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Expat couple in Saudi Arabia secure UK mortgage with Darlington Building Society despite historic adverse credit
Christopher Blewitt, Head of Intermediary Distribution, Darlington Building Society
An expat couple living and working in Saudi Arabia have secured a UK residential mortgage with Darlington Building Society, despite historic adverse credit and the complexities of overseas income.
The applicants, both UK citizens with dependents, are currently based overseas. The first applicant is a high-earning contractor, with income paid abroad, while the second applicant is not currently earning. The couple had built up savings and also received a gifted deposit from their family to support their purchase of a UK family home.
The case, introduced by Bianca Thompson, Mortgage Adviser at Adrian Knott Partnership, involved several elements that can make a mortgage application more complex. These included foreign income that is not subject to UK tax, a contractor employment structure, and a previous default alongside a missed payment from over three years ago. While the default had only recently been satisfied, it remained a consideration within the application.
The applicants were able to proceed with a strong deposit position, resulting in a loan-to-value of 51%. The mortgage was secured at a specialist rate of 4.69%.
The broker placed the case with Darlington Building Society. As the adverse credit was over three years old, the Society was able to take a pragmatic view, assessing the case on its overall merits rather than focusing solely on historic issues.
Darlington Building Society has recently announced that it has increased the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) available on its foreign currency mortgage range to 90%, up from 80%. This change aims to support brokers placing cases for expat and foreign income clients, including first-time buyers.
Chris Blewitt, Head of Mortgage Distribution at Darlington Building Society, said:
“This was a case where several elements needed to be looked at together rather than in isolation. You have overseas income, a contractor role, and historic adverse that, whilst now satisfied, would still raise questions elsewhere.
“What mattered here was the full picture. The applicants had a strong income and affordability, a clear plan to return to the UK, and a solid deposit made up of both savings and family support. The adverse was also over three years old, which gave us comfort to take a more measured view.
“We are comfortable working with foreign income and apply a practical, case-by-case approach to its assessment. Where UK tax assumptions are not applicable, this can make a real difference to borrowing levels. Cases like this show how taking a common-sense approach can help brokers place applications that might otherwise struggle to find a home.”
Bianca Thompson, Mortgage Adviser at Adrian Knott Partnership, added:
“I chose to work with Darlington Building Society because of the genuinely human approach they bring to lending. They are accessible and proactive, always available for a conversation and quick to respond, which makes a real difference when managing complex cases.
“What sets them apart is their willingness to listen. Rather than hiding behind rigid criteria, they encourage discussions, are open to escalation, and approach each case with a ‘how can we make this work?’ mindset. They take the time to understand the story behind the application, which is invaluable when placing more complex scenarios.”
Darlington’s broker partners can access the full range through the intermediary portal with dedicated underwriting support.
Discover how Darlington Building Society can support your mortgage needs today. Visit our website at https://www.darlington.co.uk/darlington-intermediaries