More than 138,000 properties in England and Wales owned by offshore companies

Research shared with the Guardian also shows offshore holdings in London are worth a combined 55bn

More than 138,000 residential and commercial properties in England and Wales are owned by offshore companies, with holdings in London worth a combined 55bn, according to research shared with the Guardian.

The findings come as the government begins a crackdown to dismantle the secrecy that surrounds offshore property ownership, which it says has been used by corrupt elites laundering money through UK property".