Can I own property in Zimbabwe and rent it out while living in the UK?

Yes. Zimbabwe places no restriction on non-residents or members of the diaspora owning residential property, and under the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe's Guidelines to Authorised Dealers (FXD 2/2025), individual foreign investors and non-resident Zimbabweans can acquire residential immovable property without needing prior RBZ approval. Compliance with post-transaction registration requirements is still mandatory. Note that agricultural land remains reserved for indigenous Zimbabweans and is off-limits to non-citizens, and commercial property may be subject to the 51/49 indigenisation rule. Renting out your property from the UK is straightforward provided you follow the formal banking route. Any lease agreement must be in writing and signed — verbal or informal arrangements will not qualify for remittance abroad. Once signed, lodge a copy of the lease with a commercial bank licensed as an authorised dealer in foreign currency; this bank acts as the intermediary with the RBZ. Rentals due to non-resident Zimbabweans who formally acquired their property are then freely remittable abroad without needing separate prior RBZ approval for each transfer, as long as the authorised dealer holds the proper documentation. Keep copies of the lease, bank lodgement slips and proof of tax payments for your records and to protect against future audits. Tax obligations still apply to diaspora landlords. Rental income must be declared and any applicable withholding or income tax settled with ZIMRA before funds are remitted. If your rental property is commercial, ZIMRA's presumptive rental income tax now requires registration and monthly remittance on gross rental income, with no deductions permitted; this applies to Zimbabwean citizens abroad who own commercial property, and non-resident landlords must appoint a local representative to handle compliance. Residential rentals are not subject to this particular levy, though mixed-use buildings have their commercial portion taxed. Separately, high-value residential dwellings in Zimbabwe may fall under the Wealth Tax regime (1% of value, capped per dwelling annually), which applies regardless of the owner's nationality or residence, subject to statutory thresholds and exclusions — check current thresholds with a Zimbabwean tax adviser before assuming liability. Given the layered compliance requirements, UK-based owners typically appoint a local letting agent or representative and work with an authorised dealer bank from the outset. Sources: https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/buying-residential-property-zimbabwe-what-zimbabweans-kelvin-sabao-qinef, https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/taking-your-rental-income-from-zimbabwe-abroad-guide-foreign-sabao-yuchf, https://x.com/ZiFMStereoNews/status/2067228190930542767, https://www.mmmlawfirm.co.zw/zimbabwes-wealth-taxwhat-property-owners-and-investors-need-to-know, https://iclg.com/practice-areas/real-estate-laws-and-regulations/zimbabwe