Mortgage Soup fires the questions at Nathan Wilson, lending manager at Inspired Lending.

Mortgage Soup (MS): You’re at the heart of Inspired’s lending operation. What sort of bridging and short-term cases are landing most frequently at the moment?

Nathan Wilson (NW): We’re seeing a high volume of heavy refurbishments, particularly those involving structural work or significant redevelopment. These aren’t cookie-cutter cases. They need flexibility around drawdowns, security, and sometimes even valuation.

We recently funded a £1.1 million refurbishment in South Yorkshire that needed a hands-on, common-sense approach. Anyone can handle the “vanilla” cases, but it’s those slightly trickier deals where we really come into our own.

MS: Inspired has carved out a niche for being quick, practical and flexible. Where do you think you add the most value for brokers right now?

NW: Honestly, it’s about being experienced, available, responsive, and able to move quickly when needed.

Brokers don’t want to jump through unnecessary hoops. They just want to speak to someone who can get things done. That direct access really matters, especially when a deal shifts part way through.

We’ve seen borrowers go elsewhere for a better rate, only to come back when the other lender couldn’t deliver. Being straightforward and adaptable certainly goes a long way.

MS: Property investors seem to be focusing more on value-add opportunities. Are you seeing this shift reflected in the types of bridging cases coming through?

NW: Definitely. Investors are still actively repositioning assets, whether that’s finishing off a build or converting commercial stock to residential or HMOs.

Development exit is popular with borrowers who need to refinance before marketing or letting, especially when timelines slip.

We have just backed a £2 million commercial-to-HMO conversion in Nottingham where speed and structuring were absolutely essential. We delivered 100% funding of the purchase and works against a pretty tight timeframe.

MS: What are the key signs that a bridging case is going to run smoothly? And on the flip side, what still causes delays?

NW: When everyone is clear on the plan, the timeline and what’s needed, it’s usually plain sailing. But things get held up when key info is missing or when the exit strategy hasn’t really been thought through.

We always say, just be upfront from the start. If we’ve got the full story early on, we can move faster, and it saves brokers a lot of the stress further down the line. Borrowers using solicitors that are responsive and familiar with bridging also helps.

MS: Speed is clearly a big part of the Inspired model. But how do you balance that with the need for proper due diligence?

NW: We keep things simple and relevant to the transaction in question. Not a one-size-fits-all. We front-load the process, using technology whenever we can. It’s a practical, risk-adjusted approach.

We’re not about taking unnecessary risks, but we don’t over-engineer either. If the deal stacks up and the borrower’s position makes sense, we’ll move on it quickly and sensibly.

MS: Some borrowers and brokers still see bridging as a last resort. What would you say to change their view?

NW: I think bridging has moved on. For professional investors and property professionals, it’s now a first-choice funding option when speed or flexibility is needed most. It’s less about plugging a gap and more about unlocking opportunities. Often, the opportunity cost far outweighs the cost of funding.

MS: There’s a lot of talk about “common sense lending”. What does that look like in real terms at Inspired?

NW: To us, common sense means looking at the real-world context of the deal. We’re flexible on structure, not loose on credit.

We’ll adapt the terms, the charging structure or the drawdown schedule if it helps a sound deal complete. But if the deal doesn’t stack up, we won’t touch it. That’s the difference.

Flexibility isn’t about high LTVs or just saying yes to everyone. It’s about understanding the nuances.

MS: With so many bridging lenders in the market, what do you think makes a broker come back to Inspired for their next case?

NW: It’s about trust. Brokers know we’ll pick up the phone, stick to our word and find a way through. We’re not trying to win every deal on price. We’re here to get it over the line.

We’ve had cases where a broker tried someone else for a sharper rate, but it fell apart and they came back to us. I think that tells you everything.

MS: Finally, if there’s one thing you wish more brokers knew when submitting a bridging deal, what would it be?

NW: Context is everything. If it’s a quirky or layered case, give us the full picture early. It’s not about fitting a deal into a criteria checklist.

We’re happy to have the conversation, but we can’t work with half the information. The more we know, the better we can support.