Join the cross-border facts into one accurate London property brief
A London purchase can involve a UK visa, overseas employment, foreign-currency salary, international bank statements or deposit funds moving between countries. Those are separate facts and lenders do not treat every combination alike. I establish where you live, how you are paid, what the UK property is for and which documents can evidence the complete trail. Legal and tax questions remain with the appropriately qualified advisers.
Useful preparation for an international London purchase
Keep statements for every account through which the deposit travels and explain salary, allowances, bonuses or company income separately. If you expect to return to the UK, occupy the property later or let it to tenants, describe the actual intended use and timing. A clear chronology is more useful than moving funds or changing arrangements before the lender and solicitor requirements are understood.
How I approach the case
We begin with what you want to achieve, your timescale and any part of the case that needs explaining. I review the evidence and suitable lender routes, then explain the available options and their costs. A recommendation follows the individual assessment; an initial conversation does not commit you to an application.
Where legal, tax or other specialist advice is needed, we identify it early so the finance fits the wider transaction. Tell me about any change in employment, borrowing, deposit or property details before proceeding.
What to prepare
- Passport and current residence or visa status
- Employment or business income evidence
- Income currency and overseas bank statements
- Deposit source and transfer trail
- London property use, price and ownership plan
You do not need every document before saying hello. Start with a short outline; detailed or sensitive records should follow through an agreed secure route.
Being based overseas, holding substantial assets or using a large deposit does not guarantee mortgage eligibility. Currency, residence, nationality, property and source-of-funds requirements vary by lender and case.
Your questions, answered
Can you help if I live overseas but want to buy in London?
That is a core reason for this page. Start with your residence, nationality, income currency, deposit and intended property use. The available route depends on the complete circumstances and current lender requirements.
Can foreign-currency income be used?
Potentially, but currencies, acceptable income types and evidence differ by lender. Salary, allowances, bonus and business income should be separated, and the lender may apply its own conversion or stress to the amount.
Should I transfer my deposit to the UK before speaking to you?
Not simply for the mortgage. Keep the full source and movement trail, and establish the lender and solicitor requirements before moving money. Transfers do not remove source-of-funds checks and can make the evidence harder to follow if accounts are omitted.
Further reading: MoneyHelper: mortgages and homebuying. Content reviewed 17 September 2026. General information; availability depends on the individual case.