Which UK Lenders Lend to British Expats?
20 of the 102 lenders we track for expat criteria (source: expat criteria matrix, refreshed 2026-08-18) have published evidence of considering residential mortgage applications from British expats. Deposit requirements and whether a lender treats it as a standard exception or a dedicated product vary widely, so it's worth checking the specifics before you apply.
As of 2026-08-18, published criteria from 20 of the 102 UK lenders we track for expat criteria can accommodate this scenario — 3 high-street, 15 building societies and 2 specialist — with minimum deposits from 10%.
Data refreshed 2026-08-18. Information only — not advice.
Your situation
High Street Lenders
- HSBC— Up to 75% LTV, min income £75,000 for non-UK residents
- Nationwide— Considered under main residential criteria — LTV not published in our matrix
- Santander— Narrow exception within general residential criteria — LTV not published in our matrix
Building Societies
- Darlington Building Society— Up to 90% LTV, foreign-currency income considered
- Dudley Building Society— Up to 85% LTV
- Family Building Society— Listed on general criteria page — LTV not confirmed for residential
- Harpenden Building Society— Dedicated Expat Mortgages product line — LTV not published in our matrix
- Market Harborough Building Society— Expat residential range across England, Wales and mainland Scotland — LTV not published in our matrix
- Marsden Building Society— Up to 85% LTV, tiered by loan size
- Newbury Building Society— Considers expats for family use or buy-to-let — LTV not published in our matrix
- Newcastle Building Society— Up to 80% LTV, case-by-case — immediate family must occupy the property
- Nottingham Building Society— Up to 90% LTV, returning-expat criteria (residential only)
- Penrith Building Society— Up to 80% LTV, loans £50,000-£450,000
- Saffron Building Society— Up to 90% LTV (loans to £1m); 80% LTV up to £3m
- Scottish Building Society— Up to 80% LTV, immediate family must occupy the property
- Suffolk Building Society— Up to 80% LTV
- Tipton & Coseley Building Society— Up to 90% LTV, dedicated residential ex-pat range
- West Brom— UK Armed Forces personnel stationed overseas — LTV not published in our matrix
Specialist Lenders
- Gatehouse Bank— Up to 80% LTV (Sharia-compliant Home Purchase Plan)
- HSBC Expat— Separate HSBC Expat proposition — LTV not published in our matrix
A lender name is only half the answer — the amount each might lend varies by tens of thousands — our figures are conservative estimates, not offers.
See your figuresWhy some lenders say no
- Many mainstream lenders require UK residency or a UK-based income before they'll consider a residential application at all.
- Where a lender does consider expat applications, foreign-currency income is often assessed separately and may carry a haircut.
- Published deposit requirements for expat applications tend to sit higher than for UK-resident applicants — several start at 20% or more.
Related reading: UK expat mortgage guide · UK mortgage with foreign-currency income · Foreign nationals mortgage guide · UK mortgages for British expats in France · UK mortgages for British expats in South Africa
See an estimate of what each of these lenders might lend you
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Run My Affordability CheckFrequently asked questions
Can a British expat get a UK mortgage?
Yes, in principle — a number of UK lenders have published evidence of considering residential mortgage applications from British expats, though products, deposit requirements and income rules vary widely by lender. Whether you qualify depends on your specific income, currency, deposit and the property itself.
How big a deposit do I need as an expat?
Published deposit requirements among the lenders we track range from around 10% up to considerably more, with several sitting at 20% or above. Where a lender's minimum deposit for expat applications isn't published, we treat it conservatively rather than guess.
Does my income need to be in sterling?
No, but it's not universal — some lenders that consider expat applications also accept foreign-currency income, typically at a discount to protect against exchange-rate movements. See our foreign-currency-income question for the fuller picture.
Is this the same as a dedicated 'expat mortgage' product?
Not always. Some lenders on this list run a distinct expat product line; others simply consider expat applicants under their general residential criteria, sometimes case-by-case. The caveat next to each lender below indicates which applies, where published.
