A bridging loan is short-term finance secured on property, used when you need to move faster than a mortgage allows. Bridge Scout compares 896 products from 64 specialist lenders and ranks them on what the deal actually costs over your term — not the headline rate.
No signup, no credit check Whole-of-panel view FCA authorised — FRN 948419
When a bridging loan makes sense
Bridging is built for situations a term lender cannot serve in time, or cannot serve at all. Lenders work on the exit — how the loan gets repaid — as much as on your income, which is why it suits property that is being bought quickly, improved, or refinanced.
Auction purchases — completion usually falls due within 28 days of the hammer
Chain breaks — buy the next house before the current one sells
Refurbishment — fund works the property needs before a lender will touch it
Development exit — replace costlier development debt once a scheme is complete
Commercial and semi-commercial — shops, offices, units and mixed-use property
Unmortgageable stock — no kitchen, no bathroom, short lease, structural work
What it costs
Bridging is priced as a monthly interest rate rather than an annual one, usually between around 0.5% and 1.5% a month depending on the property, the loan-to-value and your circumstances. On top of that sits the lender's arrangement fee, typically 2% of the loan, plus valuation and legal costs paid to third parties.
Interest is normally rolled up and repaid with the loan rather than paid monthly, so nothing leaves your pocket during the term. That also means the lowest rate is not always the cheapest deal — a keener rate with a larger fee can cost more over a short term, which is why we rank on total cost.
How Bridge Scout works
Tell us the property value, the loan you need and roughly how long for. We show which lenders fit and what each would cost over your term. Pick one, or tell us you are not sure, and a specialist takes it from there — putting your deal to the panel so lenders compete on it.
There is no signup, no credit check to compare, and no broker fee to use the comparison.
See your lenders in seconds
Enter the property value, the loan you need and your term. No signup, no credit check, and no broker fee to compare.
Typically two to four weeks, and faster where a desktop or automated valuation is accepted and the legal work is straightforward. Some lenders on the panel regularly complete inside a week on simple cases.
How much can I borrow?
Usually up to around 75% of the property value, sometimes higher with additional security. Where you are buying below market value, some lenders will work from the valuation rather than the price.
Do I need to prove my income?
Usually far less than for a mortgage. Bridging lenders focus on the property and on how the loan will be repaid — a sale, a refinance, or the completion of works.
Is bridging regulated?
It depends on the property. A bridge on a home you live in, or intend to live in, is a regulated mortgage contract. Bridging on investment or commercial property is generally not regulated by the FCA.
Will comparing affect my credit score?
No. Seeing indicative lenders and rates on Bridge Scout involves no credit check and leaves no footprint.
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