Deposit requirements vary depending on asset type, borrower profile and lender appetite.

For commercial mortgages, lenders often require 25–40% of the purchase price.

For development and bridging finance, the contribution is usually assessed against loan-to-value (LTV) and project viability rather than a fixed percentage.

Each transaction is structured individually.

Residential mortgages are for owner-occupied homes. Commercial mortgages are used for business premises or income-generating property.

Commercial lending is typically assessed on business cashflow and asset risk rather than personal income alone.

Development finance is structured differently from a traditional mortgage.

Lenders assess a project based on the proposed development and its projected Gross Development Value (GDV), rather than just the current value of the land.

Funding is typically released in stages, aligned to key build milestones. An independent monitoring surveyor will usually inspect the project before each tranche is drawn down.

Facilities often include:

• Funding towards the purchase of land (if required)

• Build costs released in staged drawdowns

• Interest rolled up and repaid at the end of the project

Repayment is usually made on completion of the development, either through sale of units or refinancing onto a long-term facility.

Development finance is typically used for ground-up builds, conversions, commercial schemes or significant refurbishments where value is being created.

Approval is based on project viability and a defined exit strategy.

A secured loan (also known as a second charge mortgage) allows you to borrow additional funds against your property while keeping your existing mortgage in place.

Depending on your equity position and affordability, potential advantages can include:

• Retaining your current mortgage rate — particularly if it carries early repayment charges or a competitive fixed rate.

• Accessing additional borrowing without refinancing your entire mortgage.

• Alternative underwriting approaches — some second charge lenders assess affordability differently from high street mortgage providers.

• Speed and flexibility in certain circumstances.

Second charge loans are typically used for purposes such as:

• Major home improvements

• Debt consolidation (where appropriate)

• Business investment

• Large one-off financial commitments

As with all secured lending, the loan is secured against your property and must be affordable over the agreed term.

A bridging loan is a short-term secured loan designed to provide temporary funding until a defined exit event occurs.

It is commonly used to:

• Complete a property purchase before an existing property is sold

• Acquire property quickly (e.g. auction purchases)

• Fund light refurbishment

• Provide short-term business liquidity

Bridging finance is typically secured against property and is repaid through a clear exit strategy, such as sale or refinance.

Interest is often rolled up and repaid at the end of the term, although serviced options may also be available.

Closed bridging
A defined exit is in place from the outset, for example, an agreed sale completion date. The lender has greater certainty around repayment, which may influence pricing and terms.

Open bridging
The exit strategy is identified (e.g. sale or refinance), but a fixed repayment date may not yet be confirmed. As the lender is taking more risk around timing, pricing may reflect this.

Both require a credible exit strategy and are typically arranged for short durations, often up to 12 months (sometimes longer depending on structure).

Timescales depend on the complexity of the transaction.

• Bridging finance can often be arranged within days or weeks.

• Commercial mortgages may take several weeks.

• Development finance timelines vary depending on valuation and monitoring requirements.

Early planning significantly improves speed and certainty.