Financing Mixed-Use Property
Semi-commercial property occupies the middle ground between residential buy-to-let and pure commercial investment. The classic example is a high street shop with a flat above, but the category extends to buildings with any mix of commercial and residential use on a single title. Mainstream residential and commercial lenders both typically decline these properties, meaning the […]
Specialist Funding for GP Practices, Dental Practices, and Care Homes
Healthcare sector finance is one of the most specialist areas of commercial lending. GP practices, dental practices, care homes, pharmacies, and veterinary practices all have specific regulatory frameworks, income structures, and goodwill valuations that mainstream commercial lenders typically do not handle well. A small group of specialist lenders and sector teams within larger banks dominate […]
Turning Unpaid Invoices into Working Capital
Invoice finance releases working capital tied up in unpaid customer invoices. Instead of waiting 30, 60, or 90 days for a customer to pay, the business receives 80% to 90% of the invoice value within 24 hours from the finance provider, with the balance released (less fees) when the customer settles. For businesses with strong […]
Fast Access Funding Without Property Security
Unsecured business finance provides funding without taking a legal charge over property or fixed assets. The lender relies on the business’s trading history, cash flow, and typically directors’ personal guarantees rather than tangible security. This means faster decisions and less paperwork, but higher pricing than secured commercial lending. For established businesses needing rapid access to […]
Hire Purchase and Leasing for Business Equipment
Asset finance funds the acquisition of business equipment, vehicles, plant, and machinery through structured lending secured against the asset itself. This spreads the cost over the asset’s productive life rather than requiring upfront capital, preserving cash for working capital and growth. The market has evolved significantly since the 2018 lease accounting changes under IFRS 16, […]
Buy-to-Let, HMO, and Multi-Unit Freehold Funding
Residential investment finance covers the range of mortgage products for investors purchasing residential property for rental. The market divides roughly into three product areas: standard buy-to-let for single residential units, HMO finance for houses in multiple occupation, and multi-unit freehold block finance for buildings containing several separate flats on a single title. Each has different […]
Structuring Debt Across Multiple Commercial Properties
Investors with three or more commercial properties reach a point where arranging finance property by property becomes inefficient. Multiple arrangement fees, staggered fix expiries, valuation costs, and administrative overhead compound into a material drag on returns. Portfolio commercial finance addresses this by structuring debt across the whole portfolio, either through blanket facilities or coordinated individual […]
Funding Commercial Property as an Investor
Commercial investment finance funds the purchase of commercial property held for rental income rather than owner-occupation. The lending market for investors differs from owner-occupier commercial mortgages in several material ways: lower typical loan-to-value ratios, stricter debt service cover requirements, and a stronger role for specialist lenders alongside the mainstream banks. Understanding these differences before making […]
Working Capital and Growth Funding for Established Businesses
Funding requirements for trading businesses change as the business matures. A three-year-old company with £800,000 turnover has different needs from a twenty-year-old firm with £15 million turnover, and both differ again from a business preparing for acquisition or expansion. Trading business finance covers the spectrum of debt products designed for businesses that generate trading revenue, […]
Bridging Finance: When It Makes Sense and When It Does Not
Bridging finance has a reputation that does not entirely do it justice. Some people think of it as a last resort product used when normal borrowing is not possible. Others see it as inherently risky and expensive. The reality is more nuanced. In the right circumstances, bridging finance is exactly the right tool for the […]