Practical preparation · General information, assessed individually
Write down the actual obligation
Start with the signed facility and current lender information. Record the maturity date and ask for the figures and conditions relevant to repayment. A refinance plan is a proposed route, not confirmation that replacement funds will arrive.
- Separate the facility end date from your preferred completion date.
- Ask how interest, fees and repayment figures are calculated.
- Record the contact responsible for redemption information.
Describe the property at the exit point
Give the adviser the facts the proposed long-term lender would be assessing. Where works or a change of use are involved, explain what has finished and what remains outstanding.
- Prepare an updated property and ownership summary.
- List works, approvals or documents still to be completed.
- Provide current income or rental information relevant to the proposed route.
Track the dependencies
British Business Bank describes bridging as short-term secured finance and highlights its repayment risks. Use a separate action list to make your intended exit easier to monitor. This checklist does not establish eligibility or a guaranteed timetable.
- Track the application, valuation and legal work separately.
- Identify questions that depend on another professional’s response.
- Keep each task’s owner and next action visible.
Address delays while there is time
Raise a slipping dependency with the lender and adviser early. Ask about the actual contractual position and available options rather than assuming extra time will be granted.
- Update the cash forecast when timing or costs change.
- Ask your solicitor to explain any proposed variation before signing.
- Obtain confirmation of repayment and release of security when the exit completes.
Bring to the first conversation
- Facility terms, maturity date and repayment information
- Updated property, works and ownership summary
- Evidence for the intended long-term mortgage route
- An action list covering lender, valuation and legal dependencies
Start with an outline. Send sensitive documents only through the secure route agreed with Jack.
Your questions, answered
Is a refinance application a confirmed exit?
No. The proposed lender still needs to complete its assessment and any offer conditions must be satisfied. Keep the current lender informed of material delays.
Link to this answerCan I assume the bridge will be extended?
No. Check the facility and discuss the position with the lender. Any extension or alternative arrangement depends on agreement and may change the costs or requirements.
Link to this answerWhat if the intended exit is a sale instead?
Use the same discipline around dates, repayment figures and responsibilities, but track the sale and conveyancing milestones. Ask your adviser about the implications for the facility.
Link to this answerSources & further reading
Sources checked 12 October 2026. Preparation prompts are editorial checklists; follow the linked original for its scope and updates.
Prepared for Jack Cousins’s website · 12 October 2026. About Jack · How site content is prepared. Lender criteria and individual circumstances determine available options. This guide is not a mortgage offer or personal recommendation.