Since Brexit, British buyers are treated as non-EU non-residents by French lenders. That does not close the door — it changes which doors are worth knocking on. The difference between a refusal and an approval is usually the bank you apply to and the way the file is presented, not your income.
What French banks expect from a British buyer
- A down payment of typically 30 % of the purchase price, plus the acquisition costs (notaire fees) paid from your own funds.
- Sterling income discounted by the bank (commonly 10 to 30 %) to cover exchange-rate risk before the debt-to-income ratio is calculated.
- A debt-to-income ratio capped at 35 %, including your UK mortgage, car finance and any other credit commitments.
- Three years of stable income: payslips and P60s if employed, full accounts and SA302s if self-employed or a company director.
- Proof of the origin of your down payment, with full traceability (AML rules are strict on cross-border funds).
The banks that actually lend to UK residents
Only a handful of French lenders run a genuine international desk able to underwrite a GBP-paid borrower. Some regional branches will politely take your file and never progress it; others have a dedicated non-resident team with its own credit rules.
My job is to place your file with the two or three lenders whose current appetite matches your profile — property type, loan amount, currency, residency — instead of letting you spend three months collecting refusals.
Practical points British buyers often discover late
- You will need a French bank account to receive the funds and pay the monthly instalments by SEPA direct debit; I set this up with the lending bank remotely.
- French lender's life insurance is usually mandatory and medically underwritten; existing UK cover is rarely accepted as a substitute.
- Currency transfer timing matters: budget the FX cost of moving your deposit, and plan it before the notaire's funds call.
- The whole process runs 8 to 12 weeks from accepted offer to signature, longer than a UK purchase — build that into the compromis de vente.
How we work together, remotely
Everything is handled from the UK: a free 30-minute video call in English, secure document upload, bank interviews that I run on your behalf, electronic signature of the mortgage offer, and if needed a power of attorney so you do not have to fly over for the notaire appointment.
My fee is 2 % of the loan amount, minimum 4 500 €, payable only if you sign the mortgage I negotiated. The discovery call and the file audit cost nothing.
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FAQ
- Yes. Brexit did not stop French banks lending to UK residents — it moved British buyers into the non-EU non-resident category, which means a larger down payment (usually 30 %) and a shorter list of lenders. Approvals remain common for well-prepared files.
- Yes, with the banks that accept currency-mismatched income. They apply a haircut to your sterling income to absorb exchange-rate risk, so your borrowing capacity is lower than an equivalent euro salary would allow.
- Plan for around 30 % of the price as a down payment, plus acquisition costs. Some lenders go lower for very strong files; others require more for a holiday-let or a property needing works.
- No. The mortgage offer can be signed electronically and the notaire deed can be signed by power of attorney if you cannot travel.
- Yes. Calls, documents and bank negotiations are handled in English on your side and in French on the bank's side.