Search
  1. Home
  2. Business Loans
  3. Business Bridging Loans
  4. Bridging Loan Criteria: Are You Eligible for Bridging Finance?
Published 05 December 2022

Bridging Loan Criteria: Are You Eligible for Bridging Finance?

Each lender will have its own individual bridging loan eligibility criteria and requirements that must be met if you’re to successfully apply for bridging finance. The security you’re offering and your exit plan are among the most important lending criteria that will be assessed.

Understanding the bridging loan criteria lenders use to assess the eligibility of borrowers could help improve your chances of being accepted for bridging finance.

Here, we run through some of the most common bridging loan eligibility criteria lenders evaluate.

What are the criteria for a bridging loan?

The exact criteria you’ll need to meet to get a bridging loan will differ between lenders. This means it’s possible to have a bridging loan application rejected by one provider but accepted by another.

But while precise bridging loan requirements can vary, most lenders will look at the same overarching criteria. Typically, this will include:

Security for the loan

Bridging loans are a type of secured loan, which means that you’ll need to put down a physical asset when applying for finance. Lenders typically ask for one or several properties to be used as collateral when you apply for a bridging loan. If you are unable to repay the bridging loan, the lender has the right to repossess the property or properties put down as security.

» MORE: What is a bridging loan?

Your exit strategy

Your exit strategy is a key part of the bridging loan eligibility criteria because it shows lenders how you plan to pay off the loan. A strong exit strategy can often go a long way to helping you secure the bridging finance that you need and perhaps also the lowest interest rates.

There are several types of bridging loan exit strategies, including:

Loan size

Most lenders require a minimum loan size of £10,000 for a bridging loan, though some may ask for more. However, lenders don’t tend to have an upper limit on how much you can borrow for a bridging loan.

Loan term

Bridging loans are intended to be a short-term borrowing method. Residential bridging loans are regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) and are limited to 12 months. However, some lenders offer bridging loan terms of up to 18 or even 36 months – though bear in mind that the FCA will not regulate loans with terms of more than 12 months.

It’s also worth noting that the FCA does not regulate buy-to-let and commercial bridging loans.

» MORE: How are bridging loans regulated?

Property type

Lenders usually consider a wide range of property types for a residential bridging loan. These include but are not limited to:

On top of the above, commercial or buy-to-let bridging loans may also be used to finance:

Credit history

A good credit history could help improve your chances of being accepted for a bridging loan and of getting the lowest rates. However, with many bridging lenders the security you offer and the strength of your exit plan will be more important than your credit history.

This means that you may still qualify for a bridging loan if you have a bad credit score. Some lenders may still accept applications if you have:

» MORE: Getting a bridging loan with bad credit

Deposit size

Many lenders require a minimum deposit of 25% to 30% for a bridging loan. Similarly with mortgages, you can unlock more favourable interest rates with a larger deposit. Typically, the lowest rates for a bridging loan can kick in with a deposit of around 40%.

Location

Bridging loans are generally reserved for residents and companies based in the UK. Most lenders cover the following locations:

Some lenders may also extend to locations in Europe and the USA.

Age

Applicants must be 18 years old to apply for a bridging loan. The maximum age limit for a bridging loan varies between lenders. While some may have a maximum age requirement, others have no limit and offer bridging loans for buyers aged 70 and over.

Proof of income

Unlike with mortgages, proof of income isn’t generally an important factor for lenders when assessing a bridging loan application. This is because you’ll need to have a good exit strategy to prove how you will pay off the loan.

What do you plan to use the bridging loan for?

Lenders will require a reason for why you need a bridging loan. You might apply for a bridging loan if you are:

Other factors

There are many other factors lenders may consider as part of their bridging loan eligibility criteria. These include but are not limited to:

What are the alternatives to bridging finance?

If you think you might struggle to meet the eligibility criteria for a bridging loan, or have already had an application rejected, remember that requirements can differ between lenders, and you might still be accepted elsewhere. That’s why it’s important to compare bridging loans across different lenders.

It can also be worthwhile exploring the other options available besides bridging loans. The range of alternatives you could consider will depend on whether you want a bridging loan for residential or commercial purposes but might include unsecured loans, other types of secured loan, or perhaps remortgaging or a commercial mortgage.

» MORE: Alternatives to bridging loans

WARNING: Think carefully before securing other debts against your home. Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on a loan or any other debt secured on it. Always check whether a bridging loan is regulated or not. To protect consumers, bridging loans on residential properties must be regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. Bridging loans on buy-to-let, commercial and investment properties can be unregulated.

Image source: Getty Images

About the Authors

Brean Horne

Brean was a writer and spokesperson for NerdWallet who covered a variety of topics including money-saving tips, credit scores and managing debt. With over five years' experience in finance, she…

Read More
Tim Leonard

Tim is a writer and spokesperson at NerdWallet who has over 20 years’ experience writing about almost all aspects of personal finance. During his career at Moneyfacts, Virgin Money and…

Read More
Dive even deeper
How a Dad Ditched his Doorstep Loan to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving

How a Dad Ditched his Doorstep Loan to Get Out of Debt and Start Saving

If you’re struggling to get a loan, you may think high-cost credit is your only option. But there are more affordable ways to borrow money, including joining a credit union, as one father-of-two found out.

Thinking of a Loan? Beware of the Fee Scam that  Could Cost You Hundreds of Pounds

Thinking of a Loan? Beware of the Fee Scam that Could Cost You Hundreds of Pounds

With more people turning to borrowing during the cost of living crisis, it’s even more important to be vigilant against loan fee fraud and other types of scams. Find out how loan fee scams work and what you can do to beat these fraudsters.

How a Credit Union Helped Make a Christmas Wish Come True

How a Credit Union Helped Make a Christmas Wish Come True

Christmas can put extra pressure on our bank accounts, but a credit union could help you to save up or get an affordable loan. Find out how a credit union is helping one young family this festive season.

Back To Top