The latest Interpath and BDLA UK Bridging Market Survey confirms what many brokers are already experiencing on the ground, that bridging has hit the mainstream.
Three-quarters of lenders expect origination volumes to rise this year, and institutional funding is flowing in to meet that demand. Interest rates are easing, loan sizes are climbing, and the market is growing in both confidence and complexity.
For brokers, that should be good news. A bigger, better-funded market means more competition between lenders, sharper rates, faster decision-making and an abundance of choice. But that same abundance is now creating its own set of challenges.
With so many lenders competing for attention, the task of identifying which partners genuinely deliver on service and reliability is getting harder, not easier.
The BDLA survey highlights this tension perfectly. Around 63 per cent of lenders expect competition to intensify, up from less than half a year ago. The report also points to longer loan terms and larger average ticket sizes, both signs of a maturing market but also of deals that carry greater risk and complexity.
Against that backdrop, the role of the broker becomes even more pivotal. Clients depend on brokers not only to find funding, but to filter a crowded field of lenders and make recommendations rooted in experience and trust.
In practice, that means brokers need confidence that the lender they choose won’t just quote attractively. Providers also need to complete efficiently, communicate clearly, and stay consistent when things get tricky. These qualities separate genuine partners from opportunistic players.
PEOPLE NOT PLAYERS
Since our launch in 2023, we’ve seen how vital that reliability has become. The bridging landscape has evolved rapidly and while technology has accelerated processes, the real differentiator remains people. Our growth has been grounded in direct, open relationships with brokers who want quick answers and straight conversations.
For many cases, brokers are juggling several bridging lenders, all with slightly different criteria and service levels. That can be time-consuming and risky when reputation rests on the ability to deliver. We launched the Streamline product earlier this year to offer a dedicated route for brokers who need underwriter access and faster case turnaround. It’s about giving intermediaries a genuine partnership when time is short and the client needs clarity.
MERGERS AND ACQUISITIONS
The BDLA’s research also hints at something bigger. As bridging finance continues to grow, we’re likely to see further consolidation among lenders. That is likely to generate greater efficiency across the market, but it will also make broker relationships even more important. In a landscape of mergers, new entrants and shifting propositions, brokers will need to rely on visibility, trust, familiarity, experience and knowing whether lending partners can deliver under pressure.
While bridging is becoming faster, broader and more competitive, one truth remains unchanged – brokers still sit at the heart of every successful deal. And our job, as lenders, is to make their role easier, not harder.
