UK buyers: getting a mortgage in France after Brexit
British buyers can still buy and finance property in France. Since Brexit, UK residents are assessed as non-EU borrowers: the file needs to be clearer, and the currency question is central.
What changed with Brexit
- UK residents are now non-EU borrowers for French banks. Some lenders became more selective, others remain open: it depends on the bank, the moment and the profile.
- Owning a home in France does not give a right to live there. Without a long-stay visa, UK nationals can stay in the Schengen area up to 90 days in any 180-day period.
Sterling income
Income in GBP adds an exchange-rate risk. A French bank may apply a prudent exchange rate, ask for a longer income history or require a larger safety margin. The 35% debt-to-income cap (insurance included) and the 25-year maximum term still apply.
Documents to prepare
- Passport, proof of address, marital status.
- Recent payslips and your P60; for the self-employed, accounts and HMRC tax calculations (SA302) or tax year overviews.
- The last three months of bank statements for all accounts, and statements of existing loans and credit cards.
- Proof of your deposit and of the origin of funds.
Some banks ask for certified translations: identify early which documents need one.
The French purchase process
Purchase agreement, 10-day cooling-off period, mortgage contingency, loan offer with a 10-day reflection period, then signing at the notary, possibly with a power of attorney. Details: buying property in France step by step.
Tax
Rental income from French property is generally taxable in France, and the France–UK tax treaty determines how it is treated in the UK. Get advice from a tax adviser before choosing how to buy (own name, company).
Questions
Can UK residents still get a mortgage in France?
Yes. Since Brexit they are assessed as non-EU borrowers; each bank sets its own policy, and income in sterling is assessed with a prudent exchange-rate assumption.
Does owning a French home let me live in France?
No. Property ownership does not give a right of residence. Without a long-stay visa, UK nationals can stay up to 90 days in any 180-day period in the Schengen area.
Which UK documents will a French bank ask for?
Typically payslips and P60, or accounts and SA302 for the self-employed, three months of bank statements, loan statements and proof of the deposit.
Get a first review of your project
Describe your project, country of residence, income currency and deposit. You can write in English. A first review is free, does not commit you and is not a loan agreement: no rate is promised before a written bank offer.