How We Secured an Ex-pat Remortgage Against the Odds

Despite delays, obstacles, and a complex property, an ex-pat client secured their remortgage with £74,250 funding.

The Challenge

Our client, an ex-pat, approached us seeking a remortgage to settle financial matters following a divorce. What should have been a straightforward process quickly became complicated. The property had several issues that made securing finance difficult: a ground rent above 0.2% of the property value, only 70 years left on the lease, a high service charge, and its location directly next to a commercial unit, a café. On top of this, delays with paperwork caused the initial valuation to expire, adding further frustration to the process.

Our Solution

At Cornerstone, we remained focused on finding a solution despite the setbacks. We identified a lender willing to work with the property’s challenges, including the ground rent, commercial proximity, and relatively low service charge, while accommodating the client’s ex-pat status and low LTV position. Throughout the process, we stayed in constant contact with solicitors to overcome delays and ensured the client felt supported at every stage.

The Outcome

Despite the many hurdles, we secured a loan of £74,250 against a property valued at £113,500. The remortgage was successfully completed, allowing the client to move forward after a difficult personal situation.

Client Feedback

The client left us a five-star Feefo review, saying:

“Ben Gauci was superb throughout the process. He managed what had turned into a very complicated mortgage into something that was delivered above and beyond what I had hoped to achieve. Would recommend him to anyone needing a mortgage. Especially in the world of ex-pats where good advice is very difficult to get hold of.