Wealthy Democrats are rushing to get their hands on multi-million pound holes in London following Donald Trump’s victory in the US election.

Mr Trump’s election triumph this week has sparked renewed interest from ultra-wealthy Americans who want to buy prime UK property as a ‘safety net’ because they are not d agrees with the president-elect’s rhetoric, purchasing agents report.

Becky Fatemi, executive partner at Sotheby’s International Realty, said she received five calls in two days from wealthy Americans want to act in immediate response to the results of the American elections.

“It’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 we’re flying over.’ All these five will arrive here next week,” Ms Fatemi said.

For example, Ms. Fatemi is working with a family who arrived from the United States on Thursday, just a day after the election results were announced, and is staying in an Airbnb while she searches for a rental property with a budget of up to $70,000. £ per person. month. Parents are also looking for schools for their three children to start in January.

Over the past two months, inquiries to her team from US buyers looking in the UK have jumped 30% annually, Ms Fatemi said.

London, a “refuge”

Marco Previero, director of R3Location, a moving company, said wealthy Americans believe London is a haven “more aligned with Democratic values” thanks to the Labor government.

Mr Previero said: “London has always been seen as a safe haven, but it is even more so today with a more stable government that leans to the left. »

Requests for R3s from Americans buying in London have doubled in the past two months because they want a “safety net” against a Trump presidency, Mr. Previero said.

He has 20 clients inquiring about R3’s services for this reason, with each spending between £2m and £20m on second homes.

Mr. Previero said: “They see Trump as an aberration. The writing was on the wall. Now they will press the button.

Will Watson, director of The Buying Solution, a buying agency, said he was working with five separate families each looking to buy a house in London worth more than £10 million due to the situation politics in the United States, and that he had six other initial requests pending. steps.

Mr Watson said: “Trump is the straw that broke the camel’s back. The Americans say, “You know what? I simply couldn’t live under any more of his conditions.

“They’re worried about what Trump might do economically that might affect their businesses, because he’s very unpredictable. »

Demand is particularly strong for very high-end rental properties, as clients want to move quickly and the stamp duty for foreigners buying expensive properties is huge, Ms Fatemi said.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves’ decision to add a 2 additional rooms to the additional houses stamp duty surcharge in his first Budget means the tax bill for a foreigner buying a £10 million second home now stands at more than £1.8 million.

Ms Reeves’ plans to scrap the pro-tax regime rich “non-doms” have also pushed movers into the rental market – but that is not enough to deter them from the UK completely, Ms Fatemi added.