Read the lease as part of the investment
Lease length, break clauses, rent reviews and repair obligations can materially affect the income. A strong headline yield may hide a short unexpired lease or upcoming expenditure. The valuation and lender will consider marketability if the tenant leaves.
How I approach the case
We begin with what you want to achieve, your timescale and any part of the case that needs explaining. I review the evidence and suitable lender routes, then explain the available options and their costs. A recommendation follows the individual assessment; an initial conversation does not commit you to an application.
Where legal, tax or other specialist advice is needed, we identify it early so the finance fits the wider transaction. Tell me about any change in employment, borrowing, deposit or property details before proceeding.
What to prepare
- Full lease and tenant details
- Rent and arrears history
- Property valuation or sales particulars
- Deposit and maintenance budget
You do not need every document before saying hello. Start with a short outline; detailed or sensitive records should follow through an agreed secure route.
Commercial property can have long void periods and concentrated tenant risk. Rental income is not assured.
Your questions, answered
What makes a commercial or development brief useful?
Bring the property details, the borrowing purpose, the proposed repayment or exit and the evidence supporting the project. Depending on the case, this may include trading accounts, leases, planning information, an appraisal or a cost schedule. Identify gaps and decisions still outstanding.
How do you compare facilities beyond the interest rate?
Look at the funds available, repayment structure, term, fees, security, guarantees and conditions together. For staged funding, the timing and conditions of each drawdown matter to cash flow. A facility must fit the actual business or project rather than just an initial headline figure.
Who handles the legal, valuation and project work?
The relevant appointed professionals remain responsible for their own work. We identify which reports or legal input the lender needs and how those tasks affect the timetable. Mortgage or finance discussions do not replace legal, tax, surveying or project-monitoring advice.
Further reading: MoneyHelper: mortgages and homebuying. Content reviewed 9 September 2026. General information; availability depends on the individual case.