Property Finance for Expats & Foreign Nationals - Unbeatable rates from B+1.49%

The stable political situation in the UK has always made it attractive for investment - and particularly for property investment- and there are several reasons why. The demand for UK property is high and this has contributed to steady growth in the value of property of all kinds, from high-quality flats and penthouses in the London market to commercial units across the entire country. UK landlords are experiencing high rental demand and increasing rent prices, offering an increasing return on investment.

But you don't need to be based in the UK to benefit. These same benefits are available to landlords living outside of the UK, which, paired with low monthly mortgage payments, makes for excellent yields. If you can buy a property outright, yields from rental income can be high, while property prices tend to rise, offering both income and capital growth - but you may be able to use a commercial mortgage to spread the cost of buying your property.

And it’s not just residential buy to let that is attracting overseas investors. Investors are also purchasing commercial and semi-commercial properties too.

Who can invest in UK Commercial Property?

There are few restrictions around who can buy property in the UK - and, surprisingly, few about who can actually take out take a commercial mortgage. Anyone with a UK passport can do so and for those who do not hold a British passport, the majority of lenders will consider the individual, as long as their country of residence is on the Financial Action Task Force (FATF) list. FATF is an inter-governmental body that sets standards and promotes the effective implementation of legal, regulatory and operational measures to combat things like money laundering. 

The cash you need

It is not essential to be a cash buyer. Buying property in the UK often involves long-term finance, such as a mortgage, secured on the property itself. In the current low-interest financial environment, a mortgage can be a cost-effective way to acquire property of all kinds. 

As you might expect, lenders have experience-based criteria for applicants and some types of asset class require more experience from the landlord for a lender to consider them for finance. For commercial properties, most will require at least two previous commercial investments, and around two years of landlord experience before they will consider your application.

Experienced landlords will be able to invest in HMOs, Multi-Units and Holiday Lets as well as properties such as factories, industrial units and shops, plus semi-commercial property such as residential flats with a retail unit below.

In many cases, buying as a British Expat or a foreign national is as simple as buying as a British resident. However, the tax rules have become more complicated over recent years – and for the most part, less beneficial. Buying as a non-resident may mean a range of additional tax charges. 

At Rangewell, we can help you find the lenders you need.

The challenge

Lenders want to be sure they will be repaid, and see foreign applicants as presenting an additional risk. It is less about where you were born and where you live and more about your credit history.

To be considered for a UK mortgage, lenders will want to see that you’re allowed to be in the UK and earn money and that you have a good credit history in the UK before they agree to give you a mortgage. You should make every effort to build up a good credit score. This will mean opening a bank account, setting up some direct debits and making sure you pay your bills on time. 

If you’ve only recently moved to the UK, you might find it takes a while before you can be considered for a mortgage - although, at Rangewell, we may be able to help find lenders who are more sympathetic and more prepared to offer the funds you need.

• You may need to provide at least 25% of the total purchase price of the property as a deposit. This is used towards the purchase. It demonstrates to the lender that you are committed to the purchase of the property, and will not simply walk away from the property if your plans change. The deposit actually remains invested in the property.
• The funds for your mortgage must be traceable to a legitimate source to make a successful application, which avoids the possibility of money laundering.
• If you are employed by a multinational organisation, it will be easy to prove your income. You will need a reference from an international accountant if you own your own business or are self-employed.
• Holding cash and shares, rather than property, as part of your net worth will allow you access a wider range of lenders.

If you are not a UK resident, or if the majority of your income is generated internationally, you may need to borrow a large sum to secure a mortgage, perhaps over £1million. Placing Assets Under Management (AUM) with the lender may give you access to a broader choice of lenders. Assets under management definitions and formulas vary by company. In the calculation of AUM, some financial institutions include bank deposits, mutual funds, and cash in their calculations.

if you are a UK citizen living abroad you should be able to get a mortgage if you have:

• a UK bank account
• proof of your UK citizenship

If you’re an EU citizen you should be able to get a mortgage if you have:

• lived in the UK for at least 3 years
• a UK bank account
• a permanent job in the UK

If you were born outside the EU and have permanent residency or indefinite leave to remain lenders will want evidence that you have:

• lived in the UK for at least 2 years
• a permanent job in the UK
• a UK bank account
• a sizeable deposit (as much as 25%)

If you don’t have permanent residency you might still be able to apply for a mortgage if you have:

• A Tier 2 work visa
• A Family visa
• A UK Ancestry visa
• A Residence card

If you cannot meet these criteria, it may still be possible to arrange funding to buy property, but it may need to take the form of a secured loan, rather than a mortgage. At Rangewell, we can help deal with this type of lending.

The lending process

The lending process will require a good deal of paperwork or its electronic equivalent. What you will need will depend on the lender. However, you can expect to be asked for:

• Copies of your personal identification documents or passport
• Proof of legal residence in the UK
• Documents to prove you're creditworthy, such as a credit check, bank statements, proof of your wages, your P60 benefits statement or a letter from your employer
• Documents to prove the affordability of the mortgage such as household cash flow statements, utility bills or bank statements which confirm that you can afford the monthly payments.

Once you have an offer accepted on a home or other property, you’ll have to hand over more paperwork, such as property valuation and survey to prove it’s priced fairly.

How Rangewell can help 

If you are a foreign national or a UK citizen currently living abroad, you may be looking to buy a home to use for part of the year or as an investment. We can help you decide on the type of mortgage that is most appropriate for you and your needs.

Buying any business with property involves high costs, and it is important to have expert help to get the kind of funding that is right for your plans.

Rates are crucial. Even a fraction of a percentage point will make a substantial difference to what you will actually repay each month, and understanding fees and penalty charges is also vital to extra cost. 

Borrowing can be made more challenging still by the fact that there are many different lenders who may be prepared to offer funding. Each has its own approach to interest rates and fee arrangements, and comparing them all may require expert knowledge to fully understand what is really being offered. As always, our experts can work to provide you with the help you need to negotiate the confusion.

At Rangewell, we work with lenders across the market - and we can call on the expert knowledge you need. It lets us ensure that you have the financial solutions you require when you are considering a business purchase. Our knowledge can not only help you secure the funding you need - but we can save you a great deal of cash.

ANY PROPERTY USED AS SECURITY, WHICH MAY INCLUDE YOUR HOME, MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.