British Nationality and Status of Aliens Act 1914

17 Capacity of alien as to property

Real and personal property of every description may be taken, acquired, held and disposed of by an alien in the same manner in all respects as by a natural-born British subject; and a title to real and personal property of every description may be derived through, from or in succession to an alien in the same manner in all respects as through, from or in succession to a natural-born British subject:

Provided that this section shall not operate so as to—

(1) confer any right on an alien to hold real property situate out of the United Kingdom; or

(2) qualify an alien for any office or for any municipal, parliamentary, or other franchise; or

(3) qualify an alien to be the owner of a British ship; or

(4) entitle an alien to any right or privilege as a British subject, except such rights and privileges in respect of property as are hereby expressly given to him; or

(5) affect any estate or interest in real or personal property to which any person has or may become entitled, either mediately or immediately, in possession or expectancy, in pursuance of any disposition made before the twelfth day of May, eighteen hundred and seventy, or in pursuance of any devolution by law on the death of any person dying before that day.