Published 3 February 2020 · Last reviewed 1 May 2026
The availability of mortgages for European Nationals after Brexit is an interesting subject.
As we sit in February 2020 Brexit has been ratified. The next eleven months will shape the path ahead until this point there should not be any discrimination over the indigenous population in access to mortgages. The only exception to this rule is some lenders prohibit the qualification to Ex-Pat mortgages which depending on their individual rules may only be open to applications where at least one British National is applying on the form.
For new arrivals to the UK, the standard rule for most mortgage lenders is a three year UK residential history so they can track your ability to settle and credit conduct.
I’m a professional Mortgage Broker and amongst the eighty mortgage lenders I can access there are greater tolerances to the standard minimum period in the UK. In theory, I can arrange a mortgage on the first day of your arrival to the UK. However, experience tells me to be successful you must tick the following boxes:
• No current or past credit problems.
• Must be employed on a permanent contract.
• Have opened a UK bank account with salary mandated in there.
• Have at least one active UK line of credit, maybe a credit card or mobile phone contract.
• Have at least a 15% deposit.
I must caveat that the success rate is vastly improved after 3 to 6 months from arrival.
Of course, the longer you’ve been in the UK then one or more of these obstacles can be eroded. However, from my experience poor credit or self employed customers will not have a chance of a mortgage until at least a year.