Expat buy-to-let demand nearly doubles

The firm attributed the increase to a weaker pound after the Brexit vote.

Expat buy-to-let demand nearly doubles

Demand for expat buy-to-let mortgages has increased by 90% in the past 12 months compared to the year before, according to research from broker Liquid Expat Mortgages.

The firm attributed the increase to a weaker pound after the Brexit vote.

Enquiries have commonly come from expats living in the United Arab Emirates (30%), Hong Kong (15%) and Singapore (10%).

Stuart Marshall, managing director of Liquid Expat Mortgages, said: “Over the last decade, very few lenders provided mortgages to expats, but that has changed more recently thanks to the increasing demand from expats looking to invest in UK buy-to-let property.

“Many expats are keen to keep a foothold in the UK and the yields on buy-to-let properties in the UK are far ahead of those offered by other countries.

“This increased interest in UK buy-to-let mortgages is in spite of increasing initiatives by the UK government to dampen buy-to-let purchases, such as the second home stamp duty and increasing stress testing for buy-to-let mortgages.”

Growth in interest from expats is expected to continue, with Saudi Arabia having the most expats and India having highest rate of citizens expatriating.