Throughout 2025 and into 2026, many UK expat borrowers have noticed a subtle but important shift in the mortgage landscape. Applications that would previously have progressed smoothly are now taking longer, attracting more scrutiny, or being declined without the clear rationale borrowers were accustomed to.
What makes this change particularly confusing is the lack of public announcements. There has been no widespread withdrawal of expat lending, no dramatic policy statements, and no headline-grabbing regulatory intervention. Yet behind the scenes, several UK lenders have quietly reduced their appetite for overseas borrowers—or narrowed the circumstances in which they are prepared to lend.
At Willow Private Finance, we see this first-hand. Expats are still able to secure excellent mortgage solutions in 2026, but only where lender selection and case presentation reflect how underwriting behaviour has evolved. This article explains why some lenders have stepped back, what this means in practical terms, and how expat borrowers can still navigate the market successfully.
For a broader overview of how expat mortgages are being assessed this year, our article on UK Expat Mortgages in 2026 provides useful background.
From the borrower’s perspective, the changes often feel inconsistent. One lender may still actively market expat mortgages, while another quietly removes overseas options from broker systems. Some banks now accept fewer countries, others require more documentation, and a growing number simply pause new expat business without explanation.
This inconsistency reflects the fact that expat lending has become a risk-managed niche, rather than a standard extension of domestic mortgage lending. In 2026, lenders are not withdrawing because expats are undesirable borrowers, but because the complexity and cost of managing overseas risk has increased.
Importantly, this does not apply equally across the market. Several specialist lenders and private banks remain very active in expat lending. The reduction has been selective, not universal.
One of the least visible but most influential drivers behind reduced expat lending is capital treatment. Overseas borrowers typically attract higher internal risk weightings due to jurisdictional distance, enforcement complexity, and regulatory considerations.
In 2026, banks are under greater pressure to allocate capital efficiently. Where two otherwise similar mortgages compete for internal funding—one domestic and one expat—the domestic case often wins simply because it consumes less capital under internal models.
This does not mean expat mortgages are “riskier” in practice. Many expats have strong income, substantial assets, and conservative borrowing profiles. However, from a balance-sheet perspective, lenders must consider worst-case enforcement scenarios, currency volatility, and cross-border legal friction.
As a result, some lenders have quietly capped volumes, tightened criteria, or redirected expat cases toward specialist teams rather than mainstream channels.
Beyond capital considerations, the operational burden of expat lending has grown. In 2026, lenders are dealing with stricter documentation standards, enhanced AML checks, and increased expectations around source-of-funds verification for overseas clients.
Income earned abroad often requires additional validation, particularly where banking systems, employment structures, or accounting standards differ from those in the UK. This adds time, cost, and uncertainty to the underwriting process.
For lenders already operating with lean underwriting teams, expat cases can slow overall throughput. Rather than expanding capacity, some lenders have chosen to reduce exposure quietly by narrowing acceptable profiles or geographies.
This is one reason why expat borrowers increasingly encounter requests for documentation that were not required in 2025—a trend explored further in our article on Why Mortgage Applications Stall in 2026.
Foreign income has always been a defining feature of expat mortgages, but in 2026 it has become one of the primary friction points.
Lenders are now less willing to rely on simplified income summaries or employer letters alone. Instead, they increasingly require full historic evidence, banking trails, and independent verification, particularly where income is paid in non-GBP currencies or through overseas entities.
This reflects a broader shift away from exchange-rate optimism toward verification certainty. Even strong earners can face delays or declines if their income structure is difficult to evidence or explain clearly.
For buy-to-let cases, foreign income is often used as secondary comfort rather than primary affordability, but lenders still want reassurance that borrowers can support mortgages during voids or market stress. Our analysis of this trend is covered in more detail in Foreign Income Mortgages in 2026.
Another factor influencing lender appetite is enforcement risk. While repossession is rare in well-structured cases, lenders must still model outcomes where borrowers reside outside the UK.
In 2026, some lenders have reassessed how easily they could engage with overseas borrowers during arrears scenarios, particularly where residency is in jurisdictions with limited legal cooperation or slower communication channels.
