Best commercial bridging finance lenders
The UK's commercial asset-fit compass for choosing a lender by property, borrower and exit.
Commercial bridging finance is not simply residential bridging with a larger loan. The lender must understand the asset, tenantability, rental income, lease terms, planning position, valuation evidence and your route to repayment. A vacant shop, a tenanted warehouse, a mixed-use building and a commercial-to-residential conversion may all need different underwriting.
This comparison ranks lenders by use case, not by headline LTV alone. It is designed to help you route a commercial, mixed-use or semi-commercial deal towards the lender most likely to understand it and complete it.
What makes a strong commercial bridging lender?
Asset fit
Does the lender understand retail, offices, industrial, hospitality, mixed-use or development-led property?
Tenantability
Is the property occupied, vacant, let, partly let or dependent on a new tenant?
Valuation
Will the valuer assess current value, investment value, vacant possession value and any proposed works realistically?
Lease and title quality
Are leases properly documented? Are there rights, covenants, restrictions or title splits needing specialist review?
Borrower experience
Does the lender assess your experience fairly, especially if the project is complex or held in an SPV?
Exit strength
Can you refinance, sell, complete a conversion or move onto development finance within the proposed term?
Execution
Are underwriting, legal work and valuation managed with enough urgency to meet your deadline?
The market remains active but more disciplined. The BDLA reported £1.8 billion of completions in Q1 2026, with average LTV reducing to 56.64%. Lenders are still funding commercial opportunities, but they are paying close attention to downside protection and credible exits. Commercial bridging is commonly unregulated when used for business or investment purposes; owner-occupied or consumer-related borrowing may fall under different rules, so confirm the position before proceeding.
The ranking
This is a routing tool, not an absolute league table. The lender at number one is not best for every project.
| Rank | Lender | Commercial fit | Speed | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | MS Lending Group | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Commercial, mixed-use, semi-commercial and refurb-led deals |
| 2 | Shawbrook Bank | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Higher-leverage commercial and refurbishment cases |
| 3 | United Trust Bank | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Structured and higher-value commercial bridging |
| 4 | Together | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★★ | Time-sensitive commercial purchases and complex property |
| 5 | InterBay Commercial | ★★★★★ | ★★★★☆ | Commercial and mixed-use investment property |
| 6 | Finanze Capital | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Corporate structures, title splits and defined value events |
| 7 | Allica Bank | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | SME commercial property and larger straightforward facilities |
| 8 | TAB | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | First- and second-charge commercial bridging |
| 9 | KSEYE | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Complex corporates, individuals and mixed-use assets |
| 10 | Glenhawk | ★★★★☆ | ★★★★☆ | Larger structured real estate transactions |
Scroll the table sideways to see every column.
Strengths and limitations
Strengths
- Faster than many commercial mortgages for purchases, refinances and time-sensitive opportunities
- Can support vacant, mixed-use, non-standard or refurbishment-led property
- Flexible structures may support SPVs, corporate borrowers and second charges
- Can bridge a defined gap before sale, refinance, conversion or development finance
Limitations
- Interest, arrangement fees, valuation costs and legal fees can make a short-term facility expensive
- A weak exit can cause extension costs, refinance pressure or forced-sale risk
- Maximum LTV is often lower on commercial property than on standard residential security
- Commercial valuation can be conservative, especially for vacant or specialist property
Best commercial bridging finance lenders — Frequently asked questions
Which lender is best for commercial bridging finance?
It depends on the asset and the objective. MS Lending is a strong all-round option for commercial, mixed-use and refurbishment-led deals; Shawbrook and United Trust Bank suit higher-leverage and higher-value cases; Together is strong where speed matters most.
Can I use commercial bridging finance for a mixed-use property?
Yes. Mixed-use buildings, such as shops with flats above, are commonly considered. The commercial-to-residential element affects which lender is the better fit and how the valuer approaches it.
How quickly can commercial bridging finance complete?
Some lenders advertise decisions or funding in as little as 24 hours. A complete transaction still requires valuation, legal work and searches, so a realistic commercial timetable is longer than a straightforward residential bridge.
Is commercial bridging regulated?
Many business-purpose and investment commercial facilities are unregulated. Owner-occupied or consumer-related borrowing may fall under different regulatory rules, so confirm the position before proceeding.
Does Auction360 arrange commercial bridging finance?
Yes. Auction360 provides specialist auction and bridging finance solutions and routes commercial cases to suitable lenders based on the asset, the structure and the exit.
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Not sure which lender fits your lot?
Auction360 routes the case for you — matching the property, the legal pack and your exit to a lender that will actually complete.
Get Funded Book a Discovery CallThese ratings are Auction360's market assessment, built from published lender criteria, market case studies, broker-reported timelines, solicitor feedback and valuation panel behaviour. They are not a lending decision, a recommendation or a guarantee of approval. Criteria, pricing and availability change, so confirm the current position with the lender or your broker before submitting a case. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other debt secured on it.