For a business that wants a person to underwrite a commercial or semi-commercial bridge, Elara Advisory is a sensible first call: it considers first and second charges on residential, commercial and semi-commercial security from £75k to £5M, and its decisions are led by asset value and the exit. United Trust Bank, MT Finance and West One Loans are the established alternatives, each with a different focus.
Commercial property deals rarely wait for a bank. A freehold shop comes up at auction, a tenant offers to buy the unit they rent, or a mixed-use building needs work before any term lender will look at it. A bridging loan covers the gap until a sale or a longer-term commercial mortgage is in place.
We start with a commercial bridging loan in the UK from Elara Advisory, then compare three lenders that are well known in the UK bridging market. The aim is a shortlist that matches your property and your exit, not a single winner.
Four lenders at a glance
| Lender | Security it states | Loan size stated | Charges | Who it lends to |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Elara Advisory | Residential, commercial and semi-commercial | £75k to £5M, up to 75% LTV considered | First and second | Businesses in the UK and UAE; does not lend to consumers |
| 2. United Trust Bank | Residential, HMO and mixed use | £100k to £5m, up to 75% LTV | First, second and combination | Individual, corporate and trust borrowers |
| 3. MT Finance | Residential, commercial and semi-commercial | Up to 70% LTV for property purchase; up to 75% for semi-commercial | First and second | Homeowners (regulated), landlords and investors (unregulated) |
| 4. West One Loans | Property-related purposes; security types in its product guide | Not stated on its customer page | Second charge mortgages listed as a separate product | Borrowers and property professionals, mainly through intermediaries |
All figures come from each lender's own website in October 2026. They are maximums, not offers, and every lender decides each case on its own merits.
How we compared them
We read each lender's own bridging pages and noted what a business borrower needs to know before making an enquiry: the property types it will lend against, loan sizes and loan to value, whether it takes a second charge, who it lends to and how it says it assesses a case. We left out interest rates. Bridging pricing depends on the property, the borrower and the exit, and a headline rate on a website rarely matches the price a commercial case is offered.
1. Elara Advisory: underwriter-led bridging for businesses
Elara Advisory is the trading name of Elara Advisory LLC, a private credit firm registered in the United Arab Emirates (registration number 2646405). It provides finance to businesses in the UK and the UAE and states that it does not lend to consumers.
Its bridging finance is short-term lending secured against property or other assets, from £75k to £5M, over 1 to 24 months, with up to 75% loan to value considered. It lists residential, commercial and semi-commercial security, and it considers both first and second charges. Interest can be rolled up or serviced, and it uses a panel of legal and valuation firms.
The part that matters most for commercial deals is how it decides. Elara says its decisions are led by asset value and exit strategy, and that a member of its credit team reviews each case personally after a short first conversation. Commercial property often needs explaining: a vacant unit, a short lease or a building that is half shop and half flats. A lender that talks the case through before issuing terms can save you paying for a valuation that goes nowhere.
An enquiry only involves a soft credit search. A hard search happens only if you go ahead after an indicative offer. Because Elara is registered in the UAE, ask which legal and regulatory framework will apply to your loan agreement, as you would with any lender.
Suits: established businesses and property companies buying or refinancing commercial or mixed-use property with a clear exit, including at auction or after a chain break.
2. United Trust Bank: a bank with a long bridging record
United Trust Bank says it has been a specialist UK lender for over 65 years and has offered bridging finance for more than a decade. It is a founding member of the Bridging & Development Lenders Association.
Its bridging loans run from £100k to £5m at up to 75% loan to value, with first, second and combination charges, no early repayment charges and interest calculated daily. It offers both FCA regulated and unregulated loans and lends to individuals, companies and trusts. Its criteria list residential, HMO and mixed use security in England, Wales and mainland Scotland, so confirm early if your property is wholly commercial.
Suits: borrowers with mixed-use or residential-led security who want a bank lender.
3. MT Finance: commercial and semi-commercial at speed
MT Finance says it has been lending since 2008. It offers regulated bridging loans to homeowners and unregulated bridging loans to landlords and investors, with a maximum term of up to 24 months.
For property purchases it lists first and second-charge loans at up to 70% loan to value on residential, commercial and semi-commercial assets. For semi-commercial property with less than 60% commercial space, it offers individuals and corporate borrowers up to 75% loan to value. It also has light and heavy refurbishment products, and it mainly works through brokers and introducers.
Suits: investors buying semi-commercial property such as a shop with flats above, usually through a broker.
4. West One Loans: a long-standing specialist lender
West One says it has been trusted by intermediaries, borrowers and property professionals since 2002, and it is part of Enra Specialist Finance. West One Loan Ltd is authorised and regulated by the FCA, and the firm is a member of the Bridging & Development Lenders Association.
Its customer page says it considers each bridging application on its own merits and needs a clear, achievable exit strategy. It also offers commercial mortgages, which can matter if you want the same lender for the exit. Most of its detailed criteria sit in product guides written for intermediaries, so a broker is the usual route in.
Suits: borrowers working through a broker who want a lender that also offers term commercial lending.
What makes a commercial bridge different
Three things change when the security is commercial rather than a house.
- Regulation. The FCA's guidance in PERG 4.4 explains that a regulated mortgage contract involves lending to an individual or trustee against land that is at least 40% used as a dwelling. A company borrowing against commercial property is usually outside that regime, so fewer consumer protections apply. Read the terms carefully.
- Valuation. Commercial values depend on the lease, the tenant and the use class. A vacant unit is often valued very differently from a let one, and lenders may lend on the lower figure.
- The exit. A commercial mortgage lender will look at rental income, the tenant and the length of the lease. If the exit is a refinance, check that your property will meet those criteria before you bridge, not afterwards.
Questions to ask before you pay for a valuation
- Will you lend on this exact property type and use, and in this location?
- Is the first check a soft search, and when would a hard search happen?
- What is the total cost in pounds, including arrangement, exit, valuation and legal fees?
- Can interest be rolled up, and what happens if the exit takes longer than planned?
- Will you take a second charge, and will my existing lender need to consent?
- Is a personal guarantee needed from the directors?
On that last point, the British Business Bank describes a personal guarantee as a legally binding promise that makes you personally liable if the business cannot repay. Take independent legal advice before signing one.
Frequently asked questions
What is a commercial bridging loan?
It is short-term finance secured on commercial or mixed-use property, used to buy, refinance or improve it until a sale or long-term mortgage repays the loan.
Can a limited company get a commercial bridging loan?
Yes. All four lenders here lend to companies in some form. Elara Advisory lends only to businesses, not consumers.
Can I bridge against a property that already has a mortgage?
Often, through a second charge. Elara Advisory, United Trust Bank and MT Finance all say they consider second charges. The first lender's consent may be needed.
Is commercial bridging regulated by the FCA?
Usually not when a business borrows against non-residential property, according to the FCA's PERG guidance. Check each lender's status on the FCA Register.
Sources
- FCA Handbook: PERG 4.4, regulated mortgage contracts
- FCA Financial Services Register
- British Business Bank: guide to personal guarantees
- HM Land Registry: registration of legal charges (PG29)
General information only, not financial, tax or legal advice. Bridging finance is credit secured on property, which may be at risk if the loan is not repaid. Lender details were taken from their own websites in October 2026; check current criteria and take independent advice before you borrow.
