Where Roma Finance sits
Auction & general bridging specialists
Core strength. Investor refurb bridging
Typical use. Refurb + exit-to-refinance
Heavy refurbishment & development-led bridging
Core strength. Refurb + refinance exit
Typical use. Investor refurb projects
Complex-case / flexible-credit bridging
Core strength. Adverse + refurb
Typical use. Landlords with mixed credit
Executive Summary
Roma Finance stands out for a simple reason: every case is manually underwritten. Rather than relying only on automated scoring or rigid rules, Roma considers the borrower, property, transaction and exit strategy together. That approach can be useful when your deal is straightforward in principle but does not fit a narrow lending box. Roma covers standard bridging, auction finance and refurbishment funding, with loans from £75,000 to £3 million, terms up to 24 months and maximum lending of up to 75% LTV. Its RomaFLOW channel is designed for speed, typically completing cases within 28 days. Roma states that 80% of RomaFLOW cases complete within this timeframe. For you as an investor or auction buyer, the key question is not simply whether Roma lends. It is whether your case is presented clearly enough for the underwriter to understand the opportunity, risk and repayment route.
| Profile | Detail |
|---|---|
| Author | Deji Nehan |
| Experience | 15+ years’ experience in property auctions and specialist property finance |
| Credentials | Author of Auction Demystified – Unlocking Auction Success |
| Platform | Founder of the UK’s No.1 Auction & Bridging Finance Platform |
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At a Glance
Behavioural Profile
Roma’s lending personality is best described as human-led, commercially aware and relationshipfocused. The manual underwriting model gives your broker an opportunity to explain the full case rather than reduce it to a series of automated answers. That does not remove the need for evidence. It changes how the evidence is assessed. A strong submission should show:
| Area | Roma Finance intelligence |
|---|---|
| Core approach | Manual underwriting with every case considered on its merits |
| Main shortterm route | RomaFLOW for standard bridging, auction finance and light refurbishment |
| Loan range | £75,000 to £3 million |
| Maximum LTV | Up to 75%, subject to property, borrower and transaction |
| Maximum term | Up to 24 months |
| Speed indicator | RomaFLOW typically completes within 28 days; Roma reports 80% within this timeframe |
| Property strategy | Purchase, refinance, auction acquisition, refurbishment and selected commercial or semi-commercial cases |
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| Underwriting focus | What you should demonstrate |
|---|---|
| Borrower capability | Relevant experience, available funds and a realistic delivery plan |
| Property quality | Current condition, valuation evidence and any legal or physical concerns |
| Transaction logic | Purchase price, required loan, deposit and total project costs |
| Exit strategy | Sale, refinance or another clear route to repay the facility |
| Time management | Valuation, legal work, planning, works and completion milestones |
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Roma’s approach may be particularly relevant where the case needs context. For example, a property may require refurbishment, have an unusual layout or be bought below market value. The underwriter will still examine the risk, but the assessment is not limited to a single automated outcome.
Appetite Matrix
Roma classifies refurbishment by comparing works cost with the property’s current market value:
These classifications should be treated as an initial guide. The final product route, leverage and conditions depend on the full application.
| Lending area | Indicative appetite |
|---|---|
| Standard bridging | Strong fit for residential, commercial and semi-commercial short-term funding, subject to criteria |
| Auction finance | Strong fit where the auction pack, valuation, deposit and completion deadline are clear |
| Light refurbishment | Suitable through RomaFLOW where the works are controlled and the exit is credible |
| Medium refurbishment | May require a different Roma product or a more detailed assessment |
| Heavy refurbishment | Usually better considered through development-focused funding rather than standard RomaFLOW |
| Commercial property | Available for selected commercial and semi-commercial transactions |
| Below-market-value purchase | Potentially suitable where the discount and valuation evidence are robust |
| Complex borrower profile | May benefit from manual underwriting, provided the overall case remains supportable |
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| Refurbishment level | Works compared with current market value |
|---|---|
| Light | 20% to 50% |
| Medium | 50% to 100% |
| Heavy | More than 100% |
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Risk Flags
Manual underwriting is not the same as relaxed underwriting. Roma’s flexibility works best when risks are identified early and addressed directly.
