Octane Capital is a short-term property lender for investors and developers, offering bridging, refurbishment and developer exit finance. At the time of writing (October 2026), its website shows bridging loans from £175,000 to £15m and beyond at up to 75% loan-to-value on residential and semi-commercial property, and its March 2026 refurbishment guide shows up to 75% net day one plus up to 100% of refurbishment costs, within 70% of gross development value (GDV). Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Octane Capital, so we can compare its terms with other bridging lenders. You can read more on Octane Capital's own website.
About Octane Capital
Octane Capital says it was founded in 2017, with its founders' roots in specialist lending going back to 2009. It was acquired by Aldermore Bank in 2026, and Octane Capital is now a trading name of Aldermore Bank PLC, which is authorised by the Prudential Regulation Authority and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority and the PRA.
Octane describes itself as a principal lender with an emphasis on certainty, delivery and service, and says it has lent over £2.2 billion since it started. It lends against open market value rather than a 180-day value, and offers fixed or variable pricing.
Octane Capital is one of the lenders we compare for bridging loans, refurbishment finance and development exit finance.
What Octane Capital funds
Octane's range covers three main short-term products, all unregulated.
| Product | Loan size | Maximum leverage | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bridging | £175,000 to £15m and beyond | Up to 75% of open market value | Up to 24 months |
| Refurbishment (core) | From £175,000 day one | Up to 75% net day one plus 100% of works, within 70% of GDV; works up to £500,000 or 75% of current value | Up to 24 months |
| Prime refurbishment | From £175,000 day one | Works of £500,000 to £1m, up to 50% of current value | Up to 24 months |
| Developer exit | Agreed case by case | Agreed case by case | Agreed case by case |
Bridging covers all types of residential and semi-commercial property. Octane lists pre-planning bridges, auction purchases, capital raising, sales bridges and development exits, and selling low-yielding property among its uses. On qualifying purchases up to 75% LTV it may use an automated or remote valuation.
Refurbishment covers decorative works on poor-condition or outdated property, structural works such as loft conversions and extensions under permitted development or planning, and change of use, including house to HMO, house to flats and commercial to residential. Commercial property is considered only where it is being converted to residential. Octane says it charges no exit fees on these products.
Who Octane Capital suits (and who it may not)
Octane Capital tends to suit:
- Residential and semi-commercial investors needing a bridge of £175,000 or more.
- Refurbishers and converters who want works funded in full on top of a day-one advance.
- Developers whose scheme is finished or nearly finished and who need more time to sell, through a development exit or sales bridge.
- Buyers who want a bridge while they pursue planning, through a pre-planning bridge.
- Non-mainstream borrowers on bridging, such as foreign nationals, expats, offshore companies, LLPs and trusts, which Octane says it considers.
It is not suitable for loans under £175,000, for purely commercial bridging, or for any regulated bridging on a home you live in. Its refurbishment product is aimed at UK borrowers with clean credit, so borrowers with adverse credit may need another lender for works funding. It does not offer ground-up development finance.
What Octane Capital looks at
For bridging, Octane says it is flexible on borrower profile. Expect it to look at:
- The open market value of the property and the loan-to-value.
- The exit, such as sale, refinance onto a buy-to-let mortgage or completion of a development.
- The borrower's structure and background, including overseas borrowers and corporate vehicles.
For refurbishment, it will also review the scope and cost of works, whether planning or permitted development applies, the GDV, and the borrower's experience, which it prefers but does not always require. Works are monitored by an asset manager rather than a quantity surveyor, and refurbishment funds are released in drawdowns as the works progress.
Octane's variable pricing is linked to Bank of England base rate, so the monthly cost can move during the loan. Ask for illustrations on both fixed and variable terms before choosing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Lends on open market value, not a 180-day value.
- Refurbishment loans can cover 100% of works on top of the day-one advance.
- Large loans available, to £15m and beyond on bridging.
- Covers change of use, HMO conversions and commercial to residential.
- Backed by Aldermore Bank since 2026, and no exit fees on its short-term products, it says.
Cons
- Minimum loan of £175,000.
- No regulated lending.
- Refurbishment aimed at borrowers with clean credit.
- Commercial property only where being converted to residential.
- No ground-up development finance.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Octane works closely with introducers and also accepts enquiries directly. Comparing first is worthwhile because refurbishment lenders differ on day-one leverage, how much of the works they fund, how they monitor and how they value the property. A variable rate linked to base rate also needs to be weighed against fixed alternatives.
We search the market, set Octane alongside other suitable lenders and manage the application. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed before you proceed.
Alternatives to Octane Capital
- Colenko: bridging, refurbishment and development exit loans up to £3m.
- Glenhawk: bridging and refurbishment for property investors.
- Hope Capital: auction, refurbishment and investment bridging.
- MT Finance: bridging and refurbishment across many property types.
- West One: bridging and refurbishment lending, regulated and unregulated.
Common questions
Is Octane Capital part of Aldermore?
Yes. Octane Capital says it was acquired by Aldermore Bank in 2026, and Octane Capital is now a trading name of Aldermore Bank PLC.
What is the minimum loan from Octane Capital?
At the time of writing (October 2026), Octane's minimum loan is £175,000, based on the day-one advance, with bridging loans up to £15m and beyond.
How much of my refurbishment costs will Octane fund?
Octane's refurbishment guide shows up to 75% net LTV on day one plus up to 100% of refurbishment costs, with total debt up to 70% of GDV. Core works can be up to £500,000 or 75% of current value.
Does Octane Capital offer regulated bridging?
No. Octane offers unregulated loans only, so it will not lend on a home that you or your family live in.
Does Octane lend to foreign nationals?
On bridging, Octane says it considers foreign nationals, expats and borrowers with no UK credit footprint, as well as offshore companies, LLPs and trusts.
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.
