Key Criteria
Expats and Overseas Residents remortgaging or purchasing Buy-To-Let properties in England, Wales or the Scottish mainland.
Key Criteria
The application is paper based and the originals need to be posted/couriered into the office. Please note, as the application is for non-UK residents the documentation requirements may be more extensive than for similar applications for UK residents to other banks. Any incomplete applications WILL BE returned and not reviewed as the underwriting process in such cases cannot be undertaken. Please see packaging guidelines for full information. Client 1) Each applicant must be a passport holder and have their citizenship noted in the nationality section of their passport for a country not listed in Skipton International's Restricted Country List. 2) Each applicant must remain resident overseas and not planning to move to the UK in the near future or reside in the property in the future. 3) The client cannot be living, working or a national in a country on our Restricted List (please note Skipton will lend to Australian Expats). 4) The client is not a Chinese national residing in mainland China. This does not apply to residents of Hong Kong, Chinese nationals living outside mainland China or Expatriates working in mainland China. 5) The client needs to have a UK bank or building society account from which direct debits can be arranged to pay their mortgage. This must be opened prior to application. If they are not using a “major UK Bank” or an easily recognisable Bank or Building Society, they will need to provide an email confirmation from the Bank in question. They must confirm they can allow Direct Debits to be claimed from the account. 6) If a purchase, the requirements are 2 months bank statements for all accounts held including the account into which your salary/pension is paid and 2 months of salary slips if one or more applicant(s) is a British Citizen. 3 months bank statements and 3 months salary slips if the applicant(s) is not a British Citizen. See packaging guidelines for a full list of required documents. 7) If a re-mortgage or further advance, the requirements are 1 month bank statement for all accounts held including the account into which your salary/pension is paid. Plus 1 months salary slip if one or more applicant(s) is a British Citizen. 3 months bank statements and 3 months salary slips if the applicant(s) is not a British Citizen. See packaging guidelines for a full list of required documents. 8) The client can never have been declared bankrupt, insolvent or equivalent and no action should be pending. They should never have entered into any arrangement with creditors or party to a voluntary arrangement. Should never had a property repossessed by a lender or entered into an arrangement for mortgage arrears. They should also not have an unsatisfied court order or have any such actions pending. If a court order has been satisfied, we will look at this on a case by case basis. Portfolio Landlord Once an applicant owns four or more mortgaged Buy-To-Let properties, they are classified as a "Portfolio Landlord". At this point, Skipton International applies enhanced affordability checks. If your client is a Portfolio Landlord as defined above, Skipton requires any properties within the portfolio, that are mortgaged via other lenders, to meet Skipton International's BTL affordability criteria. This means that rental income must provide a minimum of 125% interest cover, when interest is calculated on total borrowings at a rate of 6%. This calculation is applied to all BTL properties mortgages outside Skipton International on a collective basis. In the event of a rental shortfall the application will be declined. In addition: The above is not exhaustive just a guide. Income Clients can be employed, self employed or pensioners. Income must be from one source only. i) If employed, the clients must be working for a clearly identifiable, well established employer and earning at least £40,000 per annum or the equivalent of £50,000 per annum if paid in local currency. Certain guaranteed allowances may count towards this figure (not including commission, overtime or bonuses). Any probationary period must be passed before applying and the client must be able to provide 3 months pay slips from the new role. If being seconded with an existing job, at least 1 pay slip is required from the new location. An employer’s letter confirming main terms of employment must also be provided. Any earned income cannot be subject to UK income tax. ii) If self-employed, the clients must provide evidence that annual income is in excess of £60,000 per annum sterling / or equivalent of £75,000 per annum if earned in local currency. iii) Self employed applicants can appoint a local fully qualified accountant working in an accountancy firm with a minimum of two partners. The firm and accountant must be: OR Alternatively, self employed applicants can provide the last years final income tax assessment (where written in English). iii) If pensioners, a minimum income of £40,000 per annum or the equivalent of £50,000 per annum if paid in local currency. This can be subject to UK income tax if the clients have retired abroad and can be from more than one pension provider. Mortgage 1) We support mortgages on properties in England, Wales, Scottish mainland and the Channel Islands. Please note Skipton International does not lend on properties located in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the islands of Scotland 2) Minimum mortgage of £100,000 and maximum exposure per client, together with connected persons, of £3m. 3) The maximum age of applicants at the start of the mortgage is 69 and maximum age at expiry of mortgage is 84. 4) The maximum mortgage term is 35 years subject to point 3. Property 1) The property must be for buy to let purposes and neither the borrower nor their family can live in the property. 2) The property cannot be on our unacceptable properties list. 3) Consumer buy to lets are acceptable. 4) The property must be let on a suitable Assured Shorthold Tenancy agreement (or a Private Residential Tenancy agreement if in Scotland) and not be used as a holiday let or HMO. Please refer to our property letting requirements documents for further information. Property Letting Requirements (England and Wales) 5) The property needs to have been owned by the existing owner for a minimum of 6 months (this applies to purchase/remortgage/equity release or further borrowing). Inherited property is not subject to this 6 months as long as Probate is complete and a letter from the solicitor dealing with the estate confirms that the customer has inherited the property.
