With the Brexit vote currently dominating the news, many are trying to predict what may come of the different aspects of British life should we vote to leave.

Some of the country’s biggest property companies have come forward to say they have already seen evidence of foreign property investors getting the jitters regarding the UK's fate.

At a recent British Property Federation convention, industry chiefs warned that Britain’s investment market might be in for a slow period until after the outcome of the European Referendum on June 23rd.

Paul Brundage, senior managing director for Europe at Oxford Properties, said markets do not like uncertainty: “We need not get caught up in these macro issues, but it’s hard not to be absorbed by all these things.” He said the property industry needs to engage better with government on how political and social events affect the market but added there was the potential for his business to be “materially affected” by the referendum.

There are concerns that the shortage of investors could lead the housing crisis to become worse. 10-12% of construction workers employed in the sector come from outside of the UK. A shortage of skilled workers has afflicted the house building sector for many years, which has driven the cost up. 

There are also concerns that many of the potential investors may be unable or unwilling to wait till after the referendum and will take their business elsewhere with Paris, Dublin and Frankfurt looking to benefit.

It’s not all doom and gloom however, as many private investors, both abroad and in the UK have managed to snatch several London property investment opportunities from under the nose of those not brave enough to take the plunge. There are also some who believe, that should the right steps be taken, the investment market could explode once free on the EU.