The 2025 annual Bridging Trends data was released today, and the headline news is a significant leap in efficiency for the short-term finance industry. According to the figures, the average time to complete a loan fell to 43 days which is the lowest figure recorded since 2017.
This downward trajectory, falling from 47 days in 2024, and 58 days in 2023, marks the third consecutive year of improved speed. The shift can be attributed to a combination of factors, including increased efficiency, implementation of better technology, and brokers having a more sophisticated understanding of lender requirements.
Key Highlights of 2025 Market Trends:
- Investor confidence returns: Despite a slight dip in total gross lending figures, falling from £822.2m in 2024 to £811m in 2025, the market showed strong signs of investor activity. Investment property purchases remained the most popular use for bridging finance, accounting for 20% of all transactions. There was also an increase in ‘heavy refurb’ loans, up to 11% which suggests investors are increasingly focused on maximising ROI through property optimisation.
- Lower interest rate and LTVs: Average monthly interest rates fell to 0.84% down from 0.88% in 2024, recording the lowest interest rate level since 2022. Simultaneously, the average loan-to-value dropped to 55%, down from 58% in 2024, the lowest LTV figure since 2020.
- A shift in strategy: Unregulated bridging rose to 55% of the market, reflecting the return of landlords and investors. Re-bridges increased to 10% of the market suggesting that some exit strategies were pressured by a flat sales market, providing opportunities for brokers to support clients in preventing defaults.
- Criteria search trends: Top criteria search from Knowledge Bank data showed a spike in interest for ‘splitting title deeds’, ‘planning permissions,’ and ‘minimum age at application’ signalling that investors are diversifying their portfolios.
With speed and stability being key drivers for the sector in 2025, the market has proven resilient despite a cautious Q4. All these points to a sector that remains highly liquid and competitive, providing a stable foundation for borrowers heading into 2026.
How MT Finance can help:
At MT Finance, we’re positioned to support this market resilience with our comprehensive range of bridging finance solutions. To kick off 2026, we have enhanced our bridging loans product range to offer even more flexibility:
What we offer:
- Regulated & Unregulated solutions: Specialist bridging loans tailored to both residential homeowners and property investors.
- Diverse property types: We offer loans on diverse property assets including residential, semi-commercial and commercial properties.
- Competitive LTVs: Competitive rates with LTVs up to 70% on first charges across residential, semi-commercial, and commercial properties.
- Flexible terms: Solutions from 1 to 24 months for unregulated loans (up to 12 months for regulated), with no early repayment or exit fees.
- Fast-track valuations: Access to AVMs for both regulated and unregulated loans on standard residential properties up to 65% LTV.
- Expert guidance: Direct access to dedicated underwriters and decision-makers to ensure your deal remains on track.
If you have a case you would like to discuss directly with us, drop us a line, and we will be in touch with you.
* Bridging Trends combines bridging loan completions from several specialist finance packagers operating within the UK bridging market: AFIG, Brightstar Financial, Capital B, Clever Lending, Clifton Private Finance, Complete FS, Enness, Impact Specialist Finance, LDNFinance, Optimum Elite, Sirius Finance and UK Property Finance. The data for broker criteria searches is supplied by Knowledge Bank. For more information, or to view previous versions of the infographic, visit bridgingtrends.com.