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Can I get a buy to let mortgage for a property abroad?

Author

Noah Mitchell

Published May 02, 2026

There are international Buy to Let mortgages from lenders based in the UK, These lenders can consider mortgages to UK residents who are buying abroad, and secure the mortgage on that property. In general, as the laws and rules are different country to country, most UK lenders don't offer this service.

Thereof, can I get a buy to let mortgage while living abroad?

Expats can apply for both residential and buy-to-let mortgages. Residential applicants are assessed in the same way as a borrower in the UK but the added costs of living overseas are taken into account, along with exchange rate fluctuations.

Likewise, can a non UK resident get a buy to let mortgage? Yes, British non-UK residents (British expats) can secure mortgages on residential and commercial property in the UK. There is an abundance of lenders willing to lend. Finance can be secured on property that you or your family will use as a base in the UK or on property that you will rent out.

Keeping this in view, can I get a mortgage in the UK for a property abroad?

You can arrange an overseas mortgage through a UK bank or an international lender. It's also common to raise the funds to buy a home abroad outright by remortgaging your UK property.

Can you get a buy to let mortgage if you are not a homeowner?

But what if you have never owned property before – can first-time buyers enter the buy to let mortgage market? The short answer is yes, it is possible for a first-time buyer to get a buy-to-let mortgage.

Related Question Answers

What happens to my mortgage if I move abroad?

Assuming you won't have paid off your mortgage by the time you leave the UK, you must make sure that you keep up your repayments on it even though you're moving abroad. Failure to do so can result in repossession of the property by the bank or lender — just as if you were in the UK.

Do I need to tell HMRC if I work abroad?

You must tell HM Revenue and Customs ( HMRC ) if you're either: going to work abroad full-time for at least one full tax year.

Can you refinance a buy to let?

Most lenders make you wait until at least 6 months after buying a property before they let you refinance. This is known as the “6 month rule”.

Does HSBC do buy to let mortgages?

HSBC Buy to Let mortgages are available to both existing and non-HSBC customers, providing we do not consider them to be a professional/Portfolio landlord.

What does expat mean?

According to Wikipedia, “an expatriate (often shortened to expat) is a person temporarily or permanently residing in a country other than that of the person's upbringing. The word comes from the Latin terms ex ('out of') and patria ('country, fatherland')”.

Can you get a mortgage in Ireland if you live abroad?

Non-resident mortgages are available to Irish people abroad who are looking to purchase a property back in Ireland as either: A Holiday Home. With a view to moving back to live in that property in the short or medium-term.

Which UK banks do overseas mortgages?

HSBC offers mortgages and bank accounts around the world so you can finance your overseas properties and have your banking needs met, all under one roof.

How do I get a mortgage from UK to Spain?

There is no requirement for UK citizens to get a visa to mortgage a Spanish property but, much like the process in the UK, you will need to provide certain documentation, including proof of income, bank statements, ID and all current property deeds.

How do you finance a house in another country?

Options for buying a home in another country
  1. Cash. Paying cash for a property, whether it is domestic or foreign, is an easy way to cover the cost.
  2. Home equity loan. If you currently own a home in the U.S., a home equity loan can help you become the owner of a foreign property.
  3. Retirement savings.
  4. Personal loan.

Can I get a mortgage from a foreign bank?

Answer: Joey Sheehan, head of credit,

An Irish bank will only take security over an Irish property (i.e. within the State) and will not lend to buy property in foreign countries. Unfortunately this means you won't be able to fund your Irish property purchase in this way.

Can I get a UK mortgage for a French property?

It is not possible to secure a mortgage against a French property with a bank in the UK. Only French financial institutions are able to register mortgages to French real estate, meaning that any mortgage you do take out will be in Euros.

Can a UK citizen get a mortgage in France?

At the moment, if you're looking for overseas property, UK buyers can find the widest range of finance options in Europe in France, not to mention the lowest available mortgage rates. A handful of French banks able to lend to non-French nationals. A buyer can generally borrow up to 70–80% of a property's value.

Which UK banks offer Spanish mortgages?

Banco Bilbao Vizcaya Argentaria (BBVA) is one of the few banks offering mortgages to UK borrowers purchasing properties in the UK and Spain. Please note the minimum mortgage is 200,000. Impressively, if you are buying a Spanish property, the bank offers mortgages in Pound Sterling or Euros.

Can I buy a house abroad?

Depending on the country, requirements for non-residents purchasing property differ massively. European Union nationals, including British citizens for the time being, are able to buy homes in all member states and live in them year-round, unlike non-EU nationals who have to apply for visas or permits.

How do expats get a mortgage UK?

How to get a UK expat mortgage
  1. Buy a home.
  2. Buy an investment property.
  3. Remortgage my UK home as an expat.
  4. Remortgage my UK home as a rental property.
  5. Remortgage my rented-out home as our residence.
  6. You lose a chunk off your assessed income to allow for "currency fluctuations"
  7. You'll be paying an expatriate rate.

Is buy to let still worth it 2020?

A lot of commentators agree that buy-to-let landlords can still make a good return as long as they are clever about where they invest. A survey of buy-to-let yields carried out by the website Totally Money showed that locations with a high student population offer some of the highest yields.

What income do I need for a buy to let mortgage?

Lenders will typically need the rental income to be at least 125% of the monthly mortgage payments (on an interest only basis), or even up to 145%, depending on a lender's criteria. Most lenders will also require you to be earning an income yourself. Try the buy to let calculator to see how much you could borrow.

What happens if you rent out a property without a buy to let mortgage?

According to the Council of Mortgage Lenders (now a part of UK Finance) letting a property without the consent of your lender could be considered a breach of the terms and conditions of the mortgage and could entitle the lender to seek immediate repayment of the entire loan.

Is it illegal to live in a buy to let property?

Buy-to-Let Mortgage Rules

While it isn't illegal to move in to a property that you own with a buy-to-let mortgage, it is usually a condition of the mortgage that you let the property to tenants.

How hard is it to get a buy to let mortgage?

Mortgage providers see buy-to-let mortgages as higher risk than residential mortgages. You can sometimes pay a minimum deposit of 20% for a buy-to-let mortgage, although some of the best mortgage rates available require a deposit as high as 40%. Other fees tend to be higher too when taking out buy-to-let mortgages.

Can I borrow money against my house to buy another property?

Yes, you can use your equity from one property to purchase another property, and there are many benefits to doing so. Home equity is a low-cost, convenient way to fund investment home purchases.

Why are buy to let mortgages interest only?

Advantages of interest-only mortgages for landlords

That's because the rental income covers the monthly interest and the majority of landlords see buy-to-lets as a long-term investment. They plan to sell the property in the future and make a profit from any house price inflation, as well as repaying the capital owed.