An Introduction to Heavy Refurbishment Finance
Structural changes to a property can add significant value and present a whole range of alternative professional usages, expanding the scope of your investment.
If a large refurbishment or development project is something you’re considering then a heavy refurbishment bridging loan could help make it a reality.
A form of short-term finance, heavy refurbishment loans or large development loans as they are also known, are designed for Borrowers looking to make largescale adjustments to a residential or commercial property with a view to increasing its overall value.
It’s suitable for projects requiring planning and where structural changes are to be made or, for any works that will result in a change of use of the property. As a guide, it’s typically suited to developments resulting in up to six individual houses or 12 flats although every lender will have its own terms.
For those considering a smaller project such as a cosmetic makeover or new kitchen and bathroom installation, light and medium refurbishment loans are also available.
The application process is simple with an increasing number of lenders and development finance products on the market, providing Borrowers with a range of opportunities.
How much you can borrow will be determined by your own personal situation – your experience of managing refurbishment projects, credit history, and financial status amongst other factors. As a guide however, big renovation financing loans generally range from £75,000 to £3,000,000.
Reputable, market-leading lenders can also provide Borrowers with the opportunity to borrow up to 100% of works for a loan term of up to 18 months, with up to 75% LTV on day one. Borrowers must, in the main, be a homeowner or own one other UK property.
One of the greatest advantages of heavy refurbishment finance is the speed with which an application can be processed; an important factor when looking to develop a property for immediate resale or rent; or working to a tight deadline.
Specialist finance lenders such as Mint Property Finance are also able to offer much greater flex and can often say yes to an applicant when a conventional bank may say no. This benefits the Borrower with a far greater personal experience, shaped entirely to their needs.
When considering any form of finance, it’s important to research the potential risks as well as the benefits. As the terms of bridging finance are typically much shorter than that of a conventional loan, larger interest rates are to be expected.
Borrowers are advised to budget carefully too. Costs can quickly spiral on a large-scale development leading to unexpectedly high monthly repayments.
Timings can also easily slip on more complex developments leading to hefty penalty charges in the event of late payments. It’s important to be realistic about the scale, cost and timings of a project and factor in the inevitable surprises. A reputable lender will work with you to identify the risks before they happen; contrary to opinion, it’s not in the interest of either party to falter on the agreement.
If you’ve done your research and scoped the required refurbishment work realistically then refurbishment loans can be a valuable option for property developers and are available to individuals, sole traders and limited companies alike.
To find out more about heavy refurbishment loans and discover if they’re right for you contact our team on hello@mintpf.co.uk or 0161 710 2006; they’ll be happy to help.