– What changes when you buy in a company

  – You own the property through the company’s shares, not in your name.

  – The company is a separate legal entity.

– Pros (why some choose a company)

  – Limited liability: your personal assets are safer if the business runs into trouble.

  – Easier to grow: you can bring in partners by selling shares.

  – Profits can stay in the company to reinvest (tax planning inside the company).

– Cons (why it can be tougher)

  – More admin: you must keep company books, file annual returns, and pay fees.

  – More expensive to borrow: banks may charge higher rates for companies.

  – Tax on the way out: when you take money out as dividends, in addition to the company tax.

  – Selling the property can be trickier and costlier.

– Tax basics in simple terms 

  – Rental income: taxed at the company’s rate (27%), not your personal rate.

  – Capital gains: the gain is taxed inside the company at a higher rate (80% of the gain) instead of 40%); taking profits out as dividends means dividends tax in            addition to company tax.

  – Deductions: companies can claim different business deductions (like depreciation) than individuals.

– Quick questions to ask before deciding

  – Do you plan to own many properties or reinvest profits inside the business?

  – Can you handle extra admin and higher borrowing costs?

  – What happens if you need to sell the property or switch to personal ownership later?