First time buyer status

leereni

Me and my girlfriend are looking at buying together in the next year or so. She is foreign and bought a flat in her home country several years ago. I was wondering if that would make her uneligible to be a first time buyer?

pinkteapot

Assuming you are talking about the first-time buyer stamp duty exemption, the previous ownership does stop her being eligible. See here:

http://www.hmrc.gov.uk/sdlt/calculate/reliefs-exemptions.htm#15

they have not previously owned property or land either in the UK or anywhere else in the world - including property bought with anyone else

If you are talking about mortgages, it varies by lender. HSBC for example define you as a first time buyer if neither of you currently own a property. Therefore, you look at their first-time buyer mortgage rates (as their other options are remortgaging or moving home). Check with any lenders you are looking at to confirm what type of buyer you are to them.

englandcrew

Mishomeister wrote: »

That is all depending on how both of you are honest as I can hardly imagine how could they check if she owns any property abroad. I would ask your solicitor on this one as that is what they get their huge money paid for

I wouldn't advise trying to deceive the bank like the above has posted. Don't listen to anything they post, they have posted constant lies and keeping posting different circumstances about themselves

Wh05apk

Mishomeister wrote: »

That is all depending on how both of you are honest as I can hardly imagine how could they check if she owns any property abroad. I would ask your solicitor on this one as that is what they get their huge money paid for

I would suspect the solictor would advise the client that they do not qualify if they are aware that they have owned property elsewhere, otherwise they are also open to fraud charges.

ACG

If the payments for the mortgage in the foreign country dont come out of a bank account here and you dont mention it, i would be VERY surprised if the bank found out about it.

How can they credit check your loans in a foreign country?

Im not suggesting you deceive the bank, honesty is the best policy and all of that.