Sancus is a property lender offering development finance and bridging loans in England and Wales, with UK offices in Manchester and London. It provides senior, stretch and mezzanine development finance for new builds, conversions and major renovations, and bridging for purchases, refurbishment and pre-planning. Bridge & Build Finance is an independent broker and is not part of Sancus, so we can compare its terms with other development and bridging lenders. You can read more on Sancus's own website.
About Sancus
Sancus is part of Sancus Lending Group Limited, which describes itself as a collective holding of alternative finance providers and is listed on AIM, the London Stock Exchange's growth market. It is a non-bank lender. Alongside lending to borrowers, the group offers asset-backed co-funding opportunities to private clients, family offices and institutional investors, which is part of how its loans are funded.
Sancus says each loan is reviewed and unanimously approved by its credit committee. It presents itself as a property financier able to deliver up to £1 billion in development funding, and its published case studies include loans of more than £20 million on larger residential schemes.
Sancus is one of the lenders we compare for development finance on schemes in England and Wales.
What Sancus funds
At the time of writing (October 2026), Sancus's website sets out these broad criteria:
| Product | Loan size | Leverage | Term |
|---|---|---|---|
| Senior development finance | £1 million to £15 million | Typically around 60% of GDV; up to 75% LTV and 85% of costs | Up to 24 months |
| Stretch and mezzanine development finance | Case by case | Higher than senior, by arrangement | Up to 24 months |
| Bridging | From £500,000, typically up to £5 million | Up to 75% LTV and 85% of costs | Up to 24 months |
Development finance covers ground-up schemes, major structural renovations, office-to-residential conversions, semi-commercial and mixed-use projects and HMOs. Sancus says senior loans can fund 100% of build costs plus part of the purchase price. Its case studies include schemes of more than 40 homes.
Bridging uses include purchases, auction buys, refurbishment, breaking a chain, below market value purchases, bridge to let, pre-planning and bridging into a development loan. Sancus lends on a first charge only. See our pages on planning gain bridging and stretch senior development finance.
Who Sancus suits (and who it may not)
Sancus tends to suit:
- Experienced developers with residential schemes needing £1 million or more of development finance.
- Developers who want senior, stretch or mezzanine funding from the same lender.
- Investors buying with bridging before planning or before a development loan.
- Office-to-residential, semi-commercial, mixed-use and HMO projects.
- A wide range of borrowers, including limited companies, LLPs, SPVs, expats and foreign nationals.
It is a poorer fit for loans below £500,000, borrowers with current CCJs or bankruptcy, second charge cases, and anyone needing a bridge on their own home. It does not lend in Scotland or Northern Ireland.
What Sancus looks at
Sancus's published requirements include first charge security, evidence of affordability where interest is serviced, and satisfactory due diligence. Expect it to look at:
- Your experience, particularly for larger development loans, which it describes as being for experienced professional developers.
- The appraisal: land or purchase price, build costs, gross development value and profit.
- Planning status, or the route to planning on a pre-planning bridge.
- Credit history: outstanding CCJs, bankruptcies or poor credit are not accepted, though explicable historic adverse is considered case by case.
- The exit: sale of units, refinance or a move onto development finance.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Senior, stretch and mezzanine development finance available.
- Senior loans can fund 100% of build costs.
- Bridging to development and pre-planning bridging for site purchases.
- Wide range of borrower types, including expats and foreign nationals.
- Part of an AIM-listed group with credit committee approval on every loan.
Cons
- England and Wales only.
- Minimum loans of £500,000 on bridging and £1 million on senior development.
- Senior gearing of around 60% of GDV is moderate; more leverage means stretch or mezzanine pricing.
- No regulated or second charge lending.
- Some inconsistency in the published maximum loan sizes.
Going through a broker vs going direct
Sancus accepts enquiries from borrowers and intermediaries. Going direct gives you its view alone. Development and bridging offers differ on leverage, fees, exit charges and drawdown terms, and a senior plus mezzanine structure from one lender may or may not beat a single stretch senior loan from another.
We search the market, prepare your appraisal and approach suitable lenders, including Sancus where it fits. It is free to enquire, and any broker fee is disclosed before you proceed. See how development finance and bridging loans work.
Alternatives to Sancus
- Fiduciam: development finance for experienced developers from £1 million.
- Magnet Capital: development lending on smaller and mid-sized schemes.
- Relendex: development finance from £750,000.
- Invest and Fund: development lending from around £400,000.
- Novellus Capital: bridging, land and development finance from £500,000.
Common questions
How much does Sancus lend on development?
Sancus's senior development loans typically range from £1 million to £15 million, geared at around 60% of GDV, over terms of up to 24 months.
Does Sancus offer bridging loans?
Yes. Sancus offers first charge bridging in England and Wales from £500,000, typically up to £5 million, for purchases, refurbishment, pre-planning and bridging into development finance.
Does Sancus offer mezzanine finance?
Sancus lists senior, stretch and mezzanine development finance, though it publishes detailed criteria only for its senior product.
Does Sancus accept adverse credit?
Sancus says it does not accept outstanding CCJs, bankruptcies or poor credit, but considers explicable historic adverse credit case by case.
Where does Sancus lend?
Sancus's UK lending covers England and Wales.
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.
