Written by: Sam O'Neill & Sam Hodgson
Enter the amount you want to borrow in the "Loan Amount" field.
Enter the loan term in months in the "Loan Term" field.
Choose the number of properties you're using as security from the dropdown.
Note: You can use multiple properties to secure a bridging loan and doing so can reduce your interest rate.
Enter the monthly interest rate in the "Monthly Interest Rate" field.
Note: This is not an annual rate; it's the rate applied each month. You can use our default figure to start with as a rough outline.
For each property used as security, enter:
Click on the "Calculate" button to perform the calculation.
The fields above make certain assumptions based on general bridging loan rates, costs and fees to give you an initial idea.
A bridging loan is secured finance, and the costs depend on a number of factors detailed below.
A bridging loan calculator gives you an idea of how much a bridging loan could cost based on the specific loan you need.
It will give you a free quote and indicative figures for you: interest rates, lender fees, valuation fees, broker fees and admin fees.
When you apply for a bridging loan with a lender (either through a broker or directly), the fees and figures may vary - as our calculator tool is just an estimate based on the basic inputted information and assumes certain factors as standard.
But it's a great tool to give you an idea of how much your project will cost, whether you're simply buying a new home before selling yours or you're looking to fund refurbishments or a development project.
A bridging loan is a type of short term property finance.
They're similar to standard mortgages but are designed for the short term - usually between 12 and 18 months.
They're not designed to be long term finance solutions for buying property.
Instead, they're usually used to bridge a gap between two property transactions. Whether it's buying a property before selling your current home, or buying a property, carrying out some renovations, and then refinancing with a standard mortgage, the many uses of bridging loans are endless.
They can provide flexibility and value in the most complex or straightforward situations. And they're also very fast compared to standard mortgages.
Check out our bridging loan case studies for some real-life examples of how they work.
Loan to value - This is the ratio of total borrowing to total property value. Generally, the lower your LTV, the lower the rate of interest you'll pay on your loan. If more than one property is involved, securing your bridging loan on two properties can allow you to reduce your loan to value as well as the overall cost of your loan.
Property location - This is particularly relevant for properties in more remote areas of the UK, such as north Scotland and Northern Ireland, when it comes to residential property purchases. The more remote the property, the more risk there is to a lender that you may not be able to provide an exit for your bridging finance, so it can be reflected in the interest rate you pay.
Regulated or unregulated? - If the property is for personal use, it will fall under regulated lending governed by the FCA (Financial Conduct Authority). There are fewer regulated lenders in the market, so in certain situations, your options may be more limited. Regulated lending is highly competitive, so the good news for borrowers is that for loan to values below 60% the rates currently are as low as they've ever been.
Lender fees - Bridging loan lenders will typically charge a facility arrangement fee of 2% based on either the net or gross loan. For most of the lenders we use, the lender fee will be based on the net loan. Lenders may also charge a loan drawdown fee - typically £295. This fee can vary depending on the number of properties involved. When your loan is redeemed, there will also be a redemption fee. This is the cost of removing a legal charge from your property (ies) and will typically be £120.
Legal costs - A bridging loan transaction, like a mortgage, requires solicitors to complete the legal charge paperwork. The lender will have their own solicitor who will have their fees, and you'll also need to have a solicitor to represent you. Legal fees can vary and will depend on the complexity of your transaction. Some bridging lenders provide dual representation, which can reduce the overall cost.
Survey fees - As with any secured lending on an asset, your lender will generally want an independent valuation. Most UK bridging loan lenders will appoint a surveyor from an agreed panel. The cost will depend on the lender, but most work to a scale based on property value. Some lenders we work with provide what's called a desktop valuation (typically for properties valued under £1 million), which is both quicker and cheaper - we always try to negotiate these on behalf of our clients.
Broker fees - We charge a broker fee, typically of £495, for arranging finance on your behalf.
Loan exit fees - The lenders we use rarely apply an exit fee. If they are charged, it will be payable on the redemption of your loan and can be anything from 1% to 2%. Our calculator has this field set at 0% as this fee typically only applies to higher risk lending on investment land/property transactions.
The key difference between bridging loan interest compared to standard mortgage interest is that interest rates are displayed monthly for bridging finance.
This is because bridging loans are typically between 12 and 18 month terms, and you pay interest on your monthly balance.
The good news is that you usually only pay interest for the duration of your loan. So, if you exit your bridging loan within 6 months, you'll only pay 6 months' worth of interest even if your original term was 12 months.
We also work with lenders that provide the option of rolling up the interest on your loan, so there's no requirement to repay your interest monthly.
This can be very attractive for cash flow. If you're carrying out renovations on the property, for example, you'll need money on hand to support your project, so you don't want to worry about interest repayments. In this situation, you can add the interest to your loan balance every month and only repay it at the end as a lump sum.
When you pay off your short term loan, your redemption repayment will comprise of the original capital and the accrued monthly interest.
Your options will depend on whether the loan you require is regulated or non regulated.