- Clearly identifiable
- Suitably qualified (local equivalent of ACA, FCA, ACCA, FCCA, IPFA or ICAS)
Property Letting Requirements (Scotland)
Restricted Countries
A full risk based list of restricted countries
Restricted Countries
Skipton will not accept applications from clients resident in or citizens of the following countries: Please note Skipton lends to Australian Expats. We do not lend to Chinese nationals residing in mainland China.
Unacceptable Properties
Properties that fall outside of our current policy
Unacceptable Properties
Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (England and Wales) From the 1st April 2018, all Landlords will have to ensure rental properties meet a minimum Energy Performance Rating of E in order to be able to create a tenancy (unless exempt under the current regulations). Properties that are graded F or G are classed as substandard under the legislation and cannot be let. As such, Skipton International will only be able to provide mortgages against rental properties with an EPC of A to E inclusive. Skipton International will require applicants to supply a copy of a current EPC relating to the security property at the time of the Mortgage Application. Skipton reserve the right to request the provision of an EPC at any point during the life of your mortgage. For further information and guidance, please visit the UK Government web site; To check if your property meets the required standards, simply click on the following link, enter the postcode and download the Energy Performance Certificate in PDF format. https://www.epcregister.com/reportSearchAddressTerms.html?redirect=reportSearchAddressByPostcode Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) (Scotland) Skipton International will require all landlords of Scottish rental properties to have a minimum Energy Performance Rating of D. Skipton International will require applicants to supply a copy of a current Energy Performance Certificate relating to the security property. Skipton International reserves the right to request provision of Energy Performance Certificates at any point during the life of your mortgage. To check if your property meets the required standards, simply click on the following link, enter the postcode and download the Energy Performance Certificate in PDF format. https://www.scottishepcregister.org.uk/ For further information and guidance, please visit the UK Government web site; https://www.gov.scot/publications/energy-performance-certificates-introduction/ Ground rent criteria Ground rent Prior to submitting your application please refer to the “Supporting Documentation Check List section called “Ground Rent” to ensure that your ground rent is within criteria. Ground rent New Builds Ground rent Previously owned property Estate Rent charges Construction Properties that will not be complete (ready for tenant occupation) within 6 months of applying to Skipton. Non standard construction or conversions will be assessed on a case by case basis. LPS (large panel systems) and PRC (precast reinforced concrete) properties. However, some modern building construction types will be acceptable. Licensed Houses of Multiple Occupancy Flats Flats over 5 floors with no access to a lift. No restriction on number of floors if not ex LA. Ex-local Authority flats exceeding 5 floors or exceeding 48 units in the block. Studio flats under £250,000/ Deck Access flats or galleried (mezzanine) flats. Leasehold properties with less than 85 years to run at the point of application. Properties directly above commercial premises need to be agreed prior to an application being submitted. Post Grenfell Towers, we need confirmation that any cladding/external insulation meets current fire regulations. We will require evidence of this prior to a valuation being instructed. If not, the valuer may return a nil value on the property. Confirmation can be in the form of a report by either a “Fire Safety officer” or a “Structural Engineer” with the appropriate fire prevention experience. This would need to confirm that the property has been inspected post 14 June 2017 and considered to meet current requirements. Other Grade I or II* Listed Buildings in England and Wales or Grade A Listed Buildings in Scotland. Other categories of Listed Building are acceptable subject to valuer comment and there being no onerous restrictions in the title deeds. Any properties affected by invasive plant species e.g. Knotweed. Holiday lets. Thatched properties. Leasehold properties with less than 85 years to run at the point of application. Properties that comprise more than one independent unit of accommodation (annexes, wings and duplex properties etc.).
Approval In Principle Calculators
Spreadsheets providing full borrowing amounts and repayments
Packaging Guidelines
As applicants are non-UK resident please note that documentation requirements may possibly be more extensive than for UK resident mortgage applications with other banks. Therefore please read these guidelines carefully.
