Offa provides Sharia-compliant property finance, including bridge financing for investors and developers, bridge-to-let, buy-to-let and home purchase plans. Its products are structured to follow the principles of Islamic finance and are certified by an external Sharia adviser. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Offa; it is one of the lenders we compare for Sharia-compliant bridging and heavy refurbishment finance. You can read more on Offa's own website.
About Offa
Offa is the trading name of a group of UK companies, including Offa Money Limited, which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority. It is registered in England and Wales and based in Solihull. Offa describes itself as the UK's first Islamic bridge finance provider and says its team brings decades of combined Islamic finance experience.
Offa's stated mission is to modernise Islamic property finance with a technology-led, paperless process and to bring faith-based, ethical finance to the property sector. Its Sharia compliance is certified by an external Sharia advisory firm.
Its bridging is for investment and business purposes. Owner-occupied property is excluded from its development bridging, and its bridge products are aimed at investors and companies rather than homeowners.
What Offa funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Offa's bridge financing range covers England and Wales. It uses "finance to value" (FTV) and "finance to cost" (FTC) in place of LTV and LTC, and a profit rate in place of interest.
| Product | What it is for | Size | Maximum leverage | Term |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Residential bridge | Buy-to-let, HMOs, multi-unit blocks, student and co-living property | £100,000 to £5m | Up to 75% gross FTV | 1 to 24 months |
| Commercial bridge | Commercial property on first charge | £100,000 to £5m | Up to 65% gross FTV | 1 to 24 months |
| Light refurbishment bridge | Works without planning or structural change | £100,000 to £5m | 75% residential, 65% commercial; works funded up to a cap | 1 to 18 months |
| Heavy refurbishment bridge | Structural works and projects with planning | £100,000 to £10m | 75% residential or 65% commercial day one; lower of 75% of GDV or 85% of costs | 1 to 24 months |
| Development bridging | Ground-up, extensions and finish and exit with planning or permitted development consent | £500,000 to £10m | Lower of 75% of GDV (65% commercial) or 85% of costs | Up to 24 months |
| Bridge-to-let | A bridge followed by Sharia-compliant buy-to-let finance | Case by case | Case by case | Case by case |
Land is considered only where planning permission is in place, under its heavy refurbishment or development products; land without planning is not funded. Development works are released in arrears after a quantity surveyor's report. Properties and business activities on the site must be acceptable under Sharia principles, and Offa publishes a list of unacceptable property types and activities.
Our guides to Sharia-compliant bridging and finish and exit finance explain how these structures compare with conventional loans.
Who Offa suits (and who it may not)
Offa tends to suit:
- Investors and developers who want finance that follows Islamic principles, without interest.
- Buy-to-let, HMO and multi-unit investors in England and Wales.
- Heavy refurbishment and development projects with planning or permitted development consent.
- Developers with limited experience, which Offa says it may consider on development bridging.
- Investors who want to move from a bridge onto Sharia-compliant buy-to-let finance.
It may not suit borrowers in Scotland or Northern Ireland, owner-occupiers, sites without planning, property used for activities that are not Sharia compliant, or borrowers with recent adverse credit.
What Offa looks at
Offa publishes clear eligibility rules, including:
- Residency: UK residents or those with a permanent right to reside, with expats considered on some products.
- Credit: no bankruptcy, IVA, CCJs, defaults or missed secured payments in the last six years, although small, satisfied historic issues may be considered.
- Borrower type: individuals, and UK limited companies and LLPs with a property-related business, with personal guarantees from directors and shareholders.
- Security: freehold, or leasehold with more than 70 years remaining.
- Sharia compliance of the property and the activities carried on in it.
- For development: planning or permitted development consent, costs, programme and a minimum income for at least one applicant.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Sharia-compliant structure, certified by an external adviser.
- Covers residential, commercial, refurbishment and development bridging.
- Loans up to £10 million on heavy refurbishment and development.
- Limited development experience considered.
- Bridge-to-let and buy-to-let options for the exit.
Cons
- England and Wales only.
- Strict credit criteria, looking back six years.
- Property and activities must be Sharia compliant.
- No funding for land without planning.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Offa works with intermediaries as well as directly. Comparing first matters because Sharia-compliant bridging is offered by only a few lenders, and costs, leverage and credit rules vary. Where Sharia compliance is not essential, conventional lenders may also be worth seeing alongside.
We search the market, set Offa alongside other suitable options, 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 Offa
- Lendhub: conventional bridging, heavy refurbishment and development in England and Wales.
- Lowry Capital: land, heavy refurbishment and ground-up development.
- Novellus: land bridging and heavy refurbishment.
- Aspen Bridging: heavy refurbishment and development exit in England and Wales.
Common questions
Is Offa bridging finance Sharia compliant?
Offa says all its products are Sharia compliant and certified by an external Sharia adviser. It charges a profit rate rather than interest.
How much can I borrow from Offa?
At the time of writing, residential and commercial bridges run from £100,000 to £5 million, and heavy refurbishment and development bridging up to £10 million.
Where does Offa lend?
Its bridge financing products are available in England and Wales.
Does Offa fund land without planning?
No. Land is only considered where planning permission is already in place.
What credit history does Offa need?
Offa asks for no bankruptcy, IVA, CCJs, defaults or missed secured payments in the last six years, although small, satisfied historic issues may be considered.
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.
