About this video
Selling a home in the Okanagan while living in the UK? Non-resident sellers face extra steps, including the CRA clearance certificate and withholding. Here are the costs to plan for so there are no surprises.
🇬🇧 Selling Property in the Okanagan from the UK? Avoid Costly Surprises! 🏔️🇨🇦
If you're an expat or property owner from England or the wider UK looking to sell real estate in British Columbia, the Canadian conveyancing process works quite differently than the UK system.
In this video, Sean Phillips (Chalet Sean on the ski hills & Captain Sean on Okanagan and Kalamalka Lakes) breaks down the true cost of selling, how commission splits work, and why your residency status dramatically impacts how much cash lands in your bank account on closing day.
📌 What You'll Learn in This Video:
🚫 No Gazumping in BC: Why deals in British Columbia are 100% legally binding once written subjects are removed—no last-minute offer poaching or broken promises.
💰 The Real Costs to Sell ($600K Example): A full transparent breakdown of brokerage commissions, 5% GST, legal conveyancing fees, title discharges, and Strata Form F certificates.
🤝 Zero Upfront Costs: Why there is no "standard" commission in BC, how brokerage fees are negotiated, and why Sean covers 100% of upfront marketing and advertising.
⚖️ The Non-Resident Tax Trap (CRA Section 116): Why UK tax residents face a mandatory 25% gross holdback by Canadian law until a CRA Certificate of Compliance is issued—and how to plan for it.
🔑 Completion vs. Possession: Why legal closing and moving day do NOT happen at the same time in British Columbia.
⏱️ Video Chapters:
In this video
- 0:00🇬🇧 Welcome UK Sellers: The Okanagan Reality
- 0:30🛑 What is Gazumping? (And Why BC Contracts Are Firm)
- 1:00📊 Selling Costs Breakdown on a $600,000 Sale
- 1:45🤝 Commission Splits, Marketing & Brokerage Trust Protection
- 2:30📑 Canadian Resident vs. UK Non-Resident Payouts (CRA 25% Rule)
- 3:20🗓️ Staggered Completion vs. Possession Dates Explained
- 4:00🏔️ Connect with Sean: Next Steps for Your Property
Read the full page: Taxes when you sell a home in BC
Questions about your own home? Call or text Sarah, my AI assistant, 24/7 at 604-227-4810, or get a free home evaluation.
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