Bridging Loan Calculator

Bridging loans typically range from £25,000 up to £25 million or more, depending on the lender and the security. The maximum you can borrow is determined by the property value (LTV), your exit strategy and your credit profile. For adverse credit applicants, most specialist lenders cap at 70–75% LTV — though higher may be available with a strong exit strategy or additional security.

Bridging loans are short-term by design — typical terms are 1 to 18 months, with most lenders offering up to 24 months. Some lenders allow extensions if your exit strategy is delayed. You can repay early without significant penalty in most cases, though check whether the lender uses retained or serviced interest before assuming refunds.

Yes. Bridging is one of the most adverse-credit-friendly forms of finance because lenders are primarily focused on the security (the property) and the exit strategy, not your credit score. CCJs, defaults, IVAs and even discharged bankruptcy can all be considered by specialist lenders. Rates are higher than for clean credit applicants, but the loan is still available.

An exit strategy is how you plan to repay the loan at the end of the term. The two most common are: sale of the property (you bridge a purchase, refurbish, then sell at a profit) and refinance to a long-term mortgage (e.g. you bridge to buy quickly, then refinance to a buy-to-let mortgage once the property meets standard criteria). Other exits include sale of another asset, an inheritance, or a business cash injection.

A credit check is usually run by the lender at the formal application stage — not when you enquire. Submitting an enquiry through us does not affect your credit score. Specialist bridging lenders interpret credit history more flexibly than mainstream banks, focusing on the overall picture rather than auto-rejecting based on a single CCJ or default.

Common fees include: arrangement fee (1–2% of loan, deducted on day one), valuation fee (£500–£2,500 depending on property value), legal fees (yours and the lender's — typically £1,000–£3,500 combined), and exit fee (0–1% of loan, charged by some lenders). We do not charge upfront introducer fees — we are paid by the lender on completion. Always get a full written fee schedule from the lender before committing.

Bridging is the fastest form of UK property finance. Decisions in principle can come within 24–48 hours. Full completion typically takes 2–4 weeks, depending on solicitor speed and survey turnaround. For urgent cases such as auction completions, some lenders can complete in 7–10 days with expedited legal work.

A bridging loan is regulated by the FCA when it is secured against a property the borrower (or an immediate family member) lives in or intends to live in. Unregulated bridging is for investment property — buy-to-let, commercial property, or properties bought to refurbish and sell. Most adverse-credit bridging is unregulated because it is used for investment purposes. Adverse Credit Brokers does not handle FCA-regulated bridging.