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Bridging Loans

Looking for a fast finance option to fund your plans?

A bridging loan may be the answer.

  • Loans from £50,000 to £50 million
  • Fast lending decisions
  • Most credit profiles considered
  • No hidden costs or fees
 
 
 
 

Bridging Loans

Any property used as security, which may include your home, may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.

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We are a loan broker Authorised and Regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.
Bridging Loans are unregulated, which means they are not subject to the protections of regulation, including; supervision by the Financial conduct authority which helps to protect consumers against bad advice, and being covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS)

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What is a bridging loan?

 
 
 
 

A bridging loan is a short-term borrowing solution that is secured against a property. They can be used if you need to fund plans quickly but don’t have the money readily available.  

In other words, these loans help to ‘bridge the gap’ until you have sorted out a longer-term financial solution.

The speed and flexibility of these loans makes them a popular borrowing option, with many people using them for a range of purposes.

One example is you may have found a perfect property to buy, but your current house hasn’t sold yet, so you do not have the funds ready to complete the transaction. In this case, you could take out a bridging loan to fund the purchase. Once the sale of your house goes through, you can use the money to repay your loan.

Our dedicated team will always try to find you a product that will allow you to achieve your goals.

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Is a bridging loan right for me?

 
 
 
 

Deciding if the loan is right for you depends on what you need the funding for and how quickly you will be able to repay it.

If you’re in need of fast, short-term finance to fund a particular purpose and you have a clear repayment strategy in place, then it may be a good solution for you.

Interest rates are usually higher on these products compared to longer-term options, so it's a good idea to think about it carefully before you proceed.  

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What can I use a bridging loan for?

 
 
 
 

One of the most common uses of these loans is property and auction purchases. But, there are many other uses of these short-term loans including:

  • Secure a property quickly
  • To break a chain (chain break bridging)
  • Refurbishment (light and heavy)
  • Purchasing uninhabitable properties
  • Where a short lease can’t be funded in a normal way
  • Capital raising
  • Development funding
  • Land purchase pre planning
  • Gifted transactions
  • To cover cash flow needs
  • Conversions and title splits
  • Site acquisition
  • Planning applications

Our team of experts are available to talk through your options whenever you wish. Simply call or use the online form above to start the process and let us take the work off your hands.

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Call us for FREE on 0800 032 4646 or enquire using the form below.
Don't forget – making an enquiry will not affect your credit rating in any way!

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How much can you borrow with a bridging loan?

 
 
 
 

Loan sizes may vary between lenders, as they may have different criteria. It will also depend on your exit plan (i.e. how you intend to repay the loan) and other personal circumstances.

The size of the loan may be small or large, it depends on the reason you are borrowing. For instance, if it is a property purchase you may need a much greater loan size than if you are just funding some refurbishments.

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How do bridging loans work?

 
 
 
 

Similar to secured loans, bridging loans use a property you own as security. Either you can use a residential or commercial property to secure the loan or even land. This means if you default on your loan, your property could be repossessed. 

This type of finance works in a similar way to other loans, where you borrow money and need to repay it to your lender within your agreed term.

With bridging loans, there are two different types you can get, which will affect your repayment schedule.

An open bridging loan is a type that does not have a set repayment date, although most lenders would like it to be repaid sooner rather than later. So, this may be ideal if you’re unsure of exactly when you will get your longer-term finance. For example, if you’re waiting for your house to sell.

Whereas, a closed bridging loan does have a set repayment date. Therefore, if you get this option, you will need to repay the loan by the date you agreed with your lender.

Lenders will always want to know how you plan to repay the loan (your exit plan), and they will want to see proof of this. For this reason, you must have some sort of plan ready.

Regardless of the type of loan you need, our advisors are ready to help you. We always aim to find you a product that will allow you to fulfil your goals.

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Types of bridging loans

 
 
 
 

There are different types of bridging finance that are available. These are regulated and non-regulated loans. 

  • Regulated bridging loans are secured on a property you are living in or intend to live in.
  • Non-regulated bridging loans are useful for corporate entities or properties you are NOT going to live in.

As a specialist bridging loan broker, we have access to both regulated and non-regulated loans. We will do our very best to try and find you a suitable loan as fast as possible.

Regulation under the FCA aims to provide consumers with protection including being covered by the Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), which helps to protect you against bad advice and mis-selling, among other things.

Find out more about these different types in our blog regulated vs unregulated bridging loans

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Advantages and disadvantages of bridging loans

 
 
 
 

Before you apply, it is important that you consider whether it is the right finance option for your plans. So, it is worth thinking about the benefits and drawbacks. These are:

Advantages:

Fast funds – Compared to other types of loans, bridging finance can be a lot quicker. So, if you have plans that need funding fast, this could be really useful to you. If you want to find out how to speed up the process, read our guide to fast bridging loans.  

Large loan sizes – As a property has been used as security, lenders are often more relaxed about giving larger loan sizes to borrowers.