This has led to tighter rules around acceptable countries of residence, even where income and credit profiles are strong. In some cases, lenders that previously accepted a wide range of countries now operate “approved lists” without publicising the change.
For expat landlords, portfolio size has become another pressure point. Lenders are increasingly cautious about layered exposure—particularly where borrowers hold multiple UK properties while residing abroad.
In 2026, lenders are more likely to assess refinancing dependency, maturity clustering, and long-term cash flow resilience across entire portfolios, not just individual properties.
This does not prevent portfolio lending, but it does mean that poorly presented cases—or those lacking a clear long-term strategy—are more likely to be reduced or declined. This theme is closely linked to the challenges discussed in Expat Buy-to-Let Mortgages in 2026.
Perhaps the most frustrating aspect for borrowers is the lack of transparency. Lenders rarely announce reductions in expat appetite because doing so can create reputational issues or prompt unnecessary concern.
Instead, changes are often implemented through internal guidance, broker communication, or subtle system restrictions. This makes it difficult for borrowers dealing directly with lenders to understand why outcomes differ from expectations.
For brokers working actively in the expat space, these shifts are visible through declined decisions, extended turnaround times, or changing underwriting feedback—even when headline criteria appear unchanged.
At Willow Private Finance, we work around reduced lender appetite by focusing on fit rather than availability. Not every lender that “accepts expats” is appropriate for every overseas borrower in 2026.
We structure cases based on jurisdiction, income type, currency exposure, property profile, and long-term plans—selecting lenders whose internal risk models align with the client’s reality, not just their published criteria.
This approach reduces failed applications, preserves credit profiles, and improves certainty of outcome, particularly for clients with complex or international financial arrangements.
Expat lending is not disappearing, but it is becoming more specialised. Lenders willing to engage are doing so with clearer boundaries, deeper underwriting, and higher expectations of preparation.
For borrowers, this means that expert advice is no longer optional—it is structural to success. Those who adapt to these realities will continue to secure competitive lending, even as some doors quietly close.
Willow Private Finance is an independent, whole-of-market broker with extensive experience supporting UK expats worldwide. We regularly arrange residential and buy-to-let mortgages for overseas clients with foreign income, multi-currency exposure, and complex residency profiles.
By understanding lender behaviour beyond surface-level criteria, we help expat borrowers navigate reduced lender appetite and secure solutions that remain viable both now and in the years ahead.
Q1: Are UK lenders still offering expat mortgages in 2026?
Yes, though some lenders have reduced volume or narrowed acceptable profiles. Specialist lenders remain active.
Q2: Why have some lenders stepped back without announcing it?
Most changes are driven by internal risk and capital considerations rather than policy shifts, so they are implemented quietly.
Q3: Does reduced expat lending affect buy-to-let more than residential?
Buy-to-let cases often face greater scrutiny due to rental stress testing and portfolio exposure, but both areas are affected.
Q4: Is foreign income harder to use than before?
Yes. Verification standards are higher, and lenders are more cautious about complex or poorly documented income sources.
Q5: Can brokers still access lenders that accept expats?
Yes. Experienced brokers with strong lender relationships can still place expat cases effectively in 2026.
Book a free strategy call with one of our mortgage specialists.
We’ll help you find the smartest way forward—whatever rates do next.
About the Author
Wesley Ranger is the Director of Willow Private Finance and has over 20 years of experience in UK and international property finance. He specialises in complex lending scenarios involving overseas residency, foreign income, portfolio landlords, and high-value properties. Wesley works closely with private banks, specialist lenders, and institutional funders to structure robust lending solutions where traditional underwriting approaches fall short.
Important Notice
This article is for general information purposes only and does not constitute personal financial advice. Mortgage availability, criteria, stress testing, and lender appetite—particularly for expat borrowers—can change without notice.
Overseas residency, foreign income, and cross-border financial arrangements may result in additional underwriting requirements or restrictions. Always seek tailored advice before entering into any mortgage or financial commitment.
Willow Private Finance Ltd is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA No. 588422). Registered in England and Wales.