Before bidding, use Auction360’s legal pack review service and auction risk analysis to identify problems while you can still walk away.
Speed Index
RomaFLOW is designed for cases where a conventional mortgage process is too slow. Roma states that its streamlined channel completes 80% of cases within 28 days, with service levels designed to support fast underwriting and legal instruction.
| Risk area | What could slow or weaken the case |
|---|---|
| Weak exit | No clear sale or refinance route, or an exit based on optimistic assumptions |
| Auction timing | A short completion deadline without an agreed valuation and solicitor plan |
| Legal pack concerns | Restrictive covenants, title defects, missing rights or unusual lease terms |
| Refurbishment scope | Incomplete costings, unclear specifications or works that exceed the intended product |
| Valuation gap | A lower-than-expected valuation reducing available leverage |
| Borrower liquidity | Insufficient funds for deposit, fees, contingency or cost overruns |
| Planning uncertainty | Reliance on consent that has not yet been granted |
| Overstretched structure | Loan size or term that leaves too little room for delays |
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| Stage | Speed consideration |
|---|---|
| Initial review | Faster when the loan purpose, property and exit are clearly explained |
| Underwriting | Manual assessment means the case receives human review, but missing information can create questions |
| Valuation | Early instruction helps protect the completion timetable |
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For auction purchases, do not wait until the hammer falls. Pre-auction approval can help you understand likely funding before you make a binding commitment.
Strengths and Weaknesses
| Stage | Speed consideration |
|---|---|
| Legal work | Auction packs and clear title information can reduce avoidable delays |
| Completion | RomaFLOW typically targets completion within 28 days, subject to the case and professional advisers |
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| Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|
| Every case is manually underwritten | Manual assessment does not guarantee approval |
| Considers the borrower and exit strategy alongside the property | A detailed case may still require substantial supporting evidence |
| Covers auction, standard bridging and refurbishment scenarios | RomaFLOW is not designed for every medium or heavy refurbishment |
| Loan sizes from £75,000 to £3 million | Maximum LTV depends on the property and risk profile |
| Up to 24-month terms provide room for an appropriate exit | Interest and fees must be modelled carefully within the exit plan |
| RomaFLOW is built around speed | Completion depends on valuation, legal work and borrower responsiveness |
| Can provide context for cases that do not fit automated models | Flexibility should not be mistaken for acceptance of weak fundamentals |
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Best-Fit and Not-Ideal Scenarios
For a practical guide to auction preparation, read Deji Nehan’s Auction Demystified – Unlocking Auction Success. “The auction room doesn’t reward confidence, it rewards preparation.” , Deji Nehan, Auction Demystified – Unlocking Auction Success
Market Positioning
Roma occupies a useful position between speed-focused bridging and relationship-led specialist underwriting. Its strongest differentiator is not simply the availability of auction finance. Many specialist lenders can fund auction purchases. Roma’s distinction is the combination of:
| Best-fit scenarios | Not-ideal scenarios |
|---|---|
| Auction purchases with a clear 28-day completion plan | Auction purchases made before legal or funding checks |
| Residential bridging with a credible sale or refinance exit | Cases where repayment depends on an uncertain future event |
| Light refurbishment with defined works and costings | Heavy works presented as a simple light refurb |
| Investors who can evidence experience and liquidity | Borrowers without enough funds for fees and contingencies |
| Below-market-value purchases supported by valuation evidence | Transactions where the discount cannot be explained |
| Cases requiring a human explanation rather than a scorecard | Applications with incomplete information or changing figures |
| Borrowers seeking a bridge-to-term funding relationship | Deals where the proposed leverage leaves no margin for error |
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| Market feature | Roma’s position |
|---|---|
| Human assessment | Every case is manually underwritten |
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This makes Roma worth considering when your deal needs speed but also benefits from a lender understanding the story behind the numbers. Auction360 can help you compare the lender fit through specialist auction finance, bridging finance and property finance.
