Market Harborough Building Society is a UK building society that lends on residential, buy-to-let, holiday let and expat mortgages, and has made bridging finance and complex cases a particular focus. Its bridging is mostly regulated, which makes it one of the few deposit-taking lenders offering short-term loans on a borrower's own home. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Market Harborough Building Society, so we can compare its terms with other regulated and unregulated bridging lenders. You can read more on Market Harborough Building Society's own website.
About Market Harborough Building Society
Market Harborough Building Society says it has been helping people buy homes for more than 150 years. As a building society, it is owned by its members rather than shareholders, and funds its lending mainly through members' savings. It is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA, and it holds B Corp certification.
The society says it aims to be a go-to lender for brokers dealing with complex cases and bridging finance. Its wider mortgage range includes large residential loans, buy-to-let, holiday lets and mortgages for expats and overseas borrowers.
Market Harborough Building Society is one of the lenders we compare for regulated bridging loans and larger bridging loans.
What Market Harborough Building Society funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), the society's broker product guide (September 2026) sets out four bridging tiers. All loans run from £200,000 to £5m, are secured by a first charge and are available in England, Wales and mainland Scotland, except where noted. Overpayments are unlimited.
| Tier | Loan size | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Core | Up to £1m | Regulated loans on standard properties needing no works; up to two residential securities; exit by sale or refinance; terms up to 12 months |
| Tier 1 | Up to £5m | Regulated loans; cosmetic improvements only, such as a new kitchen or bathroom; no commercial element; up to two securities; Grade II listed buildings accepted |
| Tier 2 | Up to £5m | As Tier 1, plus complex exits (such as the sale of shares or overseas assets), light refurbishment, limited commercial use, more than two securities, and Grade II* or Grade I listed buildings or large acreage |
| Tier 3 | Up to £5m | Bespoke cases: development and heavy refurbishment, funds for business use, terms over 12 months, re-bridges and unregulated loans (England and Wales only) |
The maximum LTV is 70% for loans up to £3.5m, 65% up to £4.25m and 60% up to £5m. Interest is variable and charged daily.
Regulated bridging is a regulated mortgage contract on a home the borrower or their family lives in, so these loans carry the protections of FCA mortgage rules. A common use is buying a new home before the current one has sold; see our guide to chain break bridging loans.
Who Market Harborough Building Society suits (and who it may not)
The society tends to suit:
- Homeowners buying before they sell, who want a regulated bridge from a building society.
- Higher-value borrowers needing up to £5m.
- Owners of listed buildings, country houses or properties with large acreage.
- Borrowers with a more complex exit, such as the sale of shares or overseas assets.
- Borrowers spreading the loan across more than one property.
It is less likely to suit loans under £200,000, investors needing high leverage, commercial property, or developers looking for standard development finance, which is only considered on a bespoke basis. Core lending is limited to UK nationals and residents.
What Market Harborough Building Society looks at
As a regulated lender, the society will assess both the property and the borrower. Its guide sets out that it looks at:
- The exit: sale and/or refinance of the property charged, with a refinance offer already in place on some tiers.
- The type and condition of the property, and whether works are planned.
- The number of securities offered.
- Residency and nationality on the Core product.
- Applicants: up to four, aged 18 or over, with no maximum age for bridging.
Complex properties are valued on a bespoke basis, and bespoke Tier 3 cases are reviewed by the society's credit committee.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Regulated bridging from a building society authorised by the PRA and FCA.
- Loans up to £5m.
- Listed buildings and large acreage considered.
- Unlimited overpayments, with interest charged daily.
- No maximum age for bridging.
- Bespoke tier for heavier works and unregulated loans.
Cons
- Maximum 70% LTV, falling to 60% on the largest loans.
- Minimum loan of £200,000.
- Terms usually up to 12 months.
- Variable rate only.
- Unregulated and development cases are bespoke rather than standard.
Going through a broker vs going direct
The society's bridging is arranged through intermediaries. For regulated bridging, advice must come from an FCA-authorised adviser who will check that a bridge suits you and that the exit is realistic. Comparing building society, bank and specialist bridging lenders also matters, as their approach to leverage, valuation and complex properties differs. We search the market and approach suitable lenders, working with authorised advisers where the loan is regulated.
It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is agreed with you before you proceed.
Alternatives to Market Harborough Building Society
- HFBS: another building society offering bridging, at smaller loan sizes.
- United Trust Bank: regulated and unregulated bridging from a specialist bank.
- Precise Mortgages: regulated bridging from a specialist bank group.
- Octopus Property: regulated and unregulated bridging, including larger loans.
Common questions
Does Market Harborough Building Society offer regulated bridging?
Yes. Most of its bridging tiers are regulated first charge loans on residential property, for homes the borrower or their family lives in.
How much can I borrow?
Loans run from £200,000 to £5m. The maximum LTV is 70% up to £3.5m, 65% up to £4.25m and 60% up to £5m.
How long can a Market Harborough bridging loan last?
Standard terms are up to 12 months. Longer terms can be considered on its bespoke tier.
Does it lend on listed buildings?
Yes. Grade II listed buildings are accepted on Tier 1, and Grade II* and Grade I listed buildings or large acreage are considered on Tier 2.
Can I repay early?
The society allows unlimited overpayments on its bridging loans, and interest is charged daily.
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.
