Hope Capital review: business-purpose bridging and refurbishment loans from £50,000 to £5m

Hope Capital is a UK bridging lender for property investors, developers and business owners. Its range covers standard bridging for purchase, refinance and capital raising, refurbishment loans that fund works in arrears or up front, commercial-to-residential conversions and a bridge that can switch to a refurbishment loan once planning is granted. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Hope Capital, so we can compare its terms with other bridging lenders. You can read more on Hope Capital's own website.

About Hope Capital

Hope Capital says it was established in 2011 and describes itself as a specialist bridging loan provider that likes to "do things a little differently". Its registered office is in Liverpool. It is not a bank.

Hope Capital lends for business purposes only. It states that it does not offer regulated loans and is not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority, so it cannot provide a regulated bridge on a home the borrower or their family lives in. It highlights direct access to a decision maker and a range of valuation options, including instant and desktop valuations on some cases.

Hope Capital is one of the lenders we compare for bridging loans, refurbishment finance and commercial-to-residential conversions.

What Hope Capital funds

At the time of writing (October 2026), Hope Capital's product guide (July 2026) sets out the following. Loans run from £50,000 to £5m for terms of 3 to 18 months, across England, Wales and Scotland, with some postcode restrictions in Scotland.

Uses include buying an investment property, including at auction, refinancing, re-bridging and raising capital for business purposes such as investment or debt consolidation. Up to 100% of the purchase price may be available with additional security on a first or second charge.

Hope Capital groups works into three levels: light refurbishment (works up to 30% of the day-one value, such as kitchens, bathrooms and rewiring), medium refurbishment (31% to 100%, including extensions, change of use and permitted development) and heavy refurbishment (over 100%, including structural works and conversions needing planning). It says it can cover up to 100% of build costs, normally funded in arrears.

It also offers named products:

• Max Net: a refurbishment bridge of up to 75% net on day one for residential (70% semi-commercial), with works forward-funded, for terms of 3 to 15 months.
• Commercial Conversions: for converting commercial buildings to residential or semi-commercial use, up to 70% LTV.
• Flip+: a holding bridge while planning is pending, which can then move to a refurbishment loan with the same lender.
• Dual+: residential bridging up to £1m in England and Wales, with dual legal representation and an instant valuation.

See our guides to planning gain bridging and heavy refurbishment finance.

Who Hope Capital suits (and who it may not)

Hope Capital tends to suit:

• Investors buying, refinancing or re-bridging residential, semi-commercial or commercial property.
• Inexperienced developers and first-time investors, which it says it considers.
• Developers converting commercial buildings into homes.
• Borrowers waiting on planning who want one lender for the bridge and the works.
• Foreign nationals, ex-pats, trusts, LLPs and offshore companies.
• Borrowers with adverse credit, assessed on individual merits.

It is not suitable for regulated bridging on your own home, ground-up development, loans above £5m, or property in Northern Ireland. Commercial property is capped at a lower LTV than residential.

What Hope Capital looks at

Hope Capital's guide lists the borrower and property criteria it applies:

• Borrowers aged 18 to 80, with older borrowers on referral.
• Individuals, partnerships, limited companies, LLPs, trusts and offshore companies.
• Residential, semi-commercial and commercial security in England, Wales and Scotland.
• A credible exit by sale or refinance.
• For refurbishment, a schedule of works and costs matched to the light, medium or heavy category.

Adverse credit is considered on individual merits. Higher leverage typically needs experience or additional security.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Inexperienced developers and adverse credit considered.
• Up to 100% of build costs covered on refurbishment.
• Commercial conversion and planning-pending products.
• No exit fees on most bridges.
• Accepts foreign nationals, ex-pats and offshore companies.
• Lends in Scotland as well as England and Wales.

Cons

• No regulated bridging.
• No ground-up development finance.
• Commercial capped at 65% LTV.
• Maximum loan of £5m.
• Postcode restrictions in Scotland.

Going through a broker vs going direct

Hope Capital's product guides are for intermediaries. Refurbishment bridging can be structured in different ways, with works funded in arrears, forward-funded, or paid by the borrower, and the right choice depends on your cash position. We search the market, approach suitable lenders and compare the net amount you would receive on day one as well as the total cost.

It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is agreed with you before you proceed.

Alternatives to Hope Capital

• MT Finance: bridging across residential and commercial property, including refurbishment.
• Black and White Bridging: bridging and refurbishment loans for investors.
• Catalyst: bridging across a broad range of property types.
• Castle Trust: refurbishment bridging for residential investment property.

Common questions

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.