Bridging loans arranged fast, from the whole market
I need short-term finance secured against property for a purchase, refinance or works programme. Vortex compares suitable bridging lenders by security, loan size, purpose and exit; I decide whether to apply and the lender controls approval and timing.
Compare bridging loans for my property
Share the property or site, finance required, purpose, deadline and exit. Vortex will review the case and compare suitable routes before I decide whether to apply.
A chain just collapsed. An auction clock is running. A lender pulled out on completion day. When a deal has a contractual deadline that a slower mortgage route may not meet, a bridging loan can provide short-term finance secured against property. It is normally repaid through a planned sale or refinance, subject to lender assessment, valuation and legal work.
We are a broker, not a lender. We compare suitable lenders around your property, funding need, deadline and exit rather than pushing one product. We explain the proposed route and obtain your consent before any application is submitted; the lender decides which checks it needs. our fee model is confirmed upfront before any application, disclosed before you commit.
Key facts
- Indicative monthly interest from 0.50% to 1.10%; clean low-LTV cases from around 0.44%/mo
- Terms up to 12 months regulated, 24 months unregulated
- Timing depends on the lender, valuation, title, legal work, documents and exit evidence
| Scenario | Indicative rate | LTV |
|---|---|---|
| Auction purchase | 0.55–0.85%/mo | 75% |
| Chain break | 0.60–0.95%/mo | 70% |
| Refurb-to-refinance | 0.65–0.95%/mo | 70% |
Cost calculator
Compare bridging loans by what you need
Bridging is not one product. Start with the angle that matches your deal.
Bridging loan rates
Compare monthly rates, fees and the total cost over the time you expect to borrow.
Explore ›Bridging finance example
See an illustrative purchase, net advance, retained interest and exit worked through in pounds.
Explore ›100% purchase-price bridging
See how accepted value or additional security can affect the cash needed to complete.
Explore ›Below-market-value bridging
Understand how the agreed price, valuation basis and net advance shape a discounted purchase.
Explore ›Bridge-to-let finance
Fund a purchase or works first, then refinance onto a suitable buy-to-let mortgage.
Explore ›Fast bridging loans
Prepare the property, documents, valuation and exit around a time-critical completion.
Explore ›Large bridging loans
Structure higher-value acquisitions, refinances and projects around security, cost and exit.
Explore ›Regulated bridging route check
Check how borrower, security and occupation facts affect the mortgage perimeter before you incur costs.
Explore ›Unregulated bridging loans
Check the business-purpose route, total cost, security, lender evidence and exit before you apply.
Explore ›Alternatives to bridging loans
Compare term mortgages, junior charges, development funding, refurbishment facilities and equity.
Explore ›Best bridging loans
Matched to your deal on rate, speed, LTV or completion certainty, not a league table.
Explore ›Cheapest bridging loans
The lowest total cost over the term you can actually qualify for.
Explore ›Commercial bridging loans
Fast finance for shops, offices and mixed-use, with an exit onto a term loan.
Explore ›Second charge bridging
Raise capital behind your mortgage without touching the first charge.
Explore ›Short-term bridging loans
Interest-only money for weeks to months, no long tie-in.
Explore ›Bridging loan broker
Why whole-of-market beats going direct, and how we package your case.
Explore ›How bridging loans work
A bridge loan is a short-term loan secured against a property you own or are buying. It is commonly interest-only, and you repay the loan in full at the end of the term through a planned exit such as a sale or refinance. A bridge runs for a defined short term, so bridging finance is often priced monthly.
The lender assesses the property, exit, borrower and credit position. Loan to value is one factor in pricing and facility size. Depending on the product, interest may be serviced, retained or rolled into the facility; this changes the net cash available and total repayment. The selected lender confirms every term after underwriting.
Different types of bridging loans
There is no single product. The right type of bridging loan depends on the security, your exit, and whether the property is a home or investment.
