Commercial property finance

A longer-term loan secured on commercial property, used either to buy premises your business trades from (owner-occupied) or to buy property to let out (investment). Each lender publishes its own maximum term and maximum loan-to-value, and they change. The deposit follows from the lender’s limit applied to its valuation of the property.

Bridging is short-term property finance, counted in months rather than years, with each lender setting its own maximum term, and built for a deadline a mortgage cannot meet. Businesses use it to buy at auction, beat a chain collapse, secure a property before a sale completes, or fund a quick refurbishment. It is often priced as a monthly rate, and lenders ask for a clear exit, normally a sale or a refinance onto a longer-term loan.

Funding for building or major conversion projects, released in stages as the work progresses. Lenders look at the gross development value, the build costs and your experience. It usually covers a chunk of land cost plus most of the build, with the balance and profit realised when you sell or refinance the finished scheme.

It depends on the product and property. Each lender publishes its own maximum loan-to-value for a commercial mortgage, and the deposit follows from it; investment and specialist property such as hotels or care homes often need more, because the lender is valuing the business inside the building as well as the bricks. Bridging is driven by the loan-to-value against the property and your exit. Each lender sets its own deposit requirement, and we show which lenders’ published criteria the deal meets before anything is submitted.

On general commercial property each lender publishes its own maximum loan-to-value, and they change. Higher is possible in two situations. A lender that writes criteria for a professional practice in dentistry, veterinary, medical, accountancy or legal practice sets its own maximum for registered practitioners; check each lender's published criteria. On other property, lenders may lend against additional security over another property you own, or a mezzanine lender may sit on top of a senior loan. It is always case by case and subject to the lender.

Yes, and for investment and buy-to-let property a limited company or LLP is a standard borrowing structure. Lenders are well set up for corporate borrowers and will usually want personal guarantees from the directors. Speak to your accountant about the tax side of holding property personally versus through a company.

No. We deal with commercial and investment property finance for businesses, limited companies and LLPs. We do not arrange regulated residential mortgages or owner-occupier home loans. A regulated mortgage broker is the right place for those.

CapExpand Ltd (FRN 1060885) is a credit broker and an Appointed Representative of White Rose Finance Group Limited (FRN 630772), which is directly authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. We are a broker, not a lender. We work with UK limited companies and LLPs only, for business and commercial purposes. If you have a complaint, our complaints page explains how it is handled. We do not arrange regulated mortgage contracts, including properties for your own use.

No. We are not a lender. We introduce UK limited companies and LLPs to our panel of property finance lenders and help you compare them. We will receive commission from lenders; the commission model, calculation and amount will be disclosed to you throughout your customer journey.