Christian Faes and Ian Thomas, two of the principals from Montello Capital Partners, have announced the soft launch of LendInvest, an online peer-to-peer loan trading platform.

The aim is for the platform to allow investors to invest into new loans and create an online market for completed loans.

Faes has a legal background, having practised as a lawyer in the City with Clifford Chance and then in-house with Deutsche Bank. Thomas is a qualified chartered surveyor, who prior to Montello held senior positions with SEGRO and Ballymore Property Group.

The pair have recently recruited David Serafini who has come on as managing director for the business. Serafini has held a number of positions in the City, and was previously an ex-IT analyst with the Royal Bank of Scotland.

Although the LendInvest crowdfunding platform is in soft-launch, deals worth over £3.5 million have been placed on the platform.

Serafini said: “In an environment where investors get next to zero return for cash in the bank, it is understandable that sophisticated investors are looking at sound alternative investments. LendInvest allows investors to invest in loans that are secured against real estate, and to obtain superior returns.

“There are a number of peer-to-peer platforms that are out there, but this is the only platform in the UK that is for originating and funding new residential and commercial loans, and acts as an after-market for trading completed loans.

“The LendInvest platform really is a revolutionary step for the UK real estate mortgage market.”