Packaging Guidelines
As applicants are non-UK resident please note the documentation requirements may possibly be more extensive than for UK resident mortgage applications with other banks. Therefore please read these guidelines carefully. Applications will NOT be underwritten unless a full pack is received and incomplete applications will be returned to sender as underwriting cannot be completed until all packaging requirements have been satisfied. Original Application Form and Direct Debit Mandate (must be signed in accordance with passport and wet signatures provided). All non-English documentation must be translated by a reputable translation company. For each applicant please ensure that you provide the following supporting documentation with the application. The pack must be posted/couriered to Skipton International as originals are required. If a panel broker, please contact the sales team for guidance on submitting applications. UK Buy-To-Let Application Pack Application Form and Direct Debit Mandate (must be signed in accordance with passport) and attach the following supporting documentation: 1. Photo Identification Certified copy of passport (our identification verification form, seen on page 18 of the application pack, should be used by the certifier). If not using the form, the certification needs to be include the wording “Having seen the individual and identification document at the same time I certify this is a true copy and that the photograph is a reasonable likeness”. Please ensure that the signature page of the passport is also provided. Copies must be certified by a professional person. For a list of Acceptable Certifiers please visit https://www.skiptoninternational.com/sites/default/files/uploaded/forms/VerificationofIdentityHelpSheet.pdf 2. Address Verification Please provide one of the following as proof of current address (not required for previous addresses): If the client wishes to use a correspondence address (that is not their residential address) you will need to supply the following:- Copies must be certified by a professional person. For a list of acceptable certifiers please visit www.skiptoninternational.com/sites/default/files/forms/VerificationofIdentityHelpSheet.pdf 3. Income Confirmation Income must be from one source and cannot include rental income i. Employed income Please provide the following; For a Purchase For a re-mortgage or further advance ii. Self Employed Income Confirmation Self employed applicants can appoint a local fully qualified accountant working in an accountancy firm with a minimum of two partners. The firm and accountant must be: OR Alternatively, self employed applicants can provide the last years final income tax assessment (where written in English). iii. Pension Income – can be from more than one pension provider 4. Bank/ Credit Card Statements – can be copies, certification not required Please provide the following; For a re-mortgage or further advance These must show your salary / pension being credited and mortgages/ rent being debited. The statements must also be clearly identifiable, in English, detailing account holder’s name(s), account number, narrative, debits, credits and running balances. Please also supply your latest credit card statement showing transactions and limits. Further credit card statements may be required if the deemed necessary by the underwriter. Any reversals, returned items or debit balances in excess of any overdraft limit should be fully explained with supporting documentation. (e.g. copy of savings account providing evidence of liquid cash available to cover these instances). Skipton International is unable to process an application where you have either had any reversals, returned items or debit balances in excess of any overdraft limit within the last 3 months. 5. Mortgage statements – can be copies, certification not required Please provide the latest 12 months mortgage statements for all mortgages held. Statements must detail account holder’s name(s), account number, narrative, debits, credits and running balances. Skipton International is unable to process an application where you have either had a late or missed mortgage payment within the last 12 months. 6. Source of Deposit Funding For all purchases you must complete the “Declaration of Source of Funds” form (seen on page 20) and provide supporting documentation: a list of acceptable documentary evidence is noted on page 21. This is not required for remortgages. 7. Gift received (where the deposit or other costs are being donated by a third party and can include gifted equity) Where the deposit or transaction costs/equity are being donated by a third party, please complete the Gift Letter. Please provide supporting documentation which details the source of funds, a list of acceptable documentary evidence is noted on page 21. An amendable version is available on our website www.skiptoninternational.com/forms-download 8. Tenancy Agreements Please supply the latest copy of the Assured Short Hold Tenancy Agreement for ‘The Property’ if the application relates to a remortgage, equity release, further advance and revesting of names. Please see our ‘Property Letting Requirements’ at; England & Wales: https://www.skiptoninternational.com/sites/default/files/uploaded/forms/Property-Letting-Requirements.pdf
- Clearly identifiable
- Suitably qualified (local equivalent of ACA, FCA, ACCA, FCCA, IPFA or ICAS)
For a Purchase
eMortgages
You will need to be a Skipton International panel broker to have access to the eMortgage system
Click here for more detailseMortgages
You will need to be working for one of Skipton International’s panel brokers before you register as you will need a dedicated broker number. If you are unsure, please call Kate Le Prevost on 0044 (0)1481 732260 or email mortgagesales@skiptoninternational.com
Please ensure all the documentation is ready to upload as per the packaging guidelines prior to submitting a case.
Our eMortgage system offers a range of options including:
- Create a Full Mortgage Application (FMA)
- Reprint a previously completed FMA
- Partially complete an FMA and return to complete it later
- View a list of all your cases created online
- Upgrade your registration details
Coronavirus (COVID-19)
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Skipton International is a wholly owned subsidiary of Skipton Building Society and is a Guernsey based bank.
* Please note Skipton International does not lend on properties located in Northern Ireland, Isle of Man or the islands of Scotland.