£350,000 bridging loan completed in 18 hours supports portfolio landlords’ refurbishment plans.

When a series of tenancies came to an end across an experienced landlord couple's property portfolio, they saw an opportunity.

Rather than simply letting to new tenants straight away, they wanted to invest in improvements that could add value, enhance energy efficiency and strengthen rental income across selected properties. To keep their plans moving, they needed access to funding quickly.

Knowing speed would be crucial, broker Channel Finance Group turned to long-standing lending partner Together for support.

The issue

The clients owned a portfolio of 40 residential rental properties and were looking to make improvements following several expected tenancy changes. Their aim was to enhance the properties, future-proof them against evolving EPC requirements and increase rental income potential.

As experienced portfolio landlords, they were already thinking beyond the immediate refurbishment works. The improvements formed part of a wider strategy to strengthen and grow their property interests over the long term.

To capitalise on the opportunity, they needed a funding solution that could be arranged quickly and with minimal disruption.

The case was introduced by Carlos Velasquez, Specialist Finance and Bridging Manager at Channel Finance Group. Having worked with Together for more than 25 years, Carlos was confident the lender had both the flexibility and expertise needed to support the transaction and the client’s future ambitions.

The solution

Carlos approached Martin Bloe, Regional Account Manager for Scotland at Together, to discuss the landlords' plans and identify the most suitable funding structure.

Together agreed a £350,000 second charge bridging loan secured against the couple's five-bedroom terraced home in Glasgow at 43% LTV, providing the funds needed to move forward with their refurbishment programme.

With the clients keen to begin work as soon as possible, Together explored ways to streamline the transaction while maintaining a robust underwriting process.

Rather than requiring a full valuation, an Automated Valuation Model (AVM) approach was used, with approval provided by Ben Storey, Underwriting Director at Together, within an hour of submission. Alongside dual legal representation through Scottish legal specialists Wilson McKendrick, this helped remove unnecessary delays and accelerate completion.

Martin Bloe, Regional Account Manager for Scotland at Together, said:

"This case highlights how experienced portfolio landlords throughout the UK are still very much invested in the Buy to Let market, with Scotland delivering significant yields. They need to be supported with finance that moves at the speed they need, with minimal fuss, and can be delivered with confidence."

Carlos Velasquez, Specialist Finance and Bridging Manager at Channel Finance Group, added:

"A case like this would normally take a minimum of seven to ten days to complete and would usually need a full valuation. The Together team saw that this was a relatively simple case and were able to move at a much quicker pace, collaborating and communicating with us throughout.

"Being able to use the same solicitors, Scottish legal experts Wilson McKendrick, for both sides of the transaction also helped with the speed and ease of the process."

The result

The bridging loan completed in just 18 hours from submission to completion, giving the clients immediate access to funds and allowing refurbishment works to progress without delay.

The improvements are intended to help increase the appeal and value of selected properties, support future energy efficiency requirements and strengthen rental returns across the portfolio.

The clients also secured an Agreement in Principle to remortgage onto a residential mortgage after completing self-funded improvements to their home, providing a clear route to repay the bridging facility well within the agreed 12-month term.

Perhaps the strongest endorsement of the transaction came after completion. Having achieved their refurbishment funding goals, the landlords have already requested finance for three additional property purchases as they continue to expand their portfolio.

Supporting portfolio landlords at every stage

Whether your client is looking to refurbish existing properties, release capital for portfolio improvements or secure funding for future acquisitions, Together can provide specialist finance tailored to the needs of experienced landlords.

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