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Recently moved to the UK

Banking and Financial services in the UK

If you’ve just moved to the UK, you’re sure to have a lot to think about and organise. We can help you with day-to-day banking and wealth management, so you can concentrate on making a great start to this new episode in your life.

We offer:

  • A range of day-to-day banking services, including a bank account that is not constrained by borders
  • The security of the Barclays Group, one of the largest banks in the world
  • A Relationship Manager Service to give you personal help with your finances and wealth planning
  • Savings and investment options that are designed for international customers
  • Help with onshore and offshore banking and investments
  • Mortgages and loans (subject to application and status)

Buying property in the UK

As a non-domiciled UK resident you may want to buy property in the UK, either as your family home or as an investment.

Before you do so, it is worth considering your UK tax status and the implications of buying property in the UK. At Barclays we don’t give tax advice, but if you don’t have your own tax adviser we can introduce you to Ernst & Young, a leading financial services firm.

If you decide to buy property in the UK, we can help you finance the purchase with a range of mortgage options.

UK real estate market

If you’re new to the UK, it’s important to understand how the local property market works. In particular, you should be aware of differences within the different countries of the UK.

To buy property in England and Wales, you make a bid to the seller, who can then either accept or reject it. There can be competition between buyers, with estate agents or other intermediaries trying to secure a deal for their clients.

In Scotland, all prospective purchasers send a sealed bid to the seller, who considers them before deciding who to sell to.

Wherever in the UK you are thinking of buying, we will work alongside your legal representatives to ensure you understand the entire process.

UK real estate agents

When buying in the UK it’s wise to register with as many real estate agents as possible in the area you want to buy in, so you are made aware of the maximum number of properties. Many people also use property websites to find out what’s available.

If you’re selling in the UK, you should be aware that when agents sell a property, they charge the seller a fee, which is usually a percentage of the sale price, such as 2.5%. They will often reduce the fee to, say, 1% to 1.5%, if you give them sole agency rights, but this means your property will only be marketed to people who have registered with them. It’s up to you whether you prefer a lower fee or having your property marketed to more potential buyers.

UK Property services

If you need to finance your UK property investment, we offer a wide range of options, including interest-only, repayment, onshore and offshore, and mortgages in a choice of currencies.

You may also be able to secure a loan against the value of long-term savings and investments you hold with us. This means you may be able to finance a property purchase without affecting your other investment plans. However, security over your savings and investments will be required.

If you already own a UK property, you may want to release some of its value to fund an extension or refurbishment. We can provide a remortgage that can mean paying a lower interest rate as well as enabling you to consolidate other loans and have lower monthly outgoings.

YOUR HOME MAY BE REPOSSESSED IF YOU DO NOT KEEP UP REPAYMENTS ON YOUR MORTGAGE.

If your loan is denominated in a currency other than sterling CHANGES IN THE EXCHANGE RATE MAY INCREASE THE STERLING EQUIVALENT OF YOUR DEBT.

For more information or to apply

Call us on +44 (0)1624 684305†

Terms and conditions apply to all mortgage products. We strongly recommend that you obtain your own independent tax advice before proceeding with an offshore mortgage.

Barclays Wealth will require a first legal charge over the property.

As a responsible lender, we only want you to borrow what you can afford, and in a way that is best for you. When considering your application, your financial circumstances will be assessed before we make a decision to lend money. And remember, if you should run into any financial difficulties, please contact us as soon as you become aware of them.

In all forms of advertising and marketing material where repayments are quoted, we will show clearly a typical Annual Percentage Rate (APR). We will also clearly indicate in all lending-related advertising issued in Jersey that we abide by the Code of Practice for Consumer Lending.

The products and services described on this page are provided by the following companies which are part of Barclays Wealth, Barclays Bank PLC in England and Wales and Barclays Private Clients International Limited in the Isle of Man, Jersey and Guernsey. For further information on these companies and Barclays Wealth please read the Important Information.