- Regulated vs unregulated. Regulated bridging is secured on a property that is, or will become, your own home or a family member’s, falls under FCA rules and is capped at 12 months. Unregulated bridging loans cover investment, commercial and business property and run up to 24 months.
- Open vs closed. A closed bridging loan has a fixed, evidenced exit date, such as an exchanged sale, and prices keenest. An open bridging loan has a planned but undated exit and carries a small premium.
- First vs second charge. A first charge bridge loan sits on an unencumbered property; a second charge bridging loan, a form of second charge loan, raises capital behind a mortgage you want to keep.
- By purpose. A commercial bridging loan funds shops, offices and mixed-use; a specialist bridging loan covers unusual security or adverse credit that mainstream lenders decline. UK bridging spans homes, land and trading premises.
What a bridging loan costs
The true bridging loan cost is more than the monthly interest rate. A realistic figure combines the rate, the lender’s arrangement fee, the valuation, legal costs, and any exit fee over the term.
- Interest rate: indicatively 0.50% to 1.10% a month; clean, low loan-to-value cases start near 0.44%.
- Arrangement fee: usually 1% to 2% of the loan, often added to the advance.
- Valuation and legals: paid to third parties, varying by property type and value.
- Exit fee: 0% to 1% with some lenders; many waive it.
A lower loan-to-value almost always means a cheaper rate. A 1% a month bridge loan held for three months costs roughly 3% of the loan in interest, the number to weigh against losing the deal or the deposit. Every figure is indicative, confirmed by the lender on application.
Using a bridging loan broker
Going direct gives you one lender’s criteria and price. A broker can compare a qualitative whole-of-market panel, including specialist providers, then explain which routes fit the disclosed property, borrower, purpose and exit. Before an application, ask which credit search the selected lender may use. The right bridging loan is not always the lowest headline rate; net advance, conditions, total cost and deadline fit also matter.
We also compare eligible alternatives. A term mortgage, development facility or second charge may be more suitable where its mechanism, cost and timetable fit. Where a bridge is appropriate, we package the case and keep the stated deadline visible while the lender, valuer and solicitors complete their work.
Pros and cons of bridging
The potential benefits of a bridging loan are a shorter process than some term mortgages, access to specialist property criteria and a choice of serviced, retained or rolled interest where the lender offers it. It may suit an auction lot or broken chain when the contractual deadline, documents and legal work support the route.
The trade-off is cost. A bridge is usually more expensive than a term mortgage, so it needs a short hold and credible exit. If a sale or refinance runs late, interest and other charges may continue, making downside testing and contingency important.
How to apply for a bridging loan
To start a bridge loan comparison, tell us the property, funding need, required term, deadline and exit. We assess the deal against suitable lender criteria, then explain the proposed route and when a lender may need to run a credit search.
You choose whether to apply. The lender then instructs a valuation, underwrites the case and decides whether to issue an offer; legal work runs alongside. Completion timing depends on the lender, valuation, title, legal work and how quickly the required documents are supplied.
Common worries, answered straight
Is a bridge loan expensive? +
What if my exit slips? +
I have been turned down before. +
When to use a bridging loan
Complete inside the 28-day deadline.
Buy your onward purchase before your sale completes.
The buy-refurbish-refinance-rent route.
Buy what a high-street lender rejects, then refinance.
Release cash against property before an event completes.
Raise capital against equity fast.
Bridging loan questions, answered
What is a bridging loan and when would I use one? +
How fast can a bridge loan complete? +
Can I get bridging finance with bad credit? +
What is the difference between regulated and unregulated bridging? +
Do you lend the money yourselves, or are you a broker? +
When is my credit checked? +
How much would a bridge loan cost per month? +
What are the disadvantages of a bridge loan? +
Is a bridge loan a good idea? +
Get a free bridging finance quote
Tell us the property, loan size, purpose, deadline and exit. We will compare suitable bridging routes and you decide whether to proceed.