UK inheritance tax doesn’t stop at Dover — and that catches plenty of overseas ski property buyers (and owners) off guard. The good news is you don’t need a complicated strategy to reduce the risk of nasty surprises. You need a clear view of your exposure, a liquidity plan, and a joined-up approach that fits your wider finances.
In this SnowOnly + conversation, Jake Roscoe sits down with Mike from Bentley Reid, a UK-regulated international wealth manager who advises clients with global lifestyles and second homes. They cover what UK inheritance tax can mean for overseas property, where people get caught out, and the practical steps that can protect your family.
Watch the episode here first, then use the three moves underneath as your checklist.
If you only read one bit
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If you have UK exposure, an overseas home can still sit within the inheritance tax picture.
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The biggest practical risk is cash: property is illiquid, but tax and admin can be time-sensitive.
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A simple protection plan is: get clear on exposure → solve liquidity → make sure it fits your wider plan.
Beyond locks and alarms: protecting what the property means to your family
This episode isn’t about alarms, buildings cover, or anything physical. It’s about protecting the wider consequences of owning an overseas home — particularly what happens if you die unexpectedly and your family is left dealing with tax, probate, multiple jurisdictions, and a valuable asset that can’t be turned into cash overnight.
This applies whether you’re:
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about to buy, and want to avoid unintended consequences, or
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already own, and want to make sure your planning matches what you’ve built.
Move 1: Get clear on your UK exposure before you buy (or before another season passes)
The first trap is assumption. Many people think “it’s abroad, so it doesn’t count”. Mike stresses that, from a UK perspective, inheritance tax is about your estate, and that can include worldwide assets.
He also flags a nuance that matters for ski-home buyers: are you buying a second home while staying resident where you are now, or are you planning to move? Those are very different situations, and it’s easy to wander into complexity by assuming a property purchase automatically changes your status.
What to take from this:
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Don’t treat tax as something to “sort later” once you’ve found the perfect place.
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Take a step back early and understand the consequences of adding another overseas property to your wider asset picture.
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If you’re already an owner, treat this as a prompt to review your position — not something only new buyers need to worry about.
Move 2: Plan for the “liquidity gap”
Even when people understand the rules, the real-world problem is often cash.
An overseas property is a classic illiquid asset. If something happens to you, your family may need money at short notice — and overseas assets can add friction through:
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multi-jurisdiction admin and legal steps for executors
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probate delays
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simple currency and transfer considerations when payments need to be made
Without liquidity, families can feel forced into rushed decisions — including selling the property under pressure.
Move 3: Use life insurance (written in trust) to create fast cash for IHT
This is the most practical “move” in the video.
Mike describes life insurance as a simple way to create liquidity quickly — potentially within a couple of weeks — which is exactly what an overseas property can’t do. He also explains why structure matters: written in trust, it sits outside the estate, so it’s designed to help beneficiaries without adding to the inheritance tax bill.
He also gives a sensible rule of thumb on matching the policy to your plan:
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keeping the property long-term → cover that lasts as long as the liability exists
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likely sale in 10–20 years → cover for that period
A quick scenario using the video’s numbers
Mike uses a simple illustration: a €1,000,000 property could imply a rough inheritance tax liability of around €400,000 at 40% (allowances can change the final figure depending on your wider circumstances). The point is the same either way: the liability can be large, and the property doesn’t help your family pay it quickly.
The myths this episode clears up
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“Foreign property escapes UK inheritance tax.” Don’t assume that. If you have UK exposure, overseas assets may still matter.
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“If I move abroad, I’m instantly outside the UK net.” It can be more complex than people expect, so it’s worth getting clarity early if moving is on the table.
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“I’ll deal with it later.”Mike’s view is simple: acting sooner tends to mean more options, especially when insurance is part of the solution.
Next step: download the 5-Step Ski Property Guide
This episode covers one part of owning overseas successfully: protecting your family from the knock-on effects of inheritance tax and illiquidity.
If you want the broader checklist — the stuff that regularly catches buyers and owners out across the whole journey — download our free 5-Step Ski Property Guide. It covers the big moving parts you need to think about before you commit (and the things worth reviewing if you already own), so you can enjoy the upside of owning abroad without sleepwalking into avoidable problems.
→ Download the free 5-Step Ski Property Guide
When you download it, the enquiry comes straight to us — and if you want, we’ll point you towards the right next step.
