Kuflink

Bridging loans split into two types under UK regulation. A regulated bridge is required where the loan is secured against a property that the borrower lives in, intends to live in, or intends a close family member to live in. An unregulated bridge is used for investment and business purposes, such as buying a rental property, developing a site, or refinancing commercial premises. Regulated loans carry additional consumer protections enforced by the FCA; unregulated loans are governed by general contract and property law but do not carry the same consumer-specific rules.

Kuflink does not offer regulated bridging loans. This means that if you want to bridge against your own home, a home you are buying to move into, or a property a family member will live in, Kuflink is not suitable for that purpose. A specialist broker can identify a lender that offers regulated bridging for your specific situation. If your intended use is investment only, such as a buy-to-let purchase, a development project, or a commercial acquisition, Kuflink's unregulated products are available to you subject to their underwriting criteria.

Most bridging lenders fund loans from a bank balance sheet or a single institutional credit facility. Kuflink operates differently: Kuflink Bridging Ltd originates and underwrites the loan, and the loan is then funded by individual and corporate investors through the Kuflink peer-to-peer platform. Investors on the platform choose to back individual loans or invest in an auto-diversified pool, earning interest on the amounts they deploy. Kuflink co-invests up to 5% of its own capital alongside investor capital in each loan.

For borrowers, the P2P structure has no material impact on the loan experience. The terms, rate, and process are set by Kuflink Bridging Ltd in the normal way. The borrower has a contract with the lender, not with the investors who fund the loan behind the scenes. The legal charge, the interest rate, and the redemption process all work identically to a conventionally funded bridge. The P2P model does mean that Kuflink's capital availability is partly tied to investor appetite on the platform, though the business also holds wholesale credit lines from institutional backers.

Bridging loans run from £50,000 to £1,000,000. Development finance is available up to £3,000,000, lent against the gross development value of the scheme. On residential bridging, Kuflink accepts AVM valuations on loans up to £500,000 with a maximum LTV of 75%. For larger residential loans or where an AVM is not available, the standard maximum is 70% LTV. Semi-commercial bridging runs to a maximum of 70% LTV (increased from 65% in May 2025); commercial bridging to 65% LTV (increased from 60% in May 2025).

LTV is calculated against the current market value of the property being used as security, as determined by the valuation method used. For development finance, the LTV equivalent is calculated against the gross development value once complete, rather than the current land or part-built value. The LTV and equity calculator can help illustrate how equity works in practice for a property being used as bridging security.

Kuflink updated its valuation criteria in May 2025 with meaningful improvements to the types of valuation it accepts across all property types. For residential bridging, automated valuation models are now accepted on loans up to £500,000 at up to 75% LTV. An AVM produces an instant computer-generated value without a surveyor needing to visit, which can significantly reduce the time to completion on qualifying cases. For semi-commercial and commercial cases, desktop and drive-by valuations are now accepted on deals up to £600,000 at up to their respective LTV maxima.

Where the loan size is above these thresholds, where the property does not qualify for AVM, or where the AVM confidence level is insufficient, a full physical valuation by a RICS-qualified surveyor is required. This adds time to the process but is appropriate for higher-value or more complex security. A broker submitting a case to Kuflink can discuss in advance which valuation method is likely to apply and structure the case around the fastest available route.

Development finance from Kuflink is designed for ground-up residential development, large extensions, and permitted development right schemes including change-of-use projects. Loans are available up to £3,000,000, lent against the gross development value of the completed scheme. The initial advance provides the funds to begin works, with further drawdowns released in stages as the development progresses and the completed works are certified. This staged drawdown structure means interest is only charged on capital drawn rather than on the full facility from day one, which reduces the cost of the loan over the build programme.

Each borrower is assigned a dedicated case manager who oversees the loan from application through to redemption. An initial decision on a development finance application is typically available within 4 hours. The exit from a development loan is usually the sale of completed units, refinancing onto buy-to-let mortgages, or a developer exit bridge where additional time is needed to sell or let the completed development. Development finance from Kuflink is for experienced property developers; it is not suitable for first-time developers or owner-occupiers building their own home.

Kuflink targets a decision in principle within 2 working hours of receiving an enquiry. For straightforward bridging cases where an AVM or desktop valuation qualifies, funds can be released in as little as 5 working days. This covers the DIP, the formal credit-backed terms, the valuation, and the legal process of registering the charge. Speed depends significantly on how quickly the borrower returns documents and how smoothly the legal process proceeds; cases with clean titles, prepared solicitors, and complete documentation complete faster.

Development finance cases take longer than simple bridging because the staged structure requires more detailed assessment of the build programme, planning status, and projected costs and values. The initial decision is available within 4 hours on development cases, but the full legal and valuation process will typically take a few weeks from that point. Auction finance is the most time-critical of Kuflink's products; the 28-day completion window from auction to legal completion is achievable for qualifying cases, particularly where desktop valuations are appropriate and the solicitors are prepared.

Yes. Kuflink lends on commercial and semi-commercial property under its commercial bridging product range. Commercial bridging is capped at 65% LTV following the increase from 60% in May 2025. Semi-commercial bridging, which covers mixed-use buildings with both a commercial element and residential units, runs to a maximum of 70% LTV after the increase from 65% in May 2025. Most commercial property types are considered; Kuflink reviews each case individually and a broker who knows the lender's commercial appetite will be the most efficient route to establishing viability.

The May 2025 update also introduced desktop and drive-by valuations on commercial and semi-commercial cases for loans up to £600,000. Previously, commercial cases typically required a full physical valuation regardless of loan size, which added time to the process. The new valuation options narrow the gap in completion times between commercial and residential bridging on qualifying cases. For commercial cases above £600,000 or at higher LTVs, a full valuation continues to be required.

Yes. Kuflink Ltd (the P2P platform, Company No. 08460508) is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority under FCA reference number 724890. The platform has held full FCA authorisation since 2017. Kuflink Home Loans Limited (FCA FRN 571773) is separately authorised for regulated mortgage contracts. The lending entity, Kuflink Bridging Ltd (Company No. 07889226), originates the loans that are funded through the regulated P2P platform.

As noted throughout this page, Kuflink Bridging Ltd does not currently offer regulated bridging loans for residential owner-occupier purposes. The FCA authorisation relates primarily to the operation of the P2P platform and the Innovative Finance ISA products available to investors, not to consumer mortgage regulation of the bridging loans themselves. All lenders and brokers involved in arranging a Kuflink loan through the intermediary channel must themselves hold appropriate FCA permissions. The registered office for all Kuflink entities is 21 West Street, Gravesend, Kent, DA11 0BF.