Our Customers rate us 4.6 out of 5
Specialist UK expat mortgage advisors.
Looking to buy in the UK but living overseas? Our experienced advisors help you navigate the waters of expat mortgages and achieve homeowning success.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage. When The Bank Says No is a mortgage broker, and not a lender.
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When The Bank Says No is working closely with leading providers...
Useful links to begin your Mortgage Journey
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Bridging Finance Brokers
When you need to bridge a gap in your finances, we are there to find suitable finance options for you.
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Bad Credit Mortgages
When your credit record isn’t the best and you’re struggling to find a lender, we can step in so you don’t miss out on your dream home.
Buy-To-Let
Need help navigating buy-to-let mortgages? With our help we’ll make it easier than you think, even if you have bad credit.
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Remortgaging
Remortgaging doesn’t have to be tricky, whether you are looking to remortgage to consolidate debt, buy another property or finance home improvements.
Finding The Best Expat Mortgage Deal For Your Circumstances
Buying a residential property in the UK as an expat can be tricky. Not all UK lenders will consider you and any deals you are eligible for can have high-interest rates or require large deposits. But, whilst expat lending can get many lenders’ hackles raised, there are plenty of specialist lenders out there who will look past any potential risk you pose as a UK national living abroad and allow you to borrow the finance you need for that residential property.
When the Bank Says No is a team of professional mortgage advisors with years of experience helping expats buy a home back in the UK. We’ll provide useful specialist mortgage broker guidance on the expat mortgage market, helpful tools and tips to set yourself up for success, before matching you up with the most appropriate UK mortgage deals.
Achieving your Mortgage Dream.
We know how unpredictable the mortgage market can be. Trust our team of dedicated mortgage specialists to find you mortgage providers who are more likely to offer you a UK mortgage for non-residents
Let's get the ball rolling.
We can support you and help you to make yourself as attractive to banks as possible, ready for your next application!
Check your credit file.
In order for us to assess your credit history and suitability for different mortgage products, you will need to check your file.
Turning Your Nightmares Into Dreams
When you think you’ve hit that brick wall and have all but given up hope of finding mortgage finance, When the Bank Says No are here to turn your ‘No’ into a ‘Yes’. We have access to a range of specialist lenders who are willing to help those that the High Street banks just won’t touch. Get in touch today and see how we can turn your dreams into a reality.
Expat mortgages FAQs
Can I get a UK mortgage as an expat?
Yes. If you’re a British national living overseas but you want to purchase a property in the UK, you can still apply for a mortgage. If you apply through traditional routes, you may find there are few options available to you. However, many lenders out there specialise in providing finance to expatriates.
When the Bank Says No can help you identify these lenders and seek out the best offer available to you. We’ll discuss your circumstances and ambitions and guide you through the mortgage application process, making sure you’re set up for success. Talk to our team today and we can get started!
Can I get a mortgage to move back to a UK property?
If you’re a British expat but are looking to move back to the UK, buying a home while overseas can streamline your return – eliminating the hassle and expense of sourcing short-term accommodation. The good news is that some lenders will allow you to borrow the money you need to buy a property before you have moved back to the UK.
For some, the complications involved in this situation, as well as the potential income disruption, can lead to mortgage refusal. The lender in question will need to understand your income and confirm that the job you are returning to is sustainable. When the Bank Says No can help you understand the residential expat mortgages market, and how your situation maps onto their lending rules.
Can I purchase a Buy to Let property with an expat mortgage?
British nationals living or working overseas may want to purchase a property back in the UK with a buy-to-let mortgage as a way of supporting their pension for retirement or growing a property portfolio while working abroad. If you’re looking to buy a place back home, you can do so using UK expat buy to let mortgages.
Our advisors can help you understand buy to let mortgages for British expats and what the different deals and terms will mean for you. Once we’ve identified a specialist lender who is your perfect fit, we’ll take you through the buy to let process step by step. It can be stressful applying for a buy to let mortgage from overseas, but our friendly team are here to take the fear away!
What is the best expat mortgage?
The most suitable mortgage deal for you will depend upon a range of factors. Applying for residential mortgages for a property from overseas can be complex, but having our expat mortgage brokers team on your side can help you feel confident that you are getting the best deal for you.
We are whole of market specialist mortgage brokers and independent, meaning you can trust us to deliver accurate insights into the most appropriate mortgage products and examine the terms of your offer in minute detail. For us, nothing is more important than helping our clients achieve the right option and best expat mortgage rates for them. Talk to us today and we’ll start scouring the market for your deal!
How much deposit do you need for an expat mortgage?
As ever, the larger deposit that can be put down, the better chance expats have of mortgage success and the better rates they will receive. For expats, a higher deposit may be necessary to be eligible for certain deals – for most UK lenders who offer expat mortgages, this requirement is usually 25% of the property’s value.
