Specialist Finance Solutions
Commercial Property Finance
Structured for deals that don't fit the standard box.
Commercial finance is assessed very differently from residential or buy-to-let — income, risk, and property type all matter. The structure of the deal is as important as the numbers.
What is commercial property finance?
Finance for property outside standard residential criteria.
Commercial finance covers properties used for business purposes, generating commercial income, or that fall outside standard residential lending criteria — including shops, offices, warehouses, mixed-use buildings, and blocks beyond BTL limits.
Key difference from buy-to-let:
Lenders assess income, risk, and property type in more detail — which means how the deal is structured matters as much as the numbers themselves.
This page is for you if…
- You're buying or refinancing a commercial property
- You're investing in income-producing assets
- You're purchasing a mixed-use or semi-commercial property
- You're acquiring property for your own business
- Your deal doesn't fit standard BTL or residential criteria
Not sure if your deal is BTL, semi-commercial, or fully commercial? We'll assess it and tell you straight.
Why commercial deals get declined
Commercial lenders look at the whole picture — not just the property.
Most declines happen because the deal isn't structured or presented correctly — not because the asset is fundamentally un-financeable. The right lender, matched to the right deal, makes the difference.
Income doesn't meet lender expectations
Commercial lenders use DSCR (Debt Service Coverage Ratio) — and many applicants don't understand how their income will be assessed against this measure.
Property type outside lender appetite
Each commercial lender specialises in different sectors. Retail, office, industrial, and mixed-use all attract different lenders with different risk appetites.
Business or tenant risk too high
Short leases, weak tenants, or a business with thin accounts can trigger a decline — even when the property itself is sound.
Incorrect deal structure
Ownership (personal vs limited company), leverage, and repayment strategy all need to align with the lender's criteria from the start.
No clear repayment or exit strategy
Unlike residential, commercial lenders want to understand how the loan will be repaid — particularly on transitional or repositioning assets.
Wrong lender approached
Applying to a lender that doesn't cover the asset class, deal size, or ownership structure is the most common reason for unnecessary declines.
Step by step
Your Commercial Finance Journey
Commercial and semi-commercial finance has longer timelines — underwriting is more detailed and valuations take longer.
01
Book your initial call
A quick conversation about what you're trying to do, the property, your situation, and anything that might affect lender choice.
30–45 mins
02
We fill in the fact find
This gives us everything we need to match you with the right lenders and products — not just whoever happens to say yes.
Usually same day / 1–2 days
03
Review your options
We come back with our recommendation, explain the pros and cons, and help you choose the best route for your deal.
1–3 working days
04
Decision in Principle
Once you're happy to proceed, we package everything properly and submit for DIP.
Same day to 5 working days
05
Full application
We submit the full application, handle underwriting, lender questions, valuation, and keep things moving to offer.
1–4 weeks
06
Mortgage offer issued
The broker fee becomes payable only on success — when your mortgage offer is in hand.
Done!
Total realistic timeline
Standard commercial case
6–12 weeks
from first call to mortgage offer
Complex cases
10–16+ weeks
mixed use · lease terms · tenant covenants · planning
Ready to finance your commercial property?
Book a free call — we match your property to the right commercial lender from the start.
Why Moneta Property Finance
Had a commercial deal declined? The issue is often how it was presented — not the deal itself.
Commercial underwriting looks at the whole picture — not just the numbers.
60–75%
Typical LTV
110–140%
DSCR required
5 factors
Assessed together
How commercial lenders assess deals
Five factors that determine your options.
Income & Debt Servicing (DSCR)
Measures income against loan repayments. Typically 110–140%+ required — replaces the ICR used in BTL.
Property Type
Retail, office, industrial, mixed-use — each attracts a different lender pool. Some sectors have far fewer options.
Tenant or Business Strength
Lease length, tenant quality, and rental stability (investment) or business accounts (owner-occupied).
Loan-to-Value (LTV)
Typically 60–75% — lower than BTL. Higher-risk assets, weaker tenants, or shorter leases push LTV down.
Experience & Investor Profile
Track record and background matter. First-timers can still access the market — with the right presentation.
Types of commercial finance we arrange
Five deal types — one specialist broker.
Commercial finance isn't one product. The right structure depends entirely on what the property is, who's behind it, and what the long-term strategy is.
Commercial Investment Mortgages
Income-producing properties leased to tenants — rental income drives affordability. Long-term investment strategy. Assessed on DSCR, tenant quality, and lease terms.
- Leased to tenants
- Rental income assessed via DSCR
- Long-term investment focus
Owner-Occupied Commercial Mortgages
Purchasing premises for your own business, or refinancing existing commercial property. Business accounts and trading performance drive the lender assessment.
- Purchase or refinance premises
- Business income assessed
- Aligned with business growth
Semi-Commercial Mortgages
Mixed-use properties with residential and commercial elements — the classic example being a shop with flats above. Often sits between BTL and commercial lending criteria.
- Residential + commercial elements
- Hybrid income models
- Specialist lenders required
Large & Complex Investment Deals
Large blocks, multi-unit freehold blocks (MUFB), and portfolio acquisitions at the higher end of the market. Often requires bespoke lender solutions and investment-focused underwriting.
- Large blocks and MUFBs
- Portfolio acquisitions
- Bespoke lender solutions
Bridging into Commercial Finance
Short-term bridging used to acquire, reposition, or transition assets — with a clear exit into a long-term commercial mortgage. Exit strategy is planned before the bridge is drawn down.
- Short-term acquisition finance
- Asset repositioning
- Planned exit into commercial mortgage
How we structure commercial deals
The right lender, right structure, right from the start.
Matching lender to property type
- Asset class determines lender pool
- Risk profile shapes deal approach
- Deal size influences which lenders are viable
Aligning income with lending criteria
- Rental income mapped to DSCR requirements
- Business income assessed correctly for owner-occupied
- Tenant strength factored into affordability model
Structuring the deal correctly
- Personal vs limited company ownership
- Leverage optimised for the asset
- Repayment strategy confirmed before application
Planning the exit or long-term strategy
- Transitional assets need a clear forward plan
- Repositioning deals structured with the exit in view
- Future refinance viability confirmed upfront
Real example
Mixed-use building — declined by BTL lender, semi-commercial mortgage approved.
The situation
- Purchasing a mixed-use building
- Retail unit on the ground floor
- Residential flats above
The issue
A standard BTL lender had declined because the commercial element took the property outside their criteria. The deal was strong — it had simply been placed with the wrong lender type.
How we structured it
- Placed with a specialist semi-commercial lender
- Income model aligned with DSCR requirements
- Deal positioned correctly for the asset type
Mortgage approved.
Commercial deals are not standard — and shouldn't be structured like they are.
Common questions
Commercial finance FAQs.
Related strategies