Britain and London have never been more popular with Hongkongers. Since the British National Overseas scheme was launched in 2021, enabling HK-ers and their families to apply for BNO visas, more and more people (currently the figure is over 80,000 and is expected to reach 300,000) have availed themselves of it. This means they can live, work and/or study in the UK. Applications can be for two-and-a-half year or five-year stays, with the option of extending/renewing indefinitely once you’ve arrived. And after five years have passed, there’s the option of applying for permanent residency and citizenship. Successful applicants have almost all the same freedoms as nationals but are restricted when it comes to access to benefits (though it’s possible for them to apply for access later on). And as visa schemes go, it comes in at the very affordable end, ranging from £180 to £250. More costly, however, is the medical surcharge (ranging from £1560 to £3120) which enables applicants to be eligible for NHS care and treatment. 

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When you’re faced with the prospect of selling your London home, it can seem like it comes with such an array of associated tasks, it’s hard to think straight. While surely all of us are now tired of the cliché about the process being up there with divorce and bereavement, it’s certainly not for the faint of heart. And perhaps the first thing we need to consider is this: of all the available ways of selling up, which one should we go for? 

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