Buying a home in Leeds

My wife (who is a EU citizen) and I are looking to buy a home in Leeds. The question I have is "because we are not currently living there what fees/processes would we have to follow. Would we have to pay a fee to rent the property out since we aren't living there or could it be an empty property?" My job currently has me based in Italy and Im unsure if my original date to come back to Leeds is still in two years, but i'd like to buy a home there now. Any information about buying a home In leeds would be helpful as Im a first time buyer.