Can A Brit Expat Get A 90% Mortgage ?

Are low deposit Expat mortgages available?

For British expats living overseas, obtaining a UK mortgage has traditionally meant providing a considerably larger deposit than a UK resident. However, the expat mortgage market has become increasingly competitive, and some specialist lenders are now prepared to offer much higher loan-to-value mortgages.

As of 2026, eligible British expatriates may be able to obtain residential UK mortgages at up to 90% loan-to-value (LTV), meaning the borrower provides only a 10% deposit. Availability is subject to strict criteria including country of residence, employment, income, currency, credit history and the property being purchased.

Example

For example, a UK property valued at £300,000 could potentially be purchased with a £30,000 deposit and a £270,000 mortgage at 90% LTV.

Expat buy-to-let mortgages normally require more equity. 75% LTV remains widely available within the specialist expat buy-to-let market, representing a 25% deposit.

Why choose the low deposit option?

So why would an expat deliberately choose the highest available LTV rather than putting down a much larger deposit?

The principal advantage is capital efficiency.

An expat buying a £400,000 property at 75% LTV needs £100,000 equity. At 60% LTV, the deposit rises to £160,000. The higher-LTV mortgage therefore keeps £60,000 of capital available.

That money might be retained as an emergency reserve, used for refurbishment, invested elsewhere, or potentially used towards another property purchase.

Higher leverage can therefore be particularly attractive to property investors who want to spread their capital across several assets rather than tying a substantial amount of cash into one property.

Independent broker?

For British expats, this is also why using an independent expat mortgage broker can be valuable. Expat lending criteria differ dramatically between lenders, and access to specialist lenders can sometimes produce borrowing options that are not readily available through mainstream banks.

Can we assist you?

If you are an expat looking for a new or re-mortgage, please do make contact and one of our qualified independent advisers will be happy to help.