100% development funding secured in 6 weeks for a first-time UK developer with overseas income and Saudi residency.
GCC-based investor (Lebanese national, UAE resident)
The Client
A GCC-based investor with a Lebanese passport, based in the UAE for over a decade. Intending to enter the UK market for the first time and begin building a London property portfolio through a flagship Prime Central London acquisition.
The Opportunity
A Grade II listed 12-bedroom property in Marylebone became available at a highly competitive price relative to open market value, priced at £4.5 million. The deal required swift execution. The plan was to use short-term bridging finance to secure the asset, carry out cosmetic upgrades, decoration, and fittings, and convert it into 12 self-contained units targeting student rental demand.
The Challenge
The case presented multiple layers of complexity that typically sit outside standard UK lending appetite.
- Non-UK resident status, combined with non-Emirati nationality, created immediate restrictions with mainstream lenders
- First-time UK investor profile with no established UK credit or investment track record
- Overseas income structure requiring enhanced verification and conservative affordability assessment
- Requirement for Sharia-compliant finance further narrowed the lender pool
- High-value, Grade II listed asset with proposed HMO conversion added valuation and exit uncertainty for lenders
- Tight 2–3 week completion timeline conflicted with standard underwriting and legal processes
Rainstone Money’s Approach
Rainstone overcame the residency constraints and layered complexity by identifying and engaging a specialist Sharia-compliant lender with proven capability in complex international borrower scenarios.
The case was positioned around the strength of the client’s income, the quality of the underlying asset, and the credibility of the proposed renovation and conversion strategy. The cosmetic-only nature of the refurbishment, limited to decoration, upgrades, and fittings, was presented as a key risk mitigant, keeping the project scope straightforward and the exit timeline realistic.
A clear and deliverable exit was established, centred on refinancing into a long-term House in Multiple Occupation (HMO) facility once planning approval for multiple occupancy was in place.
The Outcome
- The Marylebone property was secured within the required 3-week timeframe with a £1.125 million client deposit
- A Sharia-compliant bridging facility was arranged to meet the client’s religious finance requirements
- 75% LTV was achieved at £3.375 million, against an initial expectation of 50% LTV, preserving liquidity for future investments
- A value-add strategy was established, converting a single listed asset into 12 income-generating rental units
- A clear lender exit was structured via a 12-month bridging facility, with refinancing into a long-term HMO solution on completion
- The transaction laid the foundation for future UK portfolio growth through capital efficiency and a planned refinance strategy
“Refocusing the lender on the client’s future portfolio growth plan, rather than residency profile, proved pivotal. It unlocked 75% LTV instead of 50%, giving the client greater flexibility to scale the investment portfolio.”
Rahul Modasia
Specialist in Foreign National
Investment & Mortgages
International Finance Experts
For expert advice on foreign national investments and mortgages, please contact Rahul Modasia on
07395 043003 or via email at rahul@rainstonemoney.co.uk.
