UK Mortgages for Expats and Foreign Nationals
Why Mortgage London exists
“I built Mortgage London because the UK high street rarely knows what to do with an expat. If your income is in dirhams or Singapore dollars, or your residency sits overseas, most lenders step back. So we built a firm that doesn’t. We work with private banks, specialist lenders, and the handful of high street banks that genuinely handle complex cases. Every client we place is dealing with at least two jurisdictions. So are we.”
Justin Whitelock
Founder of Mortgage London, (a trading style of City Finance Brokers Limited, authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, FCA No. 766295)
Which describes your situation?
Buying or refinancing UK property while living abroad
For British expats with foreign-currency income. Purchase, remortgage, or refinance a UK property from overseas, across residential and buy-to-let.
Buying UK property as a non-resident or foreign national
For international buyers acquiring UK property, including cases with no UK credit history, offshore ownership structures, or non-dom status.
We will almost certainly have placed a similar case in the last thirty days
01
Foreign Currency Income
You earn in USD, AED, SGD, CHF, EUR, or another foreign currency and want to finance UK property
02
UK Banks No Longer Fit
You’re a British national abroad and your UK bank has stopped serving you since you moved
03
Buying as a Non-Resident
You’re acquiring UK property as a non-resident or foreign national for the first time
04
Structured Ownership
You are buying through a limited company, offshore structure, or SPV
05
Non-Dom Complexity
You hold non-dom status and want a UK mortgage structured around your full income picture
06
High-Value, Non-Standard Cases
You need a UK mortgage of £1M+ and standard affordability rules do not fit your income
UK Mortgages for Expats and Foreign Nationals
UK property finance, arranged globally. Private banks, specialist lenders, and the wider UK market.
Access beyond the high street
Lenders we work with
For international buyers acquiring UK property, including cases with no UK credit history, offshore ownership structures
UK high street lenders
Private banks
Expat and international lenders
Offshore and Channel lenders
Cases we structure
For international buyers acquiring UK property, including cases with no UK credit history, offshore ownership structures
Foreign currency income
Complex or multi-source income
Non-UK residents
Offshore and SPV structures
Non-dom clients
Large loans, £1M and above
UK mortgages placed for expats and foreign nationals
£757,000,000
How we arrange your mortgage, in 5 steps
Consultation
A call to understand your situation, your objectives, and the constraints on either side.
Structuring
We build a lender-ready case: property-specific, jurisdiction-aware, correctly framed for the right lender.
Lender Selection
We approach the lenders genuinely suited to your case, not the whole market on spec.
Application
We handle documentation, lender communication, and negotiation through to formal offer.
Completion
We coordinate with your solicitor through to drawdown and keys.
Winston Churchill
British Expat, Singapore
“Justin made the impossible straightforward. We were based in Singapore with SGD income and had been turned away by three other brokers. Within six weeks we had a formal offer on our London flat.”
The Expat's Guide to UK Mortgages
A 15-page guide covering eligibility, lender options, foreign currency income, non-UK residency, and the common pitfalls to avoid when financing UK property from abroad
Country Guide
UK Mortgages for Expats in the UAE
What Dubai and Abu Dhabi-based clients need to know about lenders, currency treatment, and structuring a UK purchase from the Emirates.
Expert Guide
Lending on foreign currency income
How UK lenders treat non-GBP earnings, and which lenders apply the most favourable treatment.
Market Note
Bank of England rate decision: what it means for expat borrowers
A short note from Justin on the latest decision and the lenders likely to move first.
Can I get a UK mortgage if I live abroad?
Yes, in most cases. UK mortgages are routinely available to British nationals living overseas and to foreign nationals buying UK property. The lenders involved differ from those serving UK residents, and a specialist broker identifies which lender suits your country of residence, income source, and property type. See our country guides for jurisdiction-specific detail.
What will this cost me, and when do I pay?
Initial consultations are free and carry no obligation. If we agree to proceed, our fees are quoted in writing up front, with a clear breakdown of what is payable, when, and what is covered by the lender. We do not charge retainers, and we do not take payment before a mortgage offer is in hand.
Can you arrange a UK mortgage if my income is in a foreign currency?
Yes. UK lenders routinely accept income in USD, EUR, AED, SGD, CHF, and other recognised currencies. Each lender applies its own treatment, and the choice of lender materially affects how your income is assessed for affordability. We structure the case around lenders most comfortable with your specific currency and income pattern.
Can the whole process be managed remotely from overseas?
Yes. The UK mortgage process is well-established for international clients, and every stage, from identification and documentation to valuation and completion, is handled digitally or through UK-based advisers acting on your behalf. You will not usually need to travel to the UK for the mortgage itself, though some clients choose to for property viewings.
How quickly can a UK mortgage be arranged from abroad?
For straightforward cases, typically 6 to 10 weeks from initial consultation to completion. Complex cases involving private banks or multiple jurisdictions may take longer. Early engagement, before you have an offer accepted on a property, is the single biggest accelerator.