"We are committed to protecting the integrity and reputation of the UK property market and this register would be a valuable measure to increase transparency and investor confidence … the extension of transparency requirements, which UK owners are already subject to, levels the playing field and means we would know who owns and controls UK property wherever they are from," UK Business Minister Margot James said on Wednesday.
According to the Wednesday statement released by the British government, the total amount of property, worth over 180 million pounds ($224 million), has been involved in corruption cases since 2004, with the majority of suspects using overseas companies to hide real owners.
The UK government will launch a special research in order to access the potential impact of the foreign property public register on the investment and corporate sector.
According to the government, the United Kingdom will be the first country to have such a register.
