A home here, whatever your passport says.
On a Skilled Worker visa, pre-settled status or indefinite leave to remain — there are lenders who take a flexible view of applicants from overseas, and we know which ones.
Stricter criteria, yes — but more doors than you'd think.
Buying a home in the UK as a foreign national can feel like a maze of visa rules and lender small print. It's navigable — with someone who knows the map.
Many lenders set firm requirements for applicants from overseas: a minimum of two years living in the UK, two years remaining on a visa, or a 25% deposit if you don't yet hold indefinite leave to remain. Miss one of those marks and a high-street application can stall before it starts.
Because we search the whole market, we also know the lenders who take a more flexible view — arranging mortgages for clients who've been in the country less than a year, with as little as six months left on a visa, or with deposits as low as 5% without ILR. We regularly help people on Skilled Worker, Health and Care Worker, and Spouse or Partner visas, students moving into employment, and both pre-settled and settled status holders under the EU Settlement Scheme.
Whether you've just arrived for a job in Lancaster or you've been settled here for years, we'll look at your circumstances, tell you plainly what's realistic, and handle the application and the paperwork from there. We advise clients across the UK — face to face on King Street, or by phone and video.
Your first conversation is free, and there's no obligation. See how it works
Settled status or a visa — how the ground differs.
Neither route is closed. The difference is mainly how many lenders will consider you, and on what terms.
| With ILR or settled status | On a visa | |
|---|---|---|
| Deposit | Treated much like any UK applicant — smaller deposits are widely available | Many lenders ask for around 25% — though some will accept as little as 5% |
| Time in the UK | Rarely an obstacle in itself | Many lenders want two years of UK history; some will consider under a year |
| Visa conditions | None to satisfy | Some lenders want two years or more remaining; others accept as little as six months |
| Lender choice | Most of the market is open to you | A smaller, more specialist pool — which is where whole-of-market advice earns its keep |
How it goes from here.
Your situation
A relaxed conversation about your visa or status, your income and the home you have in mind.
Research
We search the whole market for lenders whose criteria genuinely fit your circumstances.
A clear recommendation
A written recommendation in plain English — what we'd do, and why.
Questions we hear from foreign nationals.
Can I get a mortgage without indefinite leave to remain?
It's possible. Many lenders ask applicants without ILR for a 25% deposit, but we work with lenders who can accept deposits as low as 5%. Your visa type, income and time in the UK all shape which options are open to you.
How long do I need to have lived in the UK?
Many lenders want at least two years of UK history, but that's far from universal. We can arrange mortgages for clients who have been in the country for less than a year — it's a matter of knowing which lenders take the flexible view.
What if my visa has less than two years left on it?
Some lenders do want two years or more remaining, but others will accept applicants with as little as six months left on a visa. Matching your circumstances to the right lender is exactly the job we do.
Which visa types can you help with?
Skilled Worker visas, Health and Care Worker visas, Spouse or Partner visas, and students transitioning into employment. If your situation is different, ask anyway — criteria vary widely between lenders, and we'll tell you straight what's realistic.
I have pre-settled status under the EU Settlement Scheme — does that count?
Yes. We help both pre-settled and settled status applicants secure mortgages. Settled status is treated much like indefinite leave to remain; pre-settled status narrows the field a little, but there are lenders who are comfortable with it.
Do you only help people in Lancaster?
No. We're based on King Street in Lancaster and many of our clients work locally, but we advise foreign nationals across the UK — by phone and video as well as face to face, whichever suits you.
Wherever you started out, the first conversation is free.
Tell us a little about your situation — visa, status, plans — and we'll come back to you within one working day. No hard sell, no obligation, no jargon.