However, there are lenders out there who will consider applications for expat mortgages with a Loan to Value of 90%. The exact deposit you require will also depend upon the location and type of property as well as other factors to do with your financial history.
How much can a UK expat borrow?
The amount a mortgage applicant can borrow is determined by their affordability – and this is no different for expats. Essentially, lenders want to ensure that you can meet the monthly repayments with your current income and existing monthly outgoings.
Lenders complete affordability calculations using their specific income multiple – the average of which is 4.5x your salary. There are lenders out there, however, who use higher multiples with mortgage applications – even if you’re an expat!
An expat mortgage calculator will help you understand how much you can borrow plus the scale of the monthly repayments you’ll be expected to make on a UK property mortgage.
I am in a different time zone. How do I speak to a UK advisor or expat mortgage broker?
Will my mortgage interest rates be higher as an expat?
The interest rate you receive on your mortgage normally depends on lending criteria such as your credit history, income, overseas employment status, and deposit size. However, many lenders who offer UK mortgages will charge you a higher rate of interest as a UK expat.
As a general rule of thumb, the higher the risk you pose to the lender, the higher the interest rates you will be charged – unless they decide not to lend to you at all of course! As ever, it’s important to seek expert guidance and support when trying to achieve mortgage success as an expat. We can help you seek out the best rates and terms available to you and get you on the path to home owning bliss.
I am now an expat. Can I remortgage?
Yes, you can still remortgage if your circumstances have changed and you are now a UK expat. The mortgage you require will depend on how you use the property currently; whether this is still to be used as a second home when you return to the UK, or whether you have been letting the property.
We can find the best solution and remortgaging deal available to you as an expat customer, taking into account your situation, financial history, and plans.
How can I improve my chances of getting a mortgage as an expat?
There are a range of steps you can take to improve your chances of you being able to get an expat mortgage. These might include maintaining a UK correspondence address, saving up an additional deposit, keeping a UK bank account or UK-provided international credit card, and making sure you have a sustainable source of income lined up for your return to the UK.
Certain expats may face additional challenges when it comes to the lending criteria when applying for mortgages from overseas. These include self-employed expats, retirees, UK nationals working abroad and paid in a foreign currency, plus those with bad credit. For guidance bespoke to your situation, don’t hesitate to give our friendly team a call. We’ll help you work out what you can do to improve your UK mortgage application and set yourself up for approval.
Dedicated advisors for expat mortgages UK
Non-UK residents will need to show proof of income to be eligible for a mortgage. That means, with the proper documentation, you can ask for a loan, even if you’re self-employed.
You may have to meet a few requirements with some lenders, for instance, some will require foreign nationals seeking a UK mortgage to have an annual income of at least £75,000. Besides that, you’ll also likely be asked for your most recent income tax assessment.
To make your life easier, if you are a self-employed non-resident, then hiring an expert mortgage advisor from When The Bank Says No will help you get together all the necessary paperwork in the proper formats to give you a better chance of securing a mortgage with the minimum of delay.
What Our customers say about us
Our Customers rank us 4.6 out of 5
We feel so fortunate to have found WTBSN
We found WTBSN after landing in a really tricky situation. We were out of term on our current mortgage and our existing broker had exhausted all options to re-mortgage due to the complex nature of our holiday let property (Grade II listed, timber frame construction and above commercial). Working under considerable time pressure due to the financial penalties being imposed by the existing lender, Brian was relentless in his search for a solution that would allow us to refinance a property that was on face value mortgageable. Thankfully, he didn’t give up and nine months later, we completed on the re-finance. We feel so fortunate to have found WTBSN and would like to thank Brian and the team sincerely for going the extra mile. We couldn’t have done it without you!
Rachel Reeves
Simply the best
I will never use another mortgage broker in all my time In property, these guys are the best at communication, customer service and keeping you informed. They are a level above every other broker I’ve come across and they actually get things done.
Emma, Samantha & Ashley have been fantastic in assisting me with 2 mortgages now and they’re superb at what they do. I wouldn’t hesitate to reccommend them to anybody out there who needs a mortgage sorting.
John Burton
I have been dealing with ben
I have been dealing with Ben @ When The Bank Says No. He has been great!! Professional, kept us up to date the whole way and made the entire process so simple. I would most definitely use him again and have already passed his details on to a family member. Thank you for all your help.
Elise
Thank you for your amazing support
Thank you for your amazing support and service during a really difficult time in my life. 5* is just not enough to demonstrate the level of support received. These guys go above and beyond. A personal service, with kindness and compassion. I highly recommend. If you’re struggling with your mortgage, then have a chat to this team. I cannot thank them enough for everything they have done.
Nabila Fowles-Gutierrez
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