Move fast, then bridge the gap.
When timing matters more than anything — a purchase before a sale, an auction deadline, a refurbishment — bridging finance moves at a speed standard mortgages can’t.
What bridging is for
Bridging finance is short-term lending secured against property, arranged quickly and repaid within months. It exists to solve timing problems: completing before your current home sells, buying at auction within tight deadlines, breaking a chain, or funding works before refinancing.
How it’s assessed
Unlike a residential mortgage, bridging is judged mainly on the property’s value and the strength of your exit, not your monthly income. That makes it more accessible for contractors — though your overall position and the deal’s viability still matter.
- Speed — funds can be arranged in days to weeks rather than months.
- Cost — interest is charged monthly and is higher than a standard mortgage, with arrangement and exit fees.
- Exit — a credible repayment route (sale or refinance) is essential and assessed up front.
- Short-term, fast, secured against property.
- Assessed on the asset and exit, not mainly on income.
- More expensive than a mortgage — speed is the point.
- A clear exit strategy is non-negotiable.
Bridging finance carries higher costs and risks than a standard mortgage and is not suitable for everyone. Some bridging is unregulated. Your property is at risk if you don’t repay. We assess suitability carefully before recommending it.
Specialist lenders we work with — a selection
Bridging finance, answered
What is bridging finance?+
A short-term loan secured against property, used to ‘bridge’ a gap — for example buying before your existing home sells, funding a refurbishment, or completing quickly at auction. It’s arranged fast and repaid within months, usually from a sale or a refinance onto a longer-term mortgage.
How much does bridging cost?+
Interest is charged monthly rather than annually and is higher than a standard mortgage, reflecting the speed and short term. There are usually arrangement and exit fees too. Because it’s short-term, the headline monthly rate matters less than a clear, fast exit.
What is an ‘exit strategy’?+
It’s how you’ll repay the bridge — typically selling the property or refinancing onto a term mortgage. Lenders need a credible exit before they lend, so we make sure yours is solid before arranging the finance.
Can contractors use bridging finance?+
Yes. Bridging is assessed mainly on the property and the exit rather than monthly income, so contractor status is less of an obstacle here than on a standard mortgage — though your wider position still matters.