Expat buy-to-let mortgage

Yes! Expats can purchase UK property using a specific expat buy-to-let mortgage. Some lenders also provide residential mortgages for expats wanting to buy a home for their family to live in.

Having a larger deposit, strong credit history and high income will increase expats chances to secure a buy-to-let mortgage more easily. Using an experienced expat broker can be the key to getting your mortgage approved.

Possibly, but many lenders restrict expat products to standard buy-to-lets. We have access to some private banks and premium lenders willing to approve HMOs and limited companies for expats. Give us a quick call, and we will list the options for your situation.

Yes! It may be possible to remortgage the property onto a buy-to-let basis if you are moving overseas. 

Yes! First-timers can get UK expat buy-to-let mortgages from various lenders. Our expert mortgage brokers can find the best rates for you.

Typical documents include: passport, UK bank statements, proof of property deposit, references, credit report, tenancy agreements if an existing landlord and some lenders will ask for proof of income/funds. Our advisors will provide a full list of documents depending on the lender requirements and fill all the paperwork for you.

If your family members will be living in the property as their permanent residence, a regular expat buy-to-let mortgage is unsuitable. 

For a property occupied by a family, the criteria differ:

• The borrower’s family must use the property as their main home.
• There must be intent for the borrower or their family to move back into the property at some point in the future.
• The expat borrower must be in employment with regular income. Self-employed income can be accepted depending on the country the business operates. Pension earnings may be allowed as proof of income.

If the intention is to get a buy-to-let mortgage on the same property your family is living in before moving to the other country, they would need to confirm they have no intention of moving back themselves in the future. 

So if your family will live in the property, a standard residential owner-occupier expat mortgage should be considered rather than a buy-to-let. The requirements vary based on the occupancy status. 

Get in touch today to speak with an advisor and receive a no-obligation personalised quote indicating potential rates and lending amounts.

Yes! Many lenders will consider rental income from an existing property portfolio to assess affordability for an expat buy-to-let mortgage, provided you have a track record of managing the properties. Proof of recent rental income and active management will be required.

Getting a buy-to-let mortgage with income that is in a foreign currency can be possible in certain situations. However, the options will be more limited compared to having a UK-based Sterling income.

Some key considerations for foreign currency income:

• You will need to apply for a specialised expat buy-to-let mortgage product, as regular UK products do not accept non-Sterling income. Your options will be more restricted.
• These type of mortgages will only offer an interest-only repayment structure. A traditional repayment mortgage is not available if paid in foreign currency.
• To repay the mortgage at the end of the term, the funds need to come from a UK asset denominated in British Pounds Sterling. Foreign assets generally cannot be used for repaying the mortgage.
• The foreign currency income can only be from an approved list of countries that the lender specifies. Contact our brokers to see if the lender you plan to apply with accepts income paid in the currency of your current country of residence.
• The lender will determine the equivalent Sterling income using exchange rates over a period, such as the lowest rate in the past 10 years. This provides them with a conservative value for affordability calculations.
• Applicants need long-term rights to live in the UK. Income fully based abroad brings uncertainty to lenders and can compromise approval on the mortgage loan.