Nigel Farage built £4million property portfolio over a decade - yet only declared two of the five properties to Parliament

Nigel Farage, the leader of Reform UK, has amassed a £4 million mortgage-free property portfolio over the past decade, according to newly revealed Land Registry documents. Despite this substantial financial interest, he has only declared two of the five properties to Parliament, raising concerns about compliance with disclosure rules. The properties, located in Kent, Essex, and Surrey, were acquired by Farage starting in 2017. Four of the five were purchased in cash, following the United Kingdom’s official departure from the European Union. His primary residence is a five-bedroom home in Surrey, bought for £1.42 million in May 2024. He also maintains a secondary residence in Clacton, which was purchased by his wife, Laure Ferrari, for £885,000 in November 2024. A third property in Kent was previously shared with his ex-wife, Kirsten, and is still under his ownership following their divorce. His daughter, Isabelle, resides there with an unidentified male companion. Farage also owns two beachfront properties along the Kent coastline and a small parcel of land adjacent to one of these properties. All of these holdings are managed through his company, Thorn in the Side Ltd. However, only two properties, his Surrey home and one of the Kent beachfront residences, are listed on his official register of interests. This discrepancy has prompted scrutiny into whether his actions constitute a breach of parliamentary guidelines. Under current rules, MPs are not obligated to disclose properties owned by spouses or those used by family members. This exemption applies to his Kent property, though it remains unclear whether rental income is generated from it. Additionally, properties where rent exceeds £10,000 annually must be declared. Farage explained that he did not list the beachfront property because it is held via his company, which is registered separately on the declaration form. Farage has defended his disclosures, stating he acted with “an abundance of caution” and that everything was verified by the parliamentary registrar. A spokesperson for Reform UK added that all declarations were properly reviewed. However, former Chancellor Sir Jeremy Hunt, who discloses seven properties owned by his company, expressed concern, noting that transparency is essential to avoid perceptions of impropriety. Nicholas Allen, an expert on the MPs’ Code of Conduct from the University of London, emphasized that the standards set by the code require MPs to err on the side of caution when registering their interests. Failure to do so can lead to investigations. This sentiment aligns with broader discussions around the need for greater transparency among politicians, particularly those in positions of influence. As of the latest reports, Farage ranks as the second-highest earner among MPs, with nearly £2 million in earnings from outside interests since becoming Clacton’s representative in 2024. While his team insists that all necessary disclosures have been made, the controversy surrounding his property holdings continues to draw public and political attention.