A ten-step walkthrough — from opening your first UK account remotely to receiving the keys to a London property — built for US income, US structures and FATCA realities. Short steps, one clear action each.
Specialist Finance for International Investors
Whether you are a British expat in New York, an American buying from the US, or a family office deploying through an entity, the route to a London property is well-trodden. The one thing that genuinely goes wrong for US-connected buyers is applying to lenders who cannot underwrite them. UHNW applicants typically route through private banks; other buyers through specialist non-resident lenders. We identify which pool applies — before you approach anyone directly.
Private Bank Route
£2m+
Assessed against global AUM
Specialist Lender Route
Under £2m
US-income underwriting available
The single most important first step for a US-connected buyer is establishing your status: British expat or dual national living in the US, American citizen or green-card holder buying from the US, American expat already living in the UK, or a US family office buying through an entity. Each profile maps to a different UK lender pool — and for US persons, FATCA reporting applies wherever you live. Getting the profile right at the start is what prevents a decline later.
Action
Confirm citizenship and residency status, income type (W-2, 1099, business distributions, investment income), currency, and whether a US entity or trust will be involved — before approaching anyone.
Most UK mortgage lenders prefer (and private banks require) a UK banking relationship. All of the following can be opened from the US, without setting foot in the UK. One US-specific note: because of FATCA reporting obligations, some institutions apply extra onboarding steps for US persons — expect to complete a W-9 and allow slightly longer for account opening.
Action
Open an HSBC Expat or Barclays International account as early as possible — a 3–6 month banking history strengthens your application. As a US person, have your W-9 and identification documents ready.
This is the decision that shapes everything downstream for American buyers. Buying in your personal name is often simplest for a family residence. Many US family offices instinctively reach for their Delaware LLC or US family trust — but most UK lenders will not lend to a US entity, and those that will are a short list. A UK SPV (a UK limited company) as the borrower, with your US entity as shareholder, is frequently the cleaner lending structure. Note also that a US-domiciled entity acquiring UK property must register on the UK's Register of Overseas Entities. Each route carries different US and UK tax consequences — this is squarely a question for dual-qualified US-UK tax advisers, and we coordinate with them rather than advise on it ourselves.
Action
Engage a dual-qualified US-UK tax adviser before committing to a structure. We arrange the finance for whichever structure you and your advisers choose — and we know each lender's position on US entities in advance.
If the UK SPV route is right for you, a UK Limited Company can be registered entirely online via Companies House — no UK visit required. The process typically takes under 24 hours and costs £50 if done directly. Formation agents handle everything and provide a UK registered address.
Action
Use SIC code 68100 (buying and selling of own real estate) when registering. Appoint a UK accountant to handle annual filings — ideally one who works alongside your US CPA.
Your SPV needs its own UK bank account. Several digital business banks are well-suited to non-resident directors and can be opened entirely online. US-person directors should expect FATCA-related onboarding questions — routine, but budget a little extra time.
Action
Tide is generally the fastest to open for non-resident directors. Keep this account separate and solely for SPV transactions.
The UK conveyancing process is thorough and typically takes 10–14 weeks. A solicitor experienced with American acquirers will manage anti-money laundering checks on US-sourced funds (usually straightforward — US wealth tends to be well-documented), explain leasehold structures (which differ from US condo and fee-simple ownership), and handle Register of Overseas Entities filings if you are buying through a US entity.
Action
Ask your broker for a referral — we work with solicitors who handle international buyer transactions and understand US entity structures and US-sourced funds.
UK lenders assessing US income require more documentation than for domestic applicants — and US profiles have their own list. Having these ready before approaching lenders accelerates the process considerably.
Action
Self-employed and business-owner applicants typically need 2 years of records. Start collating early — US documentation is familiar to the right lenders, but only the right lenders.
This is the most consequential step of all. Most UK high-street lenders cannot underwrite US-connected borrowers — dollar income, US entities, FATCA reporting — and applying to the wrong lender, then being declined, wastes months and can narrow your future options. A specialist broker knows exactly which institutions have genuine appetite for your specific US profile, and pre-qualifies the match before any application is made.
Action
Contact our team. We will assess your profile, identify the appropriate specialist lenders or private banks, and manage the entire application on your behalf — on US-friendly call times.
Once your broker has identified the right lender and submitted your case, a Decision in Principle (DIP) is issued. This confirms how much the lender is willing to lend. It carries no obligation to proceed but gives you credible buying power when approaching sellers — the UK equivalent of a strong pre-approval letter.
