Together Money

Together considers applicants with county court judgements, defaults, and other adverse credit markers on a case-by-case basis. Their published criteria state that adverse credit events older than 12 months may be disregarded for the purpose of setting the interest rate, with the exception of debt management plans, individual voluntary arrangements, and bankruptcy. This means a historic CCJ or default does not necessarily prevent approval or result in the highest available rate.

The presence of adverse credit is still visible to the underwriter and will form part of the overall assessment. The severity of the event, the amount involved, whether it has been satisfied, and the borrower's conduct since it occurred all factor into the decision. A broker can provide a realistic view of whether an application is likely to be approved before a formal submission is made. The guide to secured loans for bad credit covers how specialist lenders approach impaired credit profiles.

Yes. Together is one of the more accessible specialist lenders for self-employed borrowers. They accept applicants with as little as 12 months of trading history, which is shorter than the two to three years typically required by high-street lenders. Together states that self-employed applicants receive the same rates as employed applicants, with the rate determined by the loan-to-value ratio and the credit profile rather than the employment type.

Income evidence requirements depend on the trading structure. Sole traders typically provide SA302 tax calculations or certified accounts. Limited company directors may use a combination of salary, dividends, and in some cases retained profits. Partnerships provide their share of net profit. The guide to secured loans for self-employed borrowers covers the documentation requirements across different lenders in more detail.

Together accepts a wider range of property types than many mainstream lenders. Standard residential properties are accepted, along with non-standard construction types and flats on higher floors (including above the sixth floor, which some lenders exclude). For bridging finance, the range extends to commercial premises, HMO properties, and properties requiring light refurbishment. The maximum LTV may be reduced for non-standard properties, reflecting the higher valuation risk.

Properties must be located in England, Wales, or Scotland. Together's lending criteria specify certain restrictions on shared ownership properties, ex-council properties in Scotland within the pre-emption period, and properties where specialist valuation reports are required. A broker can confirm whether a specific property type is likely to be accepted before a formal application is submitted.

Together does not publish a guaranteed completion timescale, and actual timescales vary depending on the complexity of the case, the valuation process, and the legal work required. For straightforward cases where the property is standard and an Automatic Valuation Model can be used (available on properties up to £250,000 at a maximum of 65% LTV), the process can be significantly faster than a standard mortgage application.

For more complex cases involving non-standard properties, multiple securities, or higher loan amounts requiring a full valuation, the process will take longer. The most common causes of delay are missing documents, slow legal responses, and valuation access problems rather than lender processing times. A broker experienced in bridging finance can set realistic expectations based on the specifics of the case and help ensure documents are assembled before submission.

The maximum borrowing amount depends on the product type, the property value, and individual circumstances. For secured loans, the maximum LTV is up to 75% of the open market value less the outstanding mortgage, so the available amount is determined by the equity position. For bridging loans, the published maximum loan size is up to £3 million for regulated products and up to £5 million for unregulated products, subject to LTV limits.

The maximum published loan size is not the same as the maximum available to any individual borrower. The amount offered will depend on the property valuation, the loan-to-value ratio, the borrower's income and affordability, and the overall risk assessment. A broker can provide a realistic indication of the likely borrowing range before a formal application is made.

Yes. Together has offered auction finance since 2003 and it remains a core part of their product range. Auction finance is a form of bridging loan designed specifically for properties purchased at auction, where completion is typically required within 28 days of the hammer falling. Together's auction finance products follow the same general criteria as their broader bridging range, with the emphasis on speed of completion.

Borrowers considering an auction purchase should ideally have a decision in principle in place before the auction takes place, along with a clear exit strategy for repaying the bridging loan within the term. The most common exit strategies are sale of the property after refurbishment, or refinance onto a term mortgage once the property is in a mortgageable condition.

Together accepts several exit strategies. The most common is the sale of the property secured against the loan. A second common exit is refinancing onto a longer-term mortgage product, which Together can facilitate through its own range of buy-to-let and residential mortgage products where the borrower meets the criteria. Sale of a different property owned by the borrower is also accepted.

The strength of the exit strategy is a significant factor in the underwriting decision. A bridging loan where the exit is a confirmed sale with exchange of contracts already in place is a lower-risk proposition than one where the exit depends on a future event. The underwriter will assess the plausibility and timeline of the exit strategy as part of the application review. Building a realistic time buffer into the term is one of the most important things a borrower can do to avoid problems at the end of the loan.

Together operates through entities that appear on the FCA Register and hold the relevant permissions to provide mortgage and secured lending products. Regulated products, which include residential mortgages, second charge mortgages (secured loans), and regulated bridging loans on properties used as a main home, are subject to FCA conduct rules including affordability assessments and standardised disclosure.

Unregulated products, which include bridging on investment and commercial property, are not subject to the same FCA conduct rules but the lender and any intermediaries involved are still subject to general commercial law and their own professional obligations. The classification of a product as regulated or unregulated depends on the use of the security property, not the borrower's preference.