Tax non-resident · UK · post-Brexit

Financing property in Germany while living in the UK

Post-Brexit, the situation has improved for Germans in the United Kingdom: no more conversion right. GBP income possible at specialist banks. What you need to know in 2026.

Key figures

UK residence post-Brexit

✓ No Conversion right (post-Brexit)

GBP Possible at specialist banks

30–40 % Equity + incidental costs

Larger Choice of banks than before Brexit

Why Brexit improved the financing situation

It sounds counter-intuitive — but for Germans resident in the UK, Brexit eased something about German mortgage financing:

As long as the UK was an EU member, the conversion right (§503 BGB) applied. For many banks that was a reason to decline. Since Brexit took full effect in 2021, the UK is no longer an EU member — the conversion right no longer applies to a UK residence.

That means the choice of banks for Germans resident in the UK is now larger than it was back in 2019.

Income in GBP — what's possible

GBP income: possible at specialist banks, with a typical discount of 10–20 % on the income converted into euros
UK tax documents (P60, SA302): accepted as proof of income — English is standard
Employer: stable corporate employment is preferred; the self-employed in the UK have a smaller circle of banks
Equity: 30–40 % + incidental costs — higher than for a German residence because of the foreign-risk surcharge
Notary appointment: travelling in person (visa-free with a German passport) or a power of attorney with apostille