Key criteria

Expats and overseas residents remortgaging or purchasing buy-to-let properties in England, Wales or the Scottish mainland.

Please click here to start the application. 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. Please see packaging guidelines for full information.

• Limited company buy-to-let criteria

  • Minimum loan amount: £100,000

  • Maximum loan‑to‑value (LTV): 75%

  • Maximum of two directors, who must be natural persons

  • Properties must be located in England or Wales

  • Security is taken as a charge over the property, with a joint and several personal guarantee from all directors

  • Maximum of five properties owned by the company

  • Companies must be UK or Channel Islands registered

  • The company must be incorporated for the principal activity of buying and holding residential property

  • Available to non-UK residents including EU nationals

  • Interest Coverage Ratio (ICR) calculated at the five‑year pay rate, stressed at 125%

  • Application fee of £4,999 for purchases and remortgages (includes legal fees and valuation up to £2.5m). For properties £2.5m or above, the valuation fee will be charged in addition to the application fee.

• Client eligibility
  • Must be resident outside the UK and remain non-UK resident at completion
  • Cannot reside in a restricted country
  • Chinese nationals residing in mainland China are not accepted
  • Nor Australian or EU residents
  • Minimum age 18
  • Maximum age at application 75
  • Maximum age at end of term 85
  • Maximum 2 applicants
  • Not acceptable: bankruptcy, IVA, trust deed, debt arrangement scheme, previous repossession, voluntary repossession or assisted voluntary sale
• Income & employment criteria
  • Employed sole application minimum income £50,000
  • Employed joint application minimum income £80,000 combined
  • Must be employed by a clearly identifiable employer
  • Must have passed probation period
  • First time buyer/first time landlord requires 24 months employment history
  • Existing owner/landlord requires 12 months employment history
  • Self-employed sole minimum income £75,000
  • Self-employed joint minimum income £100,000 combined
  • Minimum 2 years trading
  • Provide accountant certificate or latest tax assessment where produced in English from the local tax office/authority
  • Pension sole £50,000. Pension joint £80,000 combined
• Affordability criteria
  • Standard rental cover requirement: 125% ICR
  • Applicants must satisfy rental affordability and minimum personal income requirements
  • 110% ICR available for high income cases only
  •  110% route income: sole employed and pension £100,000, joint and self-employed £140,000
  • Maximum two loans under 110% route
  • Minimum loan size £150,000 under 110% route
  • Unsecured credit less than 20% of income under 110% route
  • Rental income normally taken as lower of declared rent or valuer rent
  •  5 year fixed rates use 110% at pay rate
  • All other products use 110% at stress rate (currently 7.24%)
• Loan criteria
  • Minimum loan £100,000
  • Maximum loan £5,000,000
  • Minimum term 3 years
  • Maximum term 45 years
  • LTV up to £1.25m: 75%
  • £1.25m to £1.5m: 70%
  • £1.5m to £3m: 65%
  • £3m to £4m: 60%
  • £4m to £5m: 50%
• Property criteria
  • England, Wales and Scotland only
  • Must be a buy-to-let property 
  • First legal charge required 
  • Minimum property value £200,000
  • Minimum size 30sqm
  • Leasehold properties require minimum 85 years remaining 
  • EPC A-C or D if potential to reach A-C
  • Property cannot be occupied by borrower or family members 
• Unacceptable properties
  • Holiday lets and Airbnb
  • Commercial use properties 
  • Retirement properties and occupancy restricted properties 
  • Houseboats, caravans, park homes and mobile homes 
  • Log cabins and timeshares 
  • Commonhold properties
  • Most freehold flats and flying freeholds 
  • Properties with more than one kitchen 
  • Studio flats under £350,000
  • Properties under 30sqm
• Portfolio landlord criteria
  • Portfolio landlord defined as 4 or more mortgaged BTL properties
  • Maximum 5 Skipton-funded properties 
  • Maximum 10 BTL properties in total 
  • Maximum 3 properties in one postcode district 
  • All external BTL borrowing assessed for affordability and rental cover
• Acceptable tenancies
  • England: assured periodic tenancy
  • Wales: occupation contract 
  • Scotland: private residential tenancy or legacy short assured tenancy 
  • Corporate lets accepted (12 months to 3 years)
  • Student lets accepted in England and Wales
• Unacceptable tenancies
  • Holiday lets 
  • Airbnb
  • Tenancies involving applicants
  • Tenancies involving family members of applicants