based lawyer.
As you have a property in Uk and a mortgage I presume you must have used a solicitor - so why not use the same firm?
If you are topping up your mortgage then I presume there is sufficient equity available ( mortgage to value) and they would have no need for any security on the property your Thai partner is buying, regardless of your investing in it using the top up.
And that is all there is to it, so contact the UK solicitor and that firm will guide you through the whole thing - it really is that simple based upon the info you have given. Good luck

[theprice01]

Thanks Pet and Khundon.
Iv used the same solicitor in the uk for a few years, I just didn't want my partners' family thinking I was trying to pull the wool over anyone's eyes.
The main reason I'm reluctant to be on the title deeds is really due to tax planning, despite what certain elements of uk newspapers will have you believe landlords actually make very little margin on their buy-to-lets.

[Dieter78]

You could visit Jane from Chavalit & Partners (forum sponsor law firm in Hua Hin). I believe she is from the UK and specialises in property.

[PET]

You could visit Jane from Chavalit & Partners (forum sponsor law firm in Hua Hin). I believe she is from the UK and specialises in property.

I strongly suggest you go to a solicitor practicing in the UK - just check their costs before giving them the 'thumbs up"

[Bristolian]

^^ I agree, use a UK solicitor but check their prices.

I am at the age that I am no longer interested in buying in the UK but I have sold a couple of properties whilst living here in Thailand.

Visited my solicitor once (family solicitor with loads of good history) agreed the prices, signed over PoA and everything was handled. It's not cheap but neither is cleaning up if some idiot gets it wrong.

A UK solicitor should be able to provide the basic documents that need to be translated to give your partner's family the assurances that they need.

[theprice01]

I Visited my solicitor today while I'm in uk for a few weeks.
They said it would be tricky to get her on the deeds as the re mortgage of my house can only be in my name.
They did suggest a 'declaration of trust', which would secure her part of the investment, which I'm happy to do.
Prices (I think) have gone down a little since my last purchase, now possible to get a studio flat in the centre for under £160,000, rental value around £620