Gatehouse Bank has reintroduced top slicing for UK expats and international residents buying a buy-to-let property.

Top slicing, also known as income top-up, can be used in cases where the rent paid by the tenant does not exceed the monthly payment charged by the Shariah-compliant bank by the required amount.

Subsequently, the applicant’s personal income may be used to ‘top-up’ the shortfall.

To qualify for top slicing, the minimum annual income required is £32,000 for UK expats and £100,000 for international residents.

Both UK expats and UK residents now fall under one finance service coverage ratio banding, with a rate of 115% applying to both individuals and limited companies.

For international residents, a 125% rate applies.

The lender points out that it brought back top slicing for UK residents in June.

Gatehouse Bank senior product manager John Mace says: “Today’s announcement is a natural next step for Gatehouse Bank, following the same changes being reintroduced for UK residents earlier this year.

“We have reintroduced top slicing for UK expats and international residents to ensure that customers seeking Shariah-compliant BTL products have a wider range of options.”