Action
Use your DIP when making offers. Estate agents in Prime London take buyers with finance in principle considerably more seriously.
Your solicitor will handle exchange of contracts (a 10% deposit is paid and the deal becomes legally binding) and then completion (mortgage funds released, title transferred). Stamp Duty Land Tax is paid at completion — including the 2% non-resident surcharge if you are not UK-resident. If you will be letting the property, register under the UK's non-resident landlord scheme to receive rent gross, and remember UK rental income is also reportable in the US — the US-UK double taxation treaty provides relief, which your US tax adviser will apply.
Action
Plan for 10–14 weeks from mortgage application to completion. The process is thorough — its rigour is precisely what makes UK property ownership so secure.
The Profile
Mid-40s. Managing director at a US investment bank — W-2 dollar income, wealth in US brokerage accounts. UK national, US-resident for 12 years. No current UK credit footprint.
The Goal
Purchase a two-bedroom apartment in Marylebone at around £2.5M — an investment today, a family base for an eventual return to London. Representative of the most common US-connected profile we see.
The Outcome
A £2.5M Prime London purchase completed in around 7 months, managed remotely from New York with two London visits. Dollar wealth diversified into a sterling asset, a UK base secured for the family's eventual return — and not a single wasted application along the way.
Month by Month
First conversation with Palladian Finance. Profile confirmed: UK national, US-resident, W-2 income, FATCA reporting live. Opened an HSBC Expat account the same week — fully remote from New York.
Personal-name purchase chosen given the future family-residence intent — confirmed with a dual-qualified US-UK tax adviser. Documentation assembled: W-2s, federal tax returns, brokerage statements, source-of-deposit letters.
Palladian pre-qualified the lender match: two specialist lenders with explicit appetite for US employment income. High-street lenders — who would have declined on the dollar-income profile — never approached.
Decision in Principle issued. Offer made on a Marylebone apartment through a London agent and accepted below asking, in line with current prime market discount data.
Solicitors instructed. AML checks on US-sourced funds completed quickly — brokerage-documented wealth is straightforward. Leasehold structure (140+ years remaining) explained and approved.
Exchange of contracts. 10% deposit paid, converted from dollars at a GBP/USD level the buyer had been tracking for weeks — the currency timing chosen deliberately, with finance already in place.
Completion. Stamp Duty Land Tax paid, including the 2% non-resident surcharge — budgeted from the first conversation, so no surprises. Keys collected on a two-day London visit; property let shortly after, with the non-resident landlord registration handled by the solicitor.
This is a representative example of a typical US-connected transaction, shown to illustrate the process and timeline — it does not describe a specific client engagement. Every buyer's circumstances differ; outcomes depend on your individual profile and lender criteria.
For overseas buyers, the real question often isn't the mortgage — it's the tax. UK purchase and succession costs are significant, and they're where less-prepared buyers get caught out. We flag them at the outset and work alongside your own tax and legal advisers, so nothing surprises you on the day.
01
On top of standard Stamp Duty, non-UK residents pay a 2% surcharge, and a further 5% applies to an additional or second home — so a non-resident buying an investment property typically pays around 7% above the standard rates. We build this into your numbers from day one.
02
Buying in your personal name or through a UK company (an SPV) carries different tax and succession consequences — and companies acquiring residential property above £500,000 can face a 17% flat rate. There is no single right answer. We arrange finance for whichever structure you and your advisers choose.
03
UK residential property falls within the scope of UK inheritance tax — 40% above the available allowances — regardless of where you live or how the property is held. For families buying for the next generation, it is worth planning early. We structure the purchase and finance to fit your succession plans.
Palladian Finance arranges property finance. We are not tax, legal or estate-planning advisers — but we know these questions matter, so we raise them early and coordinate with your chosen advisers. Rates and thresholds are those applying in England and are current at the time of writing; they can change, so confirm your position with a qualified adviser.
Our team works with private bank applicants, specialist-lender applicants and family-office introductions. We will tell you directly which route fits your US profile, what terms look realistic, and how long it will take.
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Third-party references: References to third-party companies, platforms, and services within this guide are for informational purposes only. Palladian Finance has no commercial relationship with any company mentioned and does not endorse or recommend any specific provider. You should conduct your own due diligence before engaging any third-party service. Palladian Finance does not provide US tax or legal advice — FATCA, US tax treatment of UK property and entity structuring should be reviewed with dual-qualified US-UK advisers.