Finding the Right Job Abroad

Living, working, or retiring abroad can mean that you must lose your connection with the UK, but an expat mortgage can ensure that you can still have an investment in the UK. Buying a property in the UK or retaining the one that you live in and wish to keep is the obvious way and it is in this regard that you may have to consider looking at the expat mortgages market. A broker that you may have used in the past may not have the specialist knowledge required to access the many expat mortgages that are available to those considering moving, or working abroad.

Buying to let is an excellent way to maintain your connection and to keep a foothold here in the UK and for those who will remain subject to UK taxation, buy-to-let, which is considered a business, offers certain tax advantages over residential purchases, particularly if you plan to return and live in the property in the future. For example, despite living abroad, expats subject to UK taxation on a UK property are liable for capital gains tax at 40 per cent on the sale of a property. The only exception is if the property was formerly your main residence. In this case, you are exempt from capital gains if you sell within three years of renting it out to tenants. If the property has never been your main home, you are liable to full capital gains for three years.