LandlordInvest, an FCA authorised peer-to-peer lending platforms for residential mortgages, has raised seed funding from Alan Gabbay, director of O&H Properties, a London based privately owned property investment firm with assets valued at approximately £1 billion.

The business was launched at end of 2016 by founders Filip Karadaghi, Nikolajs Smirnovs and Joe Vallender and became the first peer-to-peer lending platform to offer a residential property-backed Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA) to UK savers, targeting tax-free returns of up to 12% per annum.

LandlordInvest says it will use the funding to accelerate its investment in technology and continuing bringing innovation to the property finance market, a £1.4 trillion industry. In addition to Alan Gabbay, other backers of LandlordInvest include LNK Capital, and angel investors including Reece Chowdhry and Lee Josephs.

Karadaghi, LandlordInvest’s chief executive said: “We are delighted that we have received backing from Alan Gabbay, Director of one of the largest private property investment companies in the UK. It serves as an acknowledgement that established companies are beginning to embrace the technological innovation of a traditionally offline industry.

“Further, in addition to changing the property industry, our platform is innovating the UK investment industry by making an asset class, previously reserved for the wealthy, available for anyone with at least £100 to invest.”

Gabbay added: “The rapid success LandlordInvest has enjoyed since its launch proves there is a clear gap in the market for a service that integrates the requirements of landlords seeking financing in a simple and efficient manner or investors seeking returns in a low rate environment.

“Filip and the team are building the next-generation leader in the property finance space and I am delighted to be working with the LandlordInvest team.”