FAQs
| Market feature | Roma’s position |
|---|---|
| Product breadth | Bridging, auction finance, refurbishment and selected commercial property |
| Transaction speed | RomaFLOW is structured around fast completions |
| Borrower relationship | The case is assessed through borrower capability and exit strength |
| Funding journey | Roma’s wider product range can support different stages of a property project |
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| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| What is Roma Finance known for? | Roma is known for manual underwriting, specialist bridging finance and a relationship-led approach to assessing property cases. |
| How much can Roma Finance lend? | Roma considers loans from £75,000 to £3 million. Larger facilities may be considered by referral, subject to the full case. |
| What is Roma Finance’s maximum LTV? | Lending can reach up to 75% LTV, depending on the property, valuation, borrower and transaction structure. |
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Useful Links
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Does Roma Finance provide auction finance? | Yes. Roma provides auction finance designed to support fast property purchases and auction completion deadlines. |
| How quickly can RomaFLOW complete? | RomaFLOW is designed for speed and typically completes within 28 days. Roma states that 80% of cases complete within this timeframe. |
| Does Roma Finance fund refurbishment? | Yes. Roma provides refurbishment finance, including light refurbishment through RomaFLOW. Medium and heavy works may require a different funding route. |
| How does Roma classify refurbishment? | Light works are 20% to 50% of current market value, medium works are 50% to 100%, and heavy works are above 100%. |
| Is an exit strategy required? | In most cases, yes. The exit may be a sale, refinance or another suitable repayment route. |
| Does manual underwriting mean poor credit is automatically accepted? | No. Manual underwriting allows the case to be considered in context, but affordability, security, liquidity and exit strength still matter. |
| Can Auction360 help with a Roma Finance application? | Auction360 can review the opportunity, assess auction risks and help identify suitable specialist finance before you commit. |
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| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Roma Finance RomaFLOW | Official RomaFLOW bridging finance page |
| Roma Finance products | View Roma Finance’s product range |
| Roma Finance FAQs | Read Roma Finance FAQs |
| Roma Finance contact | Contact Roma Finance |
| Auction360 book | Read Auction Demystified – Unlocking Auction Success |
| Pre-auction approval | Get pre-auction finance approval |
| Legal pack review | Review the auction legal pack |
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Auction360 Profile
Auction360 provides specialist auction and bridging finance solutions for investors, developers and auction buyers across the United Kingdom. The service suite includes pre-auction approval, legal pack review, auction risk analysis, day-of-auction funding, auction bridging loans and a range of SPV and development finance options. ✅ Speak to Auction360 before you bid. Get funded with a clear view of your finance route, costs and exit.
| Resource | Link |
|---|---|
| Auction risk analysis | Assess auction property risks |
| Auction day funding | Explore emergency auction funding |
| External industry reference | Read FIBA’s RomaFLOW report |
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| Profile | Detail |
|---|---|
| Deji Nehan | Author of Auction Demystified – Unlocking Auction Success |
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Disclaimer
Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up payments on a mortgage or any other debts secured on it. Content on this platform is for educational purposes. Speak to a qualified professional to discuss your specific scenario. Lender criteria, rates, fees, valuation requirements and completion timescales can change. Roma Finance’s current lending policy and formal offer should always take precedence.
| Profile | Detail |
|---|---|
| Experience | 15+ years in property auctions and specialist finance |
| Focus | Auction strategy, bridging finance, property investment and risk management |
| Platform | Founder of Auction360, the UK’s No.1 Auction & Bridging Finance Platform |
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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.