Hilco Real Estate Finance (HREF) is a specialist short-term property lender focused on larger and more complex bridging loans across residential, commercial and operational real estate. It deploys its own capital rather than relying on bank lending policies. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Hilco Real Estate Finance; it is one of the lenders we compare for large bridging loans and commercial bridging. You can read more on Hilco Real Estate Finance's own website.
About Hilco Real Estate Finance
Hilco Real Estate Finance is a subsidiary of Hilco Global, a multinational financial services group based in Northbrook, Illinois, which provides valuation, asset disposal, advisory and capital services through a range of businesses. Hilco says its UK bridge lending division launched in the summer of 2023 and funded £50 million of loans in its first four months.
HREF is headquartered in London and describes itself as institutionally backed, deploying its own capital. It says this means it is not bound by the policy frameworks of larger banks, so it can consider assets and situations that mainstream lenders may avoid.
HREF's website does not describe any regulated lending, so its loans are for investors, developers and businesses rather than regulated home loans.
What Hilco Real Estate Finance funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), HREF's published information points to the following.
| Feature | What Hilco says |
|---|---|
| Loan size | From £1 million, with loans of £50 million and more considered |
| Leverage | Up to 75% LTV, typically assessed against a 180-day value |
| Term | Short term, set case by case |
| Uses | Acquisitions, refinancing, growth capital, development exits, auction purchases and refurbishment |
| Where | Across the UK; Hilco also refers to the Channel Islands and Ireland |
The range of assets is broad. HREF lists residential, purpose-built student accommodation, care homes, private hospitals and healthcare property, hotels and serviced accommodation, industrial and logistics, offices, retail, petrol stations and roadside infrastructure, farmland and agricultural land, and holiday parks. It also considers development sites, including applications where planning gain is part of the plan, for experienced borrowers.
See our guides to development exit finance and planning gain bridging for how those situations are usually structured.
Who Hilco Real Estate Finance suits (and who it may not)
HREF tends to suit:
- Investors and developers needing bridging of £1 million or more, including very large single loans.
- Operational and specialist assets, such as care homes, hotels, student accommodation, healthcare and roadside sites, that some lenders will not touch.
- Developers refinancing completed schemes through a development exit loan.
- Borrowers in Scotland or Northern Ireland, as well as England and Wales.
- Complex or time-critical situations where a non-bank lender with its own capital can be more flexible.
It will not suit loans below £1 million, homeowners needing a regulated bridge, or borrowers wanting long-term or development construction finance.
What Hilco Real Estate Finance looks at
For large and specialist bridges, expect HREF to focus on:
- The asset and its value on a 180-day sale basis, which reflects how readily it could be sold if needed.
- For operational assets, the trading performance, the operator and how that affects value.
- The exit: refinance, sale or disposal of units, and how robust it is.
- The borrower's experience, particularly for development sites and planning-led cases.
- The overall structure, including other debt or equity in the deal.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Large loan sizes, from £1 million upwards.
- Lends against a wide range of unusual and operational assets.
- UK-wide, including Scotland and Northern Ireland.
- Backed by an international financial services group and its own capital.
- Development exit and planning-gain cases considered.
Cons
- Not suited to loans below £1 million.
- No regulated lending.
- Leverage measured against a 180-day value can be lower than open market value.
- Few published criteria, so terms are set case by case.
- A relatively recent entrant to UK bridging.
Going through a broker vs going direct
HREF works closely with brokers. On large loans, small differences in leverage, valuation basis and fees add up to significant sums, and specialist assets often attract only a few lenders, so presenting the case well matters. Comparing debt funds, specialist banks and private lenders can also reveal better structures, such as splitting senior and junior debt.
We search the market, set Hilco alongside other large-loan lenders, present your case and manage the application through to completion. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed before you proceed.
Alternatives to Hilco Real Estate Finance
- Maslow Capital: large bridging and structured property loans.
- Octane Capital: bridging up to large loan sizes.
- Ortus Secured Finance: bridging from £500,000 for investors and developers.
- Glenhawk: bridging for investors and developers up to £10 million.
- Precise Mortgages: larger bridging from a specialist bank group.
Common questions
What is the minimum loan from Hilco Real Estate Finance?
Hilco's bridge lending starts at £1 million. It considers very large loans, of £50 million and more.
What assets does Hilco lend against?
A wide range, including residential blocks, student accommodation, care homes, hotels, healthcare property, industrial and logistics, offices, petrol stations, agricultural land and holiday parks.
Does Hilco lend in Scotland and Northern Ireland?
Yes. Hilco considers transactions across the UK, and also refers to the Channel Islands and Ireland.
Who owns Hilco Real Estate Finance?
It is a subsidiary of Hilco Global, a multinational financial services group based in the United States.
Does Hilco offer regulated bridging?
Its website does not describe any regulated lending. If you need to borrow against your own home, we can compare lenders that offer regulated bridging.
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.
