Can you still get a mortgage in Spain as a UK buyer after Brexit?
You've found the house. The mortgage is where it gets complicated — and not the way most listings make it sound.
Pedro Torres6 min read
If you've been looking at your UK bank, your building society, or your usual mortgage broker to finance a home in Spain, stop. UK lenders do not finance property purchases in Spain. That is not a Brexit rumour — it is simply outside what they do business in.
Which means the mortgage has to come from a Spanish lender, under Spanish rules, in a process that looks nothing like remortgaging your house in Leeds. Most of the frustration British buyers run into is not the paperwork — it is finding this out after they have already paid a deposit.
What happens to your deposit if the bank says no
A deposit on a Spanish property is usually around 10% of the price, paid when you sign the private purchase contract (contrato de arras) — before any mortgage is agreed.
If that contract has no mortgage clause and the loan falls through, that 10% is gone. There is no refund for "the bank changed its mind."
Source: idealista, 28/05/2024 — reported market practice, not a legal minimum. Always get the mortgage clause confirmed in writing before signing.
Why your loan might cover 50%, not 70%
Spanish lenders typically cap non-resident mortgages at around 70% of the purchase price. In practice, several lenders apply a lower limit — down to 50% — depending on your income currency, your credit profile, and their own risk policy.
| What you might assume | What actually applies |
|---|---|
| Up to 70% for any non-resident | A ceiling some lenders apply — not a right |
| Same rules as a Spanish resident | Non-residents are assessed separately |
| Fixed by Spanish law | Set by each lender’s own policy |
Fuente: UCI, 09/05/2024 — política de entidad, no límite legal.
The 10 days the law gives you before you sign anything
Once a Spanish-regulated lender approves your loan, the law does not let them rush you to the notary. You are entitled to a Ficha Europea de Información Normalizada (FEIN) — a binding offer the lender cannot change — at least 10 calendar days before signing.
Ley 5/2019, de 15 de marzo, reguladora de los contratos de crédito inmobiliario, artículo 14.1.a) — redacción vigente desde el 16/06/2019, verificada el 08/11/2026.
Can I get a mortgage in Spain as a UK citizen after Brexit?
Yes — Brexit did not ban it. What changed is that UK lenders will not finance a Spanish property, so the loan has to come from a Spanish or Spain-based lender, under Spanish consumer-credit rules.
How much deposit do I need to buy a house in Spain?
Market practice is around 10% of the price, paid on signing the private purchase contract — before the mortgage is finalised. Make sure that contract includes a mortgage clause, or that 10% is at risk if the loan falls through.
What loan-to-value can a non-resident get in Spain?
Up to around 70% is common, but it is a lender ceiling, not a legal right — several lenders apply less, down to 50%, depending on your income and profile.