Why Selling a Block of Flats Through an SPV Can Be More Beneficial

A complete guide on why selling a block of flats in the UK through an SPV can save time, reduce tax, increase buyer demand, and create a smoother sale. Learn how SPVs work, why UK and Yorkshire investors prefer them, and how this structure can help landlords achieve a faster, more profitable exit.

11/13/20253 min read

When selling a block of flats in the UK, one of the most effective yet often overlooked strategies is completing the transaction through a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV). An SPV is a limited company created to hold property, and it has become increasingly popular among landlords, freeholders, and investors across Yorkshire and the wider UK. Selling through an SPV can offer major advantages in terms of tax efficiency, speed, and simplicity - making it a highly attractive option for both sellers and buyers.

.What Is an SPV and Why It Matters When Selling a Block of Flats?

An SPV (Special Purpose Vehicle) is a limited company set up solely to own a property or portfolio. When you sell a block of flats through an SPV, you sell the shares of the company, not the physical property. This creates a cleaner transaction structure, reduces legal complications and opens your sale to a wider pool of serious UK property investors.

.Tax Advantages of Selling a Block of Flats Through an SPV

One of the biggest reasons landlords choose an SPV sale is tax efficiency. When a buyer purchases a block of flats via a share sale, they may be able to reduce Stamp Duty Land Tax (SDLT) liability, which makes your asset more attractive. Sellers may also benefit from more favourable Capital Gains Tax (CGT) treatment depending on how their SPV is structured. For many investors across Yorkshire and the UK, these tax efficiencies create a win-win scenario that makes SPV transactions far more appealing than traditional sales.

.Streamlined Due Diligence and Clear Financial Records

Buyers love SPVs because they provide a clean financial history. When well-maintained, an SPV offers transparent accounts, rental income records and expense history. This makes due diligence faster and gives investors confidence in the performance of the block. For sellers, it means less back-and-forth, fewer document requests and a more predictable transaction. A tidy SPV is one of the strongest selling points you can offer when marketing a block of apartments in the UK.

.Why UK Investors Prefer SPVs for Property Purchases

Across the UK property market, especially among portfolio landlords and investment companies, SPVs are now the preferred method of acquisition. Investors like them because they simplify accounting, future tax planning and refinancing. For overseas investors buying in Yorkshire or the UK, SPVs offer an additional layer of structure and security. This increased demand means that if your property is already in an SPV, your potential buyer pool is instantly larger — and often more serious.

.SPVs Are Ideal for Complex or Multi-Unit Blocks

If you own a freehold block of apartments, mixed-use building, multiple flats, HMOs, or a portfolio of units, selling through an SPV is almost always more efficient. It keeps the entire structure intact and allows investors to purchase a fully operational asset with no need to restructure the building’s legal ownership. For blocks across Yorkshire, where many properties include mixed layouts or long-standing tenants, SPVs offer a simpler, more marketable solution.

.Should You Sell Your Block of Flats Through an SPV?

If you want a faster sale, access to more buyers, potential tax efficiencies and minimal disruption to tenants, then selling your block of flats through an SPV is one of the strongest routes available in the UK property market. Whether your block is located in Yorkshire or elsewhere in the UK, the advantages are clear: cleaner transactions, greater investor demand, and the potential for a more profitable disposal.

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