Bridging Loans
Quick and straightforward First and Second Charge Bridging Loans across the UK
- Loans from £25,000 to £500,000
- Terms from 1–18 months
- Up to 75% LTV
- First and second charge options
- Funds possible in as little as 48 hours
- England, Scotland, Wales & Northern Ireland
Speak to our specialist team today to discuss your Bridging Loan requirements
Fast, Flexible Short-Term Property Finance
Whether you are buying at auction, refinancing quickly, funding a refurbishment, or securing a property before arranging longer-term finance, Mercantile Trust offers unregulated bridging finance designed to help you move fast when timing matters.
We assess each case on its individual merits, with manual underwriting that can accommodate complex income, limited company structures, adverse credit histories, and non-standard properties where mainstream lenders may be less flexible.
Why choose Mercantile Trust for a Bridging Loan?
With our common sense approach to lending, we offer flexible and quick solutions tailored to your needs.
What is a Bridging Loan?
A bridging loan is a short-term secured loan that gives borrowers fast access to funds while they arrange a longer-term solution, such as a property sale or refinance.
It is typically used when speed is critical and a conventional mortgage or business loan cannot be arranged within the required timeframe.
Bridging finance is commonly used by:
- property investors
- landlords
- developers
- business owners
- homeowners needing temporary finance for business purposes only
Bridging Loans are often used when speed is essential and traditional Buy to let mortgage lenders cannot move quickly enough.
At Mercantile Trust, we provide Bridging Loans tailored to a wide range of business needs and properties, including complex cases that may not fit standard lending criteria.
Common uses for Bridging Finance
Bridging finance can support a wide range of property transactions and short-term funding requirements, including the scenarios below.
Our Bridging Loans can be used for a variety of property transactions and short-term funding needs, including:
Auction purchases
Complete property purchases quickly within auction deadlines.
Property refurbishment
Fund light or heavy refurbishment projects before refinancing or sale.
Chain break finance
Prevent property chains from collapsing while awaiting a sale.
Buy-to-Let investments
Secure investment opportunities before arranging long-term Buy-to-Let finance.
Adverse credit borrowers
Flexible underwriting for applicants with previous credit issues.
Limited company borrowing
Available for personal and limited company applicants.
Non-standard properties
Finance options for properties that mainstream lenders may decline.
Why choose Mercantile Trust for Bridging Loans?
Mercantile Trust is a specialist UK lender focused on short-term property finance, with a practical approach to cases that need speed, flexibility, and individual assessment.
Mercantile Trust is a specialist UK lender focused on fast, flexible property finance solutions.
Rather than relying solely on automated scorecards, we review applications manually so that the property, borrower profile, and exit strategy can be considered in the round.
What Makes Us Different?
- Dedicated bridging specialists
- Manual underwriting approach
- Fast decisions and completions
- Adverse credit considered
- Automated valuations available in some cases
- Flexible repayment options
- No early repayment charges on selected products
- Lending throughout the UK including Scotland and Northern Ireland
Types of Bridging Loans available
We offer several types of bridging finance depending on the property, the purpose of the loan, and the intended repayment route.
First Charge Bridging Loans
Secured against a property with no existing mortgage.
Second Charge Bridging Loans
Raise additional funds while keeping your current mortgage in place.
Light Refurbishment Bridging Loans
Finance renovation or improvement works before refinancing or sale.
Auction Bridging Loans
Fast finance designed for auction completion deadlines.
Bridging Loan criteria
- Loan sizes from £25,000–£500,000
- Terms from 1–18 months
- Up to 75% loan-to-value (LTV)
- First and second charges available
- Borrowing on residential properties for business purposes only
- Minimum property value of £75,000
- Most construction types accepted
- Adverse credit considered
- Standard Buy to Let, HMO, Holiday Let, MUFB, and Student Let properties considered
- Interest roll-up and serviced interest options available
Eligibility criteria
- Applicants aged 18 to 85 years at the end of the loan term
- No minimum personal income required for experienced landlords
- First-time buyers and first-time landlords considered, subject to a minimum income of £22,500 and a maximum 65% loan-to-value (LTV)
- Personal applicants and limited company borrowers accepted
- Tenants must not be immediate family members, including parents, grandparents, siblings, or children
Bridging Loan Exit Strategies
A clear exit strategy is a key part of any bridging loan application because the loan is designed to be repaid within a short, defined term.
Before completion, the lender will want to understand how the loan is expected to be repaid and whether that route is realistic for the circumstances.
Common exit strategies include:
- sale of the property
- refinancing onto a Buy-to-Let mortgage
- sale of another asset
- business proceeds
Our team will work with you to understand the most suitable exit strategy for your circumstances.
Application process
1
Submit your enquiry
2
Receive an initial lending decision
3
Property valuation instructed
4
Legal work completed
5
Funds released
Ready to get started?
We are here for anyone who needs flexible and tailored loan solutions. Whether you have complex income, have imperfect credit, are employed or self-employed, or need faster access to funds than a high street lender can offer — we’re here to help.
Let’s discuss how we can help your next investment. Speak to an expert.
Bridging Loan FAQs
Below are answers to some of the most common questions borrowers ask about bridging finance.