Darlington Building Society completes UK mortgage for expat couple in Saudi Arabia despite historic adverse
05 May 2026
Darlington Building Society has completed a UK residential mortgage for an expat couple based in Saudi Arabia, secured at 51% loan-to-value on a specialist rate of 4.69%.
The applicants, both UK citizens with dependants, are currently living and working overseas. The first applicant is a high-earning contractor, with income paid abroad, while the second applicant is not currently earning. The purchase was supported by a combination of personal savings and a gifted deposit from their family.
The case, introduced by Bianca Thompson, Mortgage Adviser at Adrian Knott Partnership, involved a number of factors that required careful consideration, including foreign income that is not subject to UK tax, a contractor income structure, and a historic default alongside a missed payment from over three years ago. The default had only recently been satisfied.
The mortgage was structured to reflect the applicants’ strong deposit position and income profile, with Darlington Building Society able to take a flexible, case-by-case approach to overseas earnings, including where UK tax assumptions are not relevant. . As the adverse credit was over three years old, it was assessed in the context of the overall case rather than treated as a stand-alone issue.
The case required a clear understanding of both the applicants’ current circumstances and their plans to return to the UK, with the mortgage structured to support the purchase of a long-term family home.
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.
The Society continues to support brokers with cases involving overseas income, contractor applicants and historic adverse, focusing on a practical approach to underwriting where cases are assessed on their overall merits.
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, importantly, we do not apply UK tax assumptions to that income, which 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.”
For more information, visit: https://www.darlington.co.uk/darlington-intermediaries
