A UBS survey of Chinese property investors has found that approximately half the property they own is left effectively vacant, and 56 per cent purchase their properties with cash.

The survey found that 24 per cent of property acquired by Chinese investors around the world is left vacant, and another 25 per cent is only occupied occasionally.

“In effect around half of the overseas property owned by mainland Chinese is not fully used,” the report says.

More than 10 per cent of the survey's 3,300 respondents owned real estate in Sydney, as of March this year, and 5 per cent owned a property in Melbourne.

Despite China's tightening of investment rules, the UBS report, which doesn't capture information from high net worth consumers, found a "rising trend of mainland consumers owning residential property abroad".

“Two-thirds of those who are active suggest China’s tightened capital controls haven’t deterred them,” the report stated.

However, 11 per cent of those surveyed said they had brought forward their purchase, and 12 per cent cancelled their property search.

Read more about Chinese investment in Australian real estate:

CEO of Property Council hoses down vacant property tax speculation

Penalties for leaving properties unoccupied could improve affordability

Almost 5% of Melbourne homes lie vacant