Expat-related cases lead broker this summer, with advisers seeking criteria clarity around income sources, time spent outside the UK, or property location – data from Knowledge Bank shows.   

The search engine says 13% of the cases it handled included expat criteria between July and into August, beating the next highest search area for limited companies, at 8%.  

The platform points out that its platform offers over 30 expat criteria questions for residential lending alone, covering currencies, maximum loan to value, self-employed requirements and eligibility for new-build properties.   

But despite this breadth, many brokers used the platform to seek further insight directly from lenders, “to ensure clients got the most accurate guidance possible,” the firm says. 

The business adds that lender engagement with the platform surged, with nearly 4,000 criteria updates in July, the highest monthly figure so far this year.  

It points out: “A significant portion of these updates relate to affordability, with ‘income multiple used for affordability assessment’ emerging as the most frequently amended criteria over the past three months.   

“This reflects the loan-to-income changes encouraged by the Financial Conduct Authority, creating a highly dynamic market in which lenders are continually refining their approach to meet the new economic environment.”  

Knowledge Bank chief executive Nicola Firth adds: “The surge in expat-related queries shows how vital it is for brokers to have access to both comprehensive criteria and direct communication with lenders.”