ABC FinanceBridging loansAre bridging loans available nationwide?

Nationwide Bridging Loan Broker

As a nationwide bridging loan broker, ABC Finance can offer you the best deal in the market regardless of where you or your property are based within the UK.

Author: Gary Hemming CeMAP CeRGI CSP

20+ years experience in bridging loans

As a nationwide bridging loan broker, ABC Finance can offer you the best deal in the market regardless of where you or your property is based within the UK.

Bridging Loans UK

Bridging loans UK, or bridging finance UK, are a type of short term finance, secured by property and available throughout the UK including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Can I get a bridge loan anywhere in the UK?

Yes, they are available throughout the UK including England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Certain locations have their own quirks and you may be restricted in terms of the number of funders who are active in the market.

This can be due to several factors such as over exposure in the area, appetite or knowledge of certain areas or the ability to get trusted valuers to the property.

In this guide, we provide an overview of the bridging market in different locations throughout the UK.

Does location affect a bridging loan application?

Location is a big factor in underwriting a bridging loan application as the security offered is crucial to the success of an application.

The location of a property impacts the perceived quality of a property, including the following areas:

  • Value
  • Demand
  • How quickly properties sell
  • The discount required for a quick sale
  • Whether other lenders would be willing to lend against the property

The average house price is also another factor, data shows that as of 2025 they are as follows:

  • England – £292,000
  • Wales – £207,000
  • Scotland – £186,000
  • Northern Ireland – £183,000

This of course in an average, this can then be broken down into areas and property types.

Of course, this is only one of the checks carried out by bridging loan lenders, but it is an important one.

Can I get a bridge loan anywhere in the UK?

Most lenders will lend throughout England, although due to exposure limits may restrict lending in certain areas or postcodes.

On the flip side to this, some may restrict their funding to areas where they are based, such as London and the South East.

Bridging finance in London

London property is globally deemed prime real estate and as such, the market moves rapidly. As London is popular with both UK and overseas borrowers alike, it’s crucial to be in a position to raise funds to move quickly.

Ultra-prime property areas, such as Knightsbridge, Kensington, Chelsea, Westminster and West Brompton can provide its own challenges. As the market for such property is very restricted (as very few can afford them), funders may be reluctant to lend at higher LTV’s.

Not all lenders are happy to lend millions or a high LTV against a single asset, some restrict loan amounts, whereas others are happy to offer very large bridging loans and have specific products.

When borrowing against these properties, you should consider working with an experienced bridging loan broker who has the means to be able to place such deals in the right way.

Bridging loans in Wales

The market for bridging loans in Wales is strong in certain areas, and generally on par with most locations in England. Much like anywhere, Wales does have very rural areas which some lenders may shy away from.

Funders are keen to lend in Wales, especially in areas such as Cardiff, Newport, Swansea and Wrexham. With rates starting at 0.45% per month for residential bridging loans, there are plenty of options available.

Low rates and a large choice of lenders are available for both unregulated and regulated bridging loans.

Bridging loans in Scotland

The bridging market in Scotland seems to be improving year on year, that being said, it’s still relatively restricted compared to the market in England and Wales.

This is primarily due to Scottish property law being different to that in England and Wales, which some lenders find it difficult to comply with them and as such, cannot lend. Scotland also has certain areas and islands which it may be difficult to get a valuer to, or where comparable valuation evidence is difficult to come by.

The location within Scotland is key, with borrowers in Glasgow, Edinburgh and other well populated locations getting a better deal than those in more rural areas. This comes down to the liquidity of the property market in these locations and some funders may only lend in certain postcode areas.

As bridging finance becomes more popular, there are more lenders available and in some cases, there are specialist Scotland based lenders that will only offer Scottish bridging loans with no restrictions on postcode.

You may find it more difficult to secure a high LTV when borrowing in Scotland, especially when taking out a loan secured against commercial property or land.

Bridging loans in Northern Ireland

The choice of lenders in Northern Ireland is very restricted compared with those available for borrowers in England, Wales and Scotland.

In addition to this, you can only borrow on a non-regulated basis, meaning you are unable to borrow funds for regulated purposes, such as a first charge against your home or to buy a property to live in.

Due to the choice of product being restricted, this could result in being offered a higher interest rate, which increases the cost of taking out bridging finance.

Northern Ireland bridging loans are usually available to clients looking to borrow £200,000 or more.

Are there any differences to consider based on where I’m borrowing?

Lenders judge applications differently depending on where the security property is, the criteria will vary as lenders operate with different lending criteria depending on Location.

In some locations, such as certain areas of Scotland or Northern Ireland, you may find that you have a limited choice of lenders to choose from. This may result in you paying a slightly higher interest rate, simply because there isn’t product coverage by some of the ‘lower rate’ bridging finance lenders.

Conversely, in other places such as major cities, especially in London for large bridging loans, you may have access to bespoke lending products that come with a lower interest rate.

The key to a successful application is your exit strategy and specialist advice from an experienced bridging broker.

How can I make sure I get the best deal possible?

The best deals are available for applications at a lower LTV, borrowers with a good credit rating and a property in a good location.

Your deposit is key, putting down a larger deposit will result in a better deal, as does making sure you have no missed payments. If you have suffered adverse credit, you may still be able to get a bad credit bridging loan.

Location-wise, the best bridging finance deals are reserved for properties in a strong location where the market is moving quickly.

As mentioned above, your exit strategy gives lenders comfort that they will be repaid without issue by the end of the term. By ensuring that your exit strategy is watertight, you’ll open yourself up to much cheaper products.

A good bridging broker will be able to get you the best deal possible for your circumstances.

Read more – Do High Street Banks Still Offer Bridging Loans?

Want help finding your perfect solution?

Request a callback from our team of experts at a time convenient for you.