Assetz Capital is a UK property and business lender that launched in 2013 and says it has lent close to £2bn. For developers it offers development finance, a smaller-scheme product called Assetz Elevate, bridging, residential refurbishment loans and a pre-planning bridge for commercial buildings with conversion potential. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Assetz Capital, so we can set its terms against other specialist development and bridging lenders. You can read more on Assetz Capital's own website.
About Assetz Capital
Assetz Capital says it was set up in 2013, after the financial crisis, when bank funding for property businesses had become hard to find. It is a non-bank lender: its loans are funded through investor accounts on its own platform, including access accounts and an Innovative Finance ISA, rather than through bank deposits. Its registered office is in Manchester and it says it has five offices around the UK.
Two companies in the group are listed with the Financial Conduct Authority on its website. The FCA status relates to its investor and business lending activities; development and bridging loans to companies are generally unregulated business loans. Assetz Capital also says it has funded around one in every 12 new build homes in recent years, which reflects how central residential development is to its lending.
Assetz Capital is one of the lenders we compare for development finance and commercial-to-residential projects.
What Assetz Capital funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Assetz Capital's published product guide covers the following property finance products. Figures are maximums and individual cases may be offered less.
| Product | What it is for | Loan size | Key limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Development finance | Ground-up residential development, conversion and reconfiguration; pre-sold or pre-let commercial; student accommodation | £1m to £10m | Up to 72% of gross development value, up to 87.5% of cost, terms up to three years |
| Assetz Elevate | Smaller schemes: commercial-to-residential conversions, heavy refurbishment, compact ground-up schemes of 1 to 15 units | £200,000 to £1.5m | Up to around 70% of gross development value, up to 87.5% of cost; England and Wales |
| Bridging finance | Purchase, refinance, development exit, light refurbishment and capital raising on residential, commercial, mixed-use and land | £250,000 to £10m | Up to 75% LTV, terms up to 24 months |
| Residential refurbishment | Refurbishment of houses and flats, including some mixed-use, student and build-to-rent stock | £500,000 to £5m | Up to 70% LTV |
| Pre-planning bridge | Buying a commercial building with potential to convert to residential before planning is granted | £500,000 to £5m | Up to 65% of the purchase price, with the option to move onto a development loan once planning is approved |
On development loans, interest is normally rolled up into the facility and the loan is repaid from unit sales or a refinance. Assetz Capital says planning gain can count towards the developer's contribution, which can reduce the cash needed on larger schemes. Its main development product is available across the UK, including Northern Ireland.
It also offers commercial mortgages, care home finance and buy-to-let loans, which can help where a developer wants to hold completed units. See our guides to development exit finance and bridge-to-term finance for how those exits work.
Who Assetz Capital suits (and who it may not)
Assetz Capital tends to suit:
- SME housebuilders and developers working on residential schemes from a few units up to loans of £10m.
- Developers converting offices or other commercial buildings to flats, including at the pre-planning stage.
- Newer developers with a satisfactory track record, particularly on smaller Elevate schemes.
- Borrowers who want bridging, development and term lending from one lender.
It may be a poorer fit for individuals borrowing in their own name, as the guide refers to limited companies and LLPs, and for anyone needing a regulated loan on their own home. Very large schemes above £10m, or projects with high-value individual units, may be better placed with lenders that specialise in that end of the market. Elevate is limited to England and Wales.
What Assetz Capital looks at
For development lending, Assetz Capital, like most specialist lenders, will typically assess:
- The borrower's experience and the professional team, including the contractor.
- Planning consent and the build programme.
- The cost plan, contingency and the developer's own contribution.
- Gross development value, supported by an independent valuation.
- The exit: sales evidence for the area, or a refinance plan.
Security is usually a first legal charge and a debenture, with a personal guarantee from the directors at a level agreed case by case. An independent monitoring surveyor is required on development loans, with funds released in stages as the work is certified.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Wide range of development and bridging products under one lender.
- Development leverage up to 72% of gross development value and up to 87.5% of cost.
- A product aimed at smaller schemes from around £200,000.
- Pre-planning bridge with a route onto development finance once planning is granted.
- Main development product available UK-wide, including Northern Ireland.
Cons
- Corporate borrowers only; not suitable for regulated or owner-occupier lending.
- Lower leverage on schemes with high-value units.
- Elevate is England and Wales only.
- Directors should expect to give a personal guarantee.
Going through a broker vs going direct
You can approach Assetz Capital directly. Development finance terms vary widely between lenders on leverage, fees, how interest is calculated and how strict the experience requirements are, so it usually pays to compare. We search the market, present your scheme to suitable lenders and manage the application, so you can see how an Assetz Capital offer sits against other specialist and bank lenders.
It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is agreed with you before you proceed. Start with our development finance page to see what information lenders will ask for.
Alternatives to Assetz Capital
- LendInvest: a platform lender offering both bridging and development finance across a wide loan range.
- Aspen Bridging: bridging and development lending, worth comparing for refurbishment and conversion work.
- CrowdProperty: another investor-funded lender focused on SME residential development.
- Hampshire Trust Bank: a specialist bank offering development and bridging finance for larger schemes.
Common questions
How much can I borrow from Assetz Capital for a development?
At the time of writing, its main development product lends £1m to £10m, and its Elevate product covers smaller schemes from around £200,000 to £1.5m. The amount offered depends on the scheme's costs, value and your experience.
What is the maximum loan to GDV with Assetz Capital?
Its product guide states up to 72% of gross development value on its main development product, including interest, and up to 87.5% of total costs. Schemes with high-value units may be offered less.
Does Assetz Capital lend to first-time developers?
Assetz Capital says newer developers with a satisfactory track record may be considered. Lenders still look closely at the professional team and contractor where the borrower's own experience is limited.
Can Assetz Capital fund a building before planning is granted?
It offers a pre-planning bridge for buying commercial buildings with potential to convert to residential, up to 65% of the purchase price, with the option to move onto a development loan once planning is approved.
Is Assetz Capital a bank?
No. Assetz Capital is a non-bank lender that funds its loans through investor accounts on its own platform rather than through bank deposits.
This review is our independent summary of the lender's publicly stated lending, checked in October 2026. Criteria change, so confirm the current position before relying on it. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of any lender reviewed. Finance is subject to status, valuation and lender approval.
