Heritage Commercial Finance is a privately funded property lender based in Welton, East Yorkshire. It offers development finance for new builds and larger conversions, refurbishment finance for investors and landlords, and short-term bridging loans. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Heritage, so we can compare its terms with other lenders funding smaller development and refurbishment projects. You can read more on Heritage Commercial Finance's own website.
About Heritage
Heritage Commercial Finance Ltd describes itself as an unregulated, self-funded principal lender, which means it lends its own money rather than acting as a broker or relying on a bank funding line. It is not a bank. Its office is in Welton, near Hull.
Heritage presents itself as "more like a business partner than a lender" and stresses that borrowers keep one point of contact from first enquiry to repayment. It says it uses its own legal team and a list of approved surveyors, and that it assesses each case individually rather than offering rigid loan packages. Its website does not say when the business was founded, so we have not stated it.
Because Heritage describes itself as unregulated, it does not offer regulated bridging on a home the borrower or their family lives in. Heritage is one of the lenders we compare for smaller development finance and refurbishment finance cases.
What Heritage funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Heritage's website describes three products:
| Product | What it is for | Key limits |
|---|---|---|
| Development finance | New builds, larger conversions, land with planning, phased developments and part-built sites | Typically around 70% of gross development value, up to 70% of open market value, and up to the full build cost; terms up to 18 months |
| Refurbishment finance | Light or heavy refurbishment, HMO conversions, commercial-to-residential conversions and extensions | Typically around 70% of gross development value, with up to the full refurbishment budget; terms up to 18 months |
| Bridging loans | Short-term finance to buy property or raise capital, secured by a first charge | Up to 70% of open market value; terms up to 12 or 18 months (its website gives both) |
Heritage does not publish loan size limits, and each case is assessed individually.
Interest can be rolled up or serviced. Development and refurbishment funds are released in stages after a site visit confirms that work is progressing, and Heritage says its inspection costs are kept low. It also says all commercial projects will be considered for development finance.
See our guides to HMO bridging loans and commercial-to-residential finance for how those projects are usually funded.
Who Heritage suits (and who it may not)
Heritage tends to suit:
- First-time and experienced developers on smaller schemes.
- Investors and landlords refurbishing property to improve its rental yield or value.
- HMO and commercial-to-residential conversions.
- Part-built or phased sites that a mainstream lender may not take on.
- Borrowers who want to deal directly with the decision maker throughout.
It is unlikely to suit large schemes, projects needing more than 18 months, or anyone who needs a regulated bridging loan on their own home. Developers looking for the lowest possible cost on a straightforward scheme may find a bank or larger specialist lender cheaper.
What Heritage looks at
Heritage says it judges each case on its own circumstances. Like most development and refurbishment lenders, it will typically look at:
- The value of the property now and the expected end value.
- The build or refurbishment budget and programme.
- The borrower's experience, or the team supporting a first-time developer.
- Planning consent, where needed.
- How the loan will be repaid within 18 months, through sale or refinance.
Site visits form part of each drawdown, so lenders like Heritage will want regular access and a realistic schedule of works.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lends its own funds, with decisions made in-house.
- Considers first-time developers.
- Can fund up to the full build or refurbishment budget, within its overall limits.
- Will look at part-built and phased sites.
- One point of contact and low inspection costs.
Cons
- Maximum term of 18 months.
- No published loan size limits.
- No regulated bridging.
- Leverage typically capped around 70% of value.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Heritage encourages borrowers to apply directly, and many small developers do. Comparing first still matters, because terms on small development and refurbishment loans vary widely between private lenders, specialist lenders and banks, particularly on fees, how interest is charged and how much of the budget is funded. We search the market and approach suitable lenders so you can see how a Heritage offer compares.
It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is agreed with you before you proceed. Our first-time developer finance page explains what lenders look for when experience is limited.
Alternatives to Heritage
- Close Brothers: development finance for smaller schemes from a long-established lender.
- Roma Finance: bridging, refurbishment and development finance for smaller projects.
- Lowry Capital: bridging and development finance at the smaller end of the market.
- Mint Property Finance: bridging and development lending for property investors and developers.
Common questions
Is Heritage a lender or a broker?
Heritage Commercial Finance describes itself as an unregulated, self-funded principal lender, so it lends its own money.
How long can I borrow for with Heritage?
Heritage's development and refurbishment loans run for up to 18 months. Its bridging page refers to both 12 and 18 months.
Does Heritage lend to first-time developers?
Yes. Heritage says its development and refurbishment finance is available to experienced or first-time developers.
How much of the build cost will Heritage fund?
Heritage says it can fund up to the full build or refurbishment budget, while overall lending is typically around 70% of gross development value.
Does Heritage offer regulated bridging loans?
No. Heritage describes itself as unregulated, so it does not lend on a home the borrower or their family lives in.
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.
