Editor's note: This brief was summarised by The Property AI Newsroom from a report by Mortgage Solutions. Read the original article for full details.

Bridging Finance Matures as Brokers Remain Key to UK Property Market

The UK bridging finance market is described as being in good health, with strong demand from investors, landlords, developers, and business owners. According to a report by Mortgage Solutions, brokers are playing a central role as the sector continues to mature and lender reputation becomes increasingly important.

The latest UK Bridging Market Survey from the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA) and Interpath highlights that bridging and development finance is now considered an essential component of the UK property market. The survey indicates that while the market remains active, it is becoming more measured, with more respondents expecting bridging demand to rise than fall. The outlook for annual originations is reported as steadier than the previous year.

Pricing in the bridging market has become more settled, with most respondents reporting average monthly rates between 0.75% and 1%. Loan to values (LTVs) have stabilised around the 65-70% range. The survey also notes that lender reputation has become a significantly more important factor in customer and broker choice, with 30% of respondents ranking it as the most important point, up from 8% in 2025.

Independent brokers remain the most important primary channel for bridging loan originations, with 61% of survey respondents ranking them first, an increase from 55% last year. The report states that the market still relies heavily on broker skill and relationships, especially as the range of bridging uses continues to expand.

Bridging finance is being used for a variety of purposes, including residential conversions, refurbishment, auction purchases, semi-commercial property, trading business needs, and more complex commercial assets. The value of bridging finance lies in its ability to address timing gaps that mainstream lenders may not be able to support.

For UK letting agents and inventory clerks, the continued maturity of the bridging finance market and the central role of brokers may impact the speed and certainty of property transactions, particularly in cases where mainstream lending is not suitable.