Rich Democrats have started snapping up luxurious London homes to escape America after Donald Trump’s landslide election victory.
Buying agents have noticed an uptick in interest from wealthy Americans who wish to buy property in London as a ‘safety net’ for Trump’s return to the White House.
In just two days, Becky Fatemi, executive partner at Sotheby’s International Realty, said she got five calls from wealthy Americans wanting to move following the election.
‘That’s people saying, “he’s here, and he’s here for the next four years, and I don’t want to be, so these are the dates that we’re flying over”. All of those five are coming here within the next week,’ Ms Fatemi told the Telegraph on the weekend.
Marco Previero, director at corporate relocation business R3Location, said that London is a desired location for wealthy Democrats who feel it is ‘more aligned to Democratic values’ because of the left-leaning Labour government.
Rich Democrats have started snapping up luxurious London homes to escape America after Donald Trump’s landslide election victory
In just two days, Becky Fatemi (pictured), executive partner at Sotheby’s International Realty, said she got five calls from Americans wanting to move following the election
This was making London a ‘safe haven’ for those unhappy with Trump’s election win, according to Mr Previero.
He added that R3 has seen double the request from Americans looking to buy in London over last two months because they are looking for a ‘safety net’ from a Trump presidency.
According to Mr Previero, 20 clients – each spending between £2million and £20million ($2.5million and $25million) on their second homes – have already enquired about R3’s services.
Ms Fatemi also said her team received 30 per cent more enquiries from American buyers hoping to acquire a UK property in the last two months compared to the same period in 2023.
She said one American family landed in the UK on Thursday, just one day after the election results were announced.
The family is staying in an Airbnb while they are looking for a property to rent – with a large budget of £70,000 ($90,000) – as well as schools for their three children to start at in January.
Particularly high in demand are luxurious rental properties because clients want to make the move across the pond fast and avoid the enormous stamp duty bills foreigners are hit with after purchasing expensive properties, Ms Fatemi said.
Under Chancellor Rachel Reeves’s Budget which saw an extra 2pc added to the additional homes stamp duty surcharge, a foreigner buying a £10million ($13million) second home could be hit with a tax bill of more than £1.8million ($2.3million).
Will Watson, who is heading buying agency The Buying Solution, said he is currently working with five different American families hoping to leave the political situation in the US by searching for a new home in London worth more than £10million.
Marco Previero (pictured), director at corporate relocation business R3Location, said that London is a desired locations for wealthy Democrats because they feel it is ‘more aligned to Democratic values’ because of the left-leaning Labour government
Mr Previero added that R3 has seen double the request from Americans looking to buy in London over last two months because they are looking for a ‘safety net’ from a Trump presidency
He added that he also had a further six enquiries by other families.
Mr Watson told the Telegraph: ‘Trump is the straw that breaks the camel’s back. Americans are saying, “do you know what? I just couldn’t live under another one of his terms”.’
This comes after a host of American celebrities promised they would leave the US if Trump won. Numerous stars have already swapped the US for the UK in recent months over fears for the political landscape, abortion rights and gun violence.
Actress Minnie Driver, 54, told The Times of London in July that she had returned to the UK after nearly three decades of living in Los Angeles.
And at the time, she revealed that if Trump were to be re-elected, she would have a hard time returning to America.
‘If I lived in a red [Republican] state, no, I couldn’t [return],’ she said. ‘But living in California, you are somewhat insulated.
‘But do you want to go and live in a bubble? Do you run away from the fire or do you go back and help?’
British star Sophie Turner, 28, told Harper’s Bazaar last month that she realized she had to ‘get the f*** out’ of America due to gun violence and the overturning of Roe v Wade.
The Game of Thrones alum had been living in the states with Joe Jonas and their two children Willa and Delphine. She returned to her native UK in the wake of their acrimonious split last year.
Others have quit in recent months for the benefit of their children, including Ryan Gosling and Eva Mendes, while others including Hugh Jackman and Renee Zellweger are reportedly weighing up a relocation.
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