Item | Terms |
Type of bridging finance | Unregulated |
Max Loan To Value | 80% LTV Residential & 70% Commercial, 100% LTV bridging in rare cases |
UK Areas covered | England, Wales, Scotland & Northern Ireland |
Europe | From £1m - Germany, Spain, Netherlands, Switzerland, Austria, Monaco |
Loan Term |
1-24 months |
Minimum Loan Size |
£50,000 |
Maximum Loan Size |
No maximum |
Minimum interest |
0.55% pm |
Interest treatment |
Rolled, Retained or Serviced |
Borrower residency | UK residents, UK ex-pats, Non UK Nationals (Limited Options For UK Property) |
Borrower Type | Individual, Sole Trader, LLP, Partnership, Ltd Company |
Security Types | Residential, commercial & semi commercial property (1st & 2nd Charge) |
Funding for: | New builds; Refurbishment; Conversions; Grade listed buildings; Mixed schemes, development and development exit finance |
Planning Permission Needed | Case By Case |
Item | Terms |
Type of bridging finance | Regulated |
Max Loan To Value | 75% LTV Residential |
UK Areas covered | England, Wales & Scotland |
Loan Term |
1-12 months |
Minimum Loan Size |
£50,000 |
Maximum Loan Size |
No maximum |
Minimum interest |
0.55% pm |
Interest treatment |
Rolled, Retained or Serviced |
Borrower residency | UK residents, UK expats |
Borrower Type | Individual, Sole Trader, LLP, Partnership, Ltd Company |
Security Types | Residential (1st & 2nd Charge) |
Funding for: | New builds; Refurbishment; Conversions; Grade listed buildings; Mixed schemes |
Planning Permission Needed | Case By Case |
If you're buying a property before selling an existing one, it may be possible to reduce the cost of finance by using more than one security property. By securing your bridge loan over both properties in the transaction, your overall loan cost may be lower.
If you have an outstanding mortgage on a property you're using as security, it will be factored into the overall loan-to-value calculation.
We're an independent company registered in England, and the Financial Conduct Authority regulates us. We have access to the best loan rates in the market for both authorised and regulated lenders, as well as private lenders, for unregulated transactions where speed is often of the essence.
We know the short-term finance market very well and can find the right finance for your situation. If you need longer-term finance to replace bridging finance once your term ends, we can also arrange that for you.
Our free bridging loan calculator is a useful tool for getting an indicative quote, but we recommend talking to us about what you're trying to achieve to get a bespoke quote for your requirements. We provide holistic, regulated bridging loan advice that looks at your entire financial situation for the best solution.
I approached Clifton Private Finance to help me get a mortgage as an Expat working in the Far East. I would normally 'cut out the middle man' on something like this and try to get myself a deal directly with the banks, but I am now sold on the broker concept and wouldn't hesitate to use Clifton Private Finance again. There were a number of complicating factors such as being an expat, the stamp duty holiday, the sheer amount I wanted to borrow and the fact I wanted it all wrapped up before the Stamp Duty holiday ended. It is clear to me now that the relationship that brokers have managed to foster with their banks means they can simply pull levers and make stuff happen that us ordinary folk cannot. Put simply, they are worth every penny, will take most of the stress out of the lending process, and seem to have access to deals that you just won't find on the internet. Thank you George and Jan for all your hard work!
James M
Luther was excellent. Very clear in his advice and explanations of products and was able to move things on very quickly when we ran into difficulties with the estate agents. Without a doubt I would recommend Luther to all friends, family and colleagues. Luther was a joy to deal with and took a lot of the stress out of a troublesome transaction, from my end. I would view Luther as real asset to Clifton Private Finance Ltd.
William W
The team at Clifton Private Finance has been outstanding, not only in helping me to obtain a mortgage on a slightly unusual home, but also in continuing to provide support and liaise with the lender and solicitors through to completion. Thank you for making the process of buying my first home much easier.
Chantelle S
Sam O'Neill, and the new lender he identified for me, worked tirelessly together using my time constraints, to make sure my mortgage application was completed on time. They are a brilliant company to work with, fast, efficient, open and transparent from the very beginning, and turned a seemingly impossible situation into a viable one. Sam was brilliant throughout the whole process and I would highly recommend him, and his colleague Helen, to anyone without hesitation, I cannot speak highly enough about them.
Myr B
I was incredibly lucky to find Clifton Private Finance after a search on line as their service has been more than exemplary. My point of contact was Sam 0’Neill and he was happy to help at every stage during the application of the bridging loan, making a stressful process much easier to deal with. He was always available by phone or email and gave prompt answers to queries I had as well as always getting back to me when he said he would. That to me is excellent customer service and I cannot thank him personally or the company enough for the support they have given me.
C Jefferey
Adam cannot thank you enough for all your support throughout this arrangement. You have gone more than the extra mile to support us. Without you we would not have got our dream retirement home. You have been most professional and personable. Liz and I would be more than happy if you wanted to use us a reference with respect to any future clients.
Nigel & Liz K - Bristol
You have certainly shown me that you do everything for your clients, including tolerating their excessive emails and questions for updates. I have been kept in the loop, from yourself, about why the delays were occurring (Nationwide, post etc) which I would like to highlight that I really appreciated. I certainly will be able to recommend you to others as and when the need arises.
Mr Morris
I recently contacted Clifton Private Finance after a Google search for bridging finance providers and was immediately struck by their efficiency and support. Forms were emailed over almost immediately and the necessary finance was arranged within a few days. None of the other companies I contacted came close to their professionalism, and the quote that I eventually received was impressive. Thank you Adam, your help has enabled us to reserve the house that we wanted and I certainly recommend you to others.
Mr M. R. - Oxford
Absolutely brilliant. The service was first class, got everything sorted efficiently and were always friendly. Any fees were negligible compared to the service offered. Robert was particularly outstanding.
Charles N
My advisor, Robert, was very helpful in finding the mortgage to suit me. He kept me up to date throughout the process and dealt with any issues when they arose.
Rowena C