£120K Bridging Loan Secured Against London Buy-to-Let to Complete Renovation in Costa Rica

We helped an expat client living in Costa Rica secure bridging finance against her London buy-to-let property to complete a renovation project overseas. With time pressure from a departing builder and the added complexity of managing the entire process remotely, speed, reassurance, and lender flexibility were essential.

Clifton Private Finance ensured that, despite this being the client’s first experience with bridging finance, the £120K loan completed smoothly within five weeks.

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The Scenario

Our client owned a buy-to-let property in London valued at £750,000, which she planned to sell in due course. She was developing a new-build property overseas intended for use as an Airbnb but needed additional funding to complete the final stages of the renovation.

The building was already watertight and only required internal work to be finished.

However, timing was a key driver was timing. The trusted builder, who was scheduled to complete the project, was due to leave the country for six months at the end of March, and the client was keen to complete the work before that happened.

Living permanently in Costa Rica, and having not taken out any form of property finance in over 20 years, the client needed a solution that was both fast and carefully explained throughout.

Challenges

This case presented a number of challenges:

• The client had no prior experience with bridging finance, requiring clear guidance and reassurance at every stage
• She was based overseas and did not want to return to the UK to complete the transaction
• There was a tight deadline, with the builder leaving just weeks after the initial enquiry
• The funding need was relatively niche: finishing renovation works on an overseas property, secured against a UK buy-to-let

In addition, managing legal and valuation processes across time zones added an extra layer of complexity.

The Solution

Clifton Private Finance sourced a specialist bridging lender comfortable working with expat borrowers and handling the entire transaction remotely, with all documentation completed online.

The lender was also pragmatic in assessing the case, offering a very low loan-to-value structure, which helped secure a highly competitive rate despite the niche nature of the request.

The loan was secured against the London buy-to-let property, with a clear exit strategy via its sale. Separate legal representation was arranged, and we managed communication closely between all parties, taking into account the time difference and ensuring the client felt supported throughout.

From initial enquiry in January, we maintained momentum to ensure funds were released well ahead of the builder’s departure at the end of March.

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The Outcome

The bridging loan completed in just five weeks, an excellent turnaround given the international element and the client’s unfamiliarity with short-term finance.

The funds allowed the renovation work to be completed on schedule, avoiding disruption and additional costs and time delay that would have arisen from finding a new builder.

The client was able to:

• Finish the overseas project on time using her preferred builder
• Complete the entire process without travelling back to the UK
• Move forward with confidence, fully understanding the structure and exit plan

This case highlights how the right lender selection and hands-on support can make complex, long-distance transactions both smooth and stress-free, even for clients new to bridging finance.