Range of choices – They can be quite flexible and offer a great amount of choice, as they have a variety of interest rates and repayment terms available. Also, a selection of different property types can be used to secure the loan too.

Disadvantages:

Higher interest rates – The interest rates for short-term finance are usually higher than longer-term solutions. Therefore, you may be charged a higher interest rate with this finance option.

Your home could be repossessed – Similar to other types of secured finance, your property is at risk of repossession if you fail to make your repayments.

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How do I make an enquiry?

 
 
 
 

Making an enquiry to our experts is easy. You can speak with an advisor on the phone by calling 0800 032 3535 (all calls are free). Alternatively, you can fill in our online form above or email the team and we’ll call you.

What our customers say about us

 
 
 
 
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"The Loan Engine dealt with my bridging loan, and I can honestly say that they were more proactive than me, which is saying something! I can't fault them at all - every time I rang, they knew exactly the latest position of my case, and were always helpful and polite. "
Mrs W, Bordon
22 Jan 2024
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"Great. Very helpful. Worked hard for us. Worth 5 stars. Use them anytime. "
Mr H, York
17 Jan 2024
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"They’re friendly and helpful start to finish sandip, emily thank you. From start to finish very helpful I will recommend to everyone thank you."
Mr S, Merthyr Tydfil
05 Jan 2024
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"Excellent service from start to finish. They went the extra mile when complications arose, big shout out to Thisara. I can’t recommend them enough!"
Mrs M, Leeds
12 Dec 2023
Read more reviews >>

Frequently Asked Questions - Bridging Loans

 
 
 
 

How long does bridging finance last?

Bridging loans are a short-term borrowing option, which can last up to 24 months.

The intention is that these loans will help you fund your plans until you have sorted out a long-term financial solution. For example, if you are waiting for the sale of your house to go through, you may use one of these loans to cover your costs in the short-term until you can agree a mortgage.

What is the criteria for bridging finance?

Each lender will have different criteria and processes that are specific to their products, so it may vary. But, one of the main requirements is that you are a property owner, as these loans are secured against your home or commercial property.

To find out more about the process, read our blog on what you need to apply for a bridging loan

How much deposit do I need for bridging finance?

Deposits are dictated by a variety of factors including your loan amount and the equity available for the loan (“equity”, i.e. how much the property is worth compared to how much you want to borrow). The deposit may therefore vary across different lenders.

How much does bridging finance cost?

Costs vary from lender to lender, as each charges different arrangement fees and interest rates.  So, it is very much dependent on the lender you go with.

We have a selection of lenders available, which means we will try to find you a solution at the lowest cost possible for your circumstances.

Are bridging loans safe?

Bridging loans can be safe depending on your circumstances.

If you have a clear exit plan in place (i.e. a plan to repay the loan), then it could help you get the funds you need. However, if the exit plan does not materialise and you are unable to repay the loan, your property is at risk of repossession. Also, if you do not have a solid repayment plan, lenders are unlikely to accept you for a loan in the first place.

Can I get a bridging loan to buy a house?

Yes, you absolutely can use this solution to buy a property.

Many people use these loans to help them purchase properties at auction, due to the fast nature of this borrowing option. This is commonly known as auction finance

Can you get bridging loans with bad credit?

It is possible to get this solution if you have bad credit, but the options available to you may be a bit more limited. Therefore, you may find it trickier to get accepted.

Interest rates are also likely to be higher to reduce the risk to lenders. 

As a specialist, we work with a range of lenders who have more flexible criteria, so we may be able to help you. 

Can you use a bridging loan for property development?

Absolutely, this funding option is commonly used to help developers with their property projects. The fast nature of these solutions makes it suitable for developers who are looking to fund works over the short-term.

The main thing to ensure is that you have a reliable exit plan in place to repay the loan. This could be by selling the property you have developed or remortgaging to a normal mortgage once the property has been developed.

Are bridging loans fast?

Compared to other finance options, they are a much faster funding solution.

This is why they are typically used in situations where people need to access funds quickly, such as purchasing at auction.

How do you get bridging finance?

As with most finance options, you can get this solution through banks, lenders and brokers.

Going directly to a lender or bank can be useful if you’ve found a suitable product. It also means you may have less fees to pay, as you will not have to pay broker fees on top.

A bridging loan broker could be helpful if you’ve never taken out this solution before and need a bit of extra support when it comes to picking your product. Brokers have access to a panel of lenders, so they can look into different solutions on your behalf and try to find you the most appropriate product for your circumstances. This may boost your chances of getting accepted.

What bridging loan interest rates might I get?

The interest rates you are eligible for will be determined by the provider you go with.

A variety of factors will be taken into consideration, which all relate to your personal circumstances and what you are using the loan for.

However, as bridging loans are used when funds are required quickly (and when standard mortgages are not available) the rate will tend to be higher than that of a traditional mortgage.

Useful guides and blogs

 
 
 
 
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