TIPS Newsletter | May 2025 - Trust Issues: Tackling the final frontier in secret property ownership
- The TIPS team
- May 31
- 3 min read
Updated: Jun 5
Dear TIPS Member,
New analysis by Transparency International UK now reveals for the first time the true extent of trust-based property ownership across England and Wales. TI-UK analysis reveals that over 236,500 properties in England and Wales—worth at least £64 billion—are owned through opaque trust structures. Yet while most homeowners' identities are easily accessible through public records for a nominal fee, a privileged minority continue to shield their assets behind these elaborate legal structures. These arrangements obscure the identities of true beneficiaries, facilitating the concealment of wealth by corrupt individuals and sanctioned entities.
Despite legislative efforts such as the 2022 Register of Overseas Entities, trusts remain a significant loophole, enabling continued anonymity in property ownership. As information about companies becomes more transparent, there is a growing risk that those with wealth to hide move their assets into trusts. In England and Wales, disclosure of property ownership is convoluted and fragmented. Rather than providing meaningful information about the ultimate owner or beneficiary of property, the Land Registry provides details on the legal owner of the land – which could be an individual, but could equally be a UK company, an offshore business or a trustee acting on behalf of a trust.
Transparency International UK urges the government to mandate full disclosure of trust beneficiaries and enhance land registry records to close these gaps and combat illicit financial activities effectively.
Please see below the TIPS Newsletter for May 2025. We look forward to seeing you soon.
- the TIPS team
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Recent Events
A Gender Lens on Corruption and Fraud
On 21 May, the TIPS Network joined forces with The Female Fraud Forum to host an expert panel on 'A Gender Lens on Corruption and Fraud' featuring Miranda Ching, Rebecca Rossiter, Eleanor Rose, Anna Gumowska, and moderated by Phoebe Waters The panel facilitated an insightful and interactive discussion that explored the incidence, impact, and perpetration of fraud and corruption between genders.
We would like to thank Rebecca Rossiter and AlixPartners for generously hosting this event.
Items of Interest
TI publications - Transparency International Annual Report 2024. See here. TI blogs - Money in politics: a lesson from history. See here. - Behind closed doors: emerging lobbying trends in the new Labour government. See here. - Overseas Territories miss another critical deadline for enhanced corporate transparency. See here. - Trust Issues: Tackling the final frontier in secret property ownership. See here. Other items - Russian State-Backed Foundation Paid Allies in the EU Despite Sanctions. See here. - Elite Cartel corruption in Tasmania – the nature of the game. See here. - South African Firms Suspect UAE Companies May Have Obtained Military Intellectual Property. See here. - Signatures Sought on Call for More Participatory UNCAC Review Mechanism. See here. - The first Economic Crime Levy report: our analysis. See here. |
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Focus on...
Ty Francis
Chief Advisory Officer at LRN
Why did you get involved with the TIPS Network?
I found the TIPS Network via a mutual friend in the risk management space who also believes in the power of professional networks and was drawn to TIPS’ mission of advancing ethics, compliance and anti-corruption through cross-sector collaboration. TIPS brings together a diverse, accomplished community of professionals committed to improving transparency, integrity, and stewardship across institutions and that resonates with me having spent the last two decades helping organizations improve their ethical culture and navigate regulatory complexity. TIPS proves that good governance, when shared and scaled, can be transformative.
Please describe your experience as part of the TIPS Network.
Being part of the TIPS Network has offered me a unique platform to connect with leaders across different sectors who have a fresh sense of shared mission. TIPS creates a collaborative space for rigorous dialogue and practical problem-solving, through its numerous events. My engagement with TIPS has sharpened my own thinking, expanded my network and reinforced the critical importance of ethical leadership in an increasingly complex world. I continue to be impressed by the work James, Will, Samer, Sandra and the team do for the compliance community.
Connect with Ty on LinkedIn.
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