The plushest neighbourhoods of central London are attracting increased interest from a new wave of super-rich migrants from France, scared by a rising tide of tax threats from presidential candidates as the election campaign comes to a climax. Upmarket British property consultant Knight Frank said it has seen a 19 percent spike in online enquiries from France about homes located in London's priciest districts in the first quarter of 2012. The surge in French interest contrasts sharply with a 9 percent fall in enquiries about central London property from elsewhere in Europe. “It is early to see the impact of the proposed wealth taxes in France in terms of actual purchases ... but there is compelling evidence from our web search statistics,” said Liam Bailey, Knight Frank's global head of residential research. “This evidence from web search activity backs up a noticeable spike in anecdotal comments from (our) office network, where French applicants have become much more noticeable in recent months,” Bailey said. Socialist candidate Francois Hollande, favourite to win a runoff presidential election in May, has said he will target the rich with a 75 percent tax rate on annual incomes above 1 million euros ($1.3 million). Incumbent Nicolas Sarkozy has also moved to counter a reputation for favouring the rich with promises to tax dividend income, apply a minimum 15 percent tax on major French corporations and introduce a levy on tax exiles who seek refuge abroad from high French rates.
