A life less taxing

Rich London-based non-doms looking for a more tax-friendly address may be attracted to Belvedere House on the island of Guernsey, one of the most prestigious homes to come on to the market in the Channel Islands for many years. This handsome Palladian-style mansion is being auctioned on 12 June with a guide price of £5 million.

It’s a fine house for entertaining, with its stunning clifftop location and sweeping views of St Peter Port harbour and the sea beyond. This intriguing 200-year-old property, once part of a fort complex, with its military tunnels, stabling and garages, is being sold off by the island’s government.

Guernsey’s benign tax regime and relaxed “continental” lifestyle are big draws for buyers. And you do not have to be super-rich to buy there.

The island has a two-tier housing market that allows outsiders to buy property and become residents for tax purposes. While the vast majority of homes are reserved for the 23,000 locals, there is a register of 1,700 “open-market” properties. Normally there are about 100 sales a year.

“The entry price is about £600,000 for an apartment and, unlike Jersey, where buyers are vetted, there’s no minimum wealth requirement,” says local estate agent Matthew Henry of Swoffers. “If you pay the price, you’re in. And with several daily flights to London — less than an hour away — it’s a manageable commute.”

For auction details, call Swoffers on 01481 711766.