Like Tree3Likes
  • 1 Post By MandM!

Remortgaging a UK property - BTL or residential?

Closed Thread
  1. #1

    Remortgaging a UK property - BTL or residential?

    Hello! Any and all views appreciated...

    I have a property in London. The fixed rate and consent to let run out in March so I need to remortgage. I have about 15% equity in it at the moment and bought on a 90% residential LTV mortgage 3 years before i moved to HK.

    The rental yield isnt wonderful so the best LTV I can get on a BTL mortgage is 60% on a 5 year fixed rate. And that's assuming the valuation comes out at the price I paid for it. I would need to find about £98k + fees to do this so I'd need a tax loan here after using all my tax savings and other savings to pay down the equity. After taking into account the rent, I'd probably be looking at a cost to me of c.£1,500 / HKD 15,000 a month in loan repayments and service charge. I'd also have to pay management fees.

    Alternative option is a residential expat mortgage. I could get 75% LTV on a 2 year fixed rate provided the valuation is the price I paid. I wouldnt need a loan for this, but I wouldnt be able to rent it out, but the cost to me in mortgage repayments and service charge would be around the same as the BTL mortgage. I'm drawn to this option because the hassle of renting it and paying fees etc actually puts me out of pocket. However, I am a bit confused about what I'm actually allowed to do with it - essentially I'd be keeping it as a holiday home - i'm not sure if tha fact that it would be empty most of the time would be an issue (I could also get a family member to say they live there if necessary though)... plus I wouldnt have any scope to rent it out.

    What would you do?

    Anyone got an expat residential mortgage in the UK? If so, what do you do with it and what evidence did your lender want?

    Thanks in advace for any help!


  2. #2

    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    6,317

    Personal loan for that amount would be best bet. If they are offering 5-6 year terms. Not sure of the rates these days.

    I got a 5 year 1.7% a couple years ago. The bank offers to top up but I think they charge a 1% fee, and not sure if extends 5 years or what. Didn't bother looking into it.


  3. #3

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    薄扶林
    Posts
    47,963
    Quote Originally Posted by MandM!:
    Personal loan for that amount would be best bet. If they are offering 5-6 year terms. Not sure of the rates these days.

    I got a 5 year 1.7% a couple years ago. The bank offers to top up but I think they charge a 1% fee, and not sure if extends 5 years or what. Didn't bother looking into it.
    You managed a UK Loan for 1.7%?

  4. #4

    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    6,317
    Quote Originally Posted by shri:
    You managed a UK Loan for 1.7%?
    Personal loan in HK.
    shri likes this.

  5. #5

    Join Date
    Dec 2002
    Location
    薄扶林
    Posts
    47,963

    Never mind, misread the thread. THought it was about UK rates and missed the part about a local loan component.


  6. #6

    Join Date
    Feb 2011
    Location
    Hong Kong
    Posts
    6,317

    I should have specified to borrow HKD in HK

    Anyone know if the P loans and rates (in HK) can be used to borrow in a foreign currency? I never asked.

    For me it doesn't matter, HKD and USD are practically the same due to the peg. And those are my primary currencies.


  7. #7

    Join Date
    Aug 2006
    Posts
    34

    I did have a BTL from The Mortgage Works (Nationwide spin off) for many years until recently which because of my age had to be reapplied for.Even though I had been paying it for many years and not living in the UK, this time they said I wasn't resident in the UK (I don't know how they arrived at that conclusion) so they refused. I do live in China but I'm on a tourist visa - where am I resident? I'm British have the house there (now for sale) and another address. Basically beware of not being resident in the UK -the usual requirements being utility bills to your address, being on the electoral register, ......