Lender targets brokers’ expat, international investor clients with specialist SPV mortgage
Over the last decade, limited company lending has cemented itself as part of the buy-to-let market. A growing proportion of new purchases are taking this route, with new data showing more than three-quarters are now made through limited companies.
The research, conducted by Hamptons, showcases the true scale of the shift. Its analysis of Companies House data found that a record 66,587 new limited companies were set up to hold buy-to-let property in 2025 alone, bringing the UK total to 443,272 by the end of the year, up from 91,278 in 2016. As corporate ownership becomes the established model for an increasing number of landlords, demand from expat and international investors for a comparable route has grown alongside it.
For Skipton International, the trajectory of the market and the numbers in front of it both pointed to the same conclusion: opportunity. The lender recently launched its Limited Company Lending proposition, with Lucy Lewis, senior manager, mortgage sales, calling it “a way to broaden the support we offer expat and international customers investing in UK property.”
“Limited company lending builds on our existing expertise, giving intermediaries a specialist option for non-UK resident directors purchasing or refinancing property through a special purpose vehicle (SPV).”
Building on specialist experience
Brokers are already familiar with the challenges expat and international investors face when accessing UK buy-to-let lending. From residency requirements and overseas income documentation to the additional complexities of purchasing through a limited company structure, these cases can require careful navigation.
Purchasing through an SPV introduces further eligibility considerations, Lewis notes, including where the company is registered, the residency of its directors, the nature of its activities, and whether it meets the lender’s requirements.
“For intermediaries, this can mean spending more time establishing whether a lender will accept the client and what will be required to support the application,” Lewis says. “Accurate, accessible criteria can help them assess whether a case fits before it is submitted.”
Skipton International has long focused on the specific needs of expat and international customers in this market, and its new proposition builds directly on that expertise.
The product is available to eligible non-UK resident directors, including those residing in the European Union, using pure SPVs incorporated in the UK, Guernsey, or Jersey. Trading companies, however, are not eligible. Applications are limited to a maximum of two directors or shareholders per company, providing a clear structural boundary for intermediaries assessing whether a case fits.
The proposition supports both purchases and remortgages. The interest coverage ratio (ICR) is assessed at 125 per cent using the five-year product pay rate. The maximum loan-to-value (LTV) is 65 per cent, with a minimum loan size of £200,000.
Dedicated support throughout the process
While the new proposition expands the lender’s capabilities, Lewis is clear that it doesn’t change how Skipton International works with its brokers: the lender is keeping its emphasis on personalised support. Intermediaries can speak to dedicated mortgage specialists about residency, company structure, eligibility, and packaging requirements before submitting a case.
“This gives them an experienced point of contact when further discussion is needed,” Lewis says, pointing to Skipton International’s expat intermediary hub as a rich resource for key lending criteria, product rates, terms and conditions, application information, and supporting documents.
The lender’s criteria-led underwriting approach assesses applications on a case-by-case basis. It looks at the sustainability of the rental income, the property and its valuation, the company’s structure and activity, the directors’ background and experience, and wider portfolio exposure where applicable.
“Together, these resources and access to experienced professionals help intermediaries understand what’s required to package and progress an application,” Lewis says.
A market with momentum
The growth in limited company ownership shows no sign of slowing. In January of this year, 5,922 new buy-to-let companies were incorporated, 11 per cent more than in the same month the previous year, according to that same Hamptons study. That pace points to a structural change in how UK investment property is held, rather than the peak of a trend.
“All signs suggest limited company lending will remain an important part of the market for overseas investors,” says Lewis. “For intermediaries, it reinforces the importance of understanding how lenders assess SPV structures, director residency, and company eligibility. Skipton International’s focus is on supporting eligible non-UK resident directors through specialist lending criteria, dedicated mortgage support and the personal service at the heart of our approach.”
Want to know more? Intermediaries can find the full lending criteria, rates and application information on the Skipton International Limited Company Lending webpage.
