Why are expat landlords the exception rather than the norm?

UK Finance says buy‑to‑let remortgaging rose by 24% in 2025 to £28 billion, compared with an 11% rise in new purchase activity to £11 billion. For intermediaries, that means more cases are likely to start with a review of what a client already holds, whether the current borrowing still works, and what flexibility may be needed.

That focus on fit and flexibility is especially relevant in the expat market, where cases often involve additional complexity. British expats and non-UK residents buying or remortgaging UK property often have overseas income, alongside employment and documentation patterns that differ from standard domestic applications. Skipton International’s UK buy-to-let proposition is designed specifically for British expats and non-UK residents purchasing or remortgaging property, and we support customers resident in more than 100 countries.

What sets Skipton International apart is that both our criteria and our process are built for that market. We lend from £150,000 up to £5 million, with maximum LTVs of up to 75% depending on loan size, and support new purchases, remortgages and further advance business. An agreement in principle can be completed in 10 minutes, and intermediaries have a personal point of contact throughout the process, including direct contact with the underwriter once the application is in.

The wider market environment is also becoming more demanding. In England, the Renters’ Rights Act is now live, bringing changes around tenancy structure, possession and rent increases. Against that backdrop, we continue to refine our criteria in response to market conditions, giving intermediaries greater flexibility and more options. Recent changes include extending our enhanced rental calculation so it can now be used on up to two cases per qualifying client and increasing the maximum age at take-on from 70 to 75.

For intermediaries, the benefit of working with Skipton International is straightforward: more flexibility to place expat and international cases that may not fit standard criteria, and more confidence in placing them with a lender built for that market.

For more information, visit our intermediaries webpage.