Hope Capital is a UK-based specialist lender founded in 2011. The company provides financial products and services to SMEs, property professionals and individuals, including unregulated bridging loans.
An established lender with more than ten years of experience, Hope Capital offers flexible loan options and absolute transparency about their fees, rates and processes.
In this review, I will take a closer look at Hope Capital, detailing its product’s key features, eligibility criteria, application process, rates and reviews to help you decide whether this is the right lender for your needs.
I will particularly focus on its bridging loan products.
Hope Capital Bridging Loan: Overview
Hope Capital offers a range of unregulated bridging loans from £100,000 to £5,000,000 for both residential and commercial needs.
You can use these short-term lending options to secure property purchases, fund refurbishments, raise capital, or refinance existing loans.
Key features include
- Bridging loans from £50k up to £5m, with up to 80% LTV available
- Rates start from 0.79% per month for terms up to 18 months
- Rates are fixed for the duration of the loan term
- 1st and 2nd charge available
- No early repayment charges
- Flexible options available for the arrangement fee
- AVMs are carried out instantly, and desktop valuations are received within 24 hours
- Interests can be deducted, rolled, or serviced
- 100% funding is available with additional security
- No credit scoring
- No upfront legal undertaking
- Inexperienced developers are accepted
Hope Capital has an overall great reputation. The loan application process is quick and user-friendly, and many praise the staff’s professionalism.
What are the Eligibility Criteria for a Hope Capital Bridging Loan?
| Criteria | Value |
|---|---|
| Accepted Borrowers | Individuals, partnerships, limited companies, trusts, offshore companies, SiPPS and LLPS |
| Minimum Age | 18 |
| Location | England, Wales, and Scotland (for Scotland, postcode restrictions apply) |
| Adverse Credit | ✅ |
| Exit Strategy | Evidenced exit strategy required |
Application Process for Hope Capital Bridging
Hope Capital provides a streamlined application process for bridging loans. It starts with visiting their Quick Enquiry page. Once the form is filled out, Hope Capital’s team will get in touch to discuss the next steps with you.
Hope’s team usually responds in less than a day and issues the AIP and formal terms quickly.
On the lender’s Resources page, you will find any useful documentation you might need. This is helpful because it allows you to act ahead and ensure everything is filled out on your end, ensuring the process remains quick and efficient.
The front-end process is quick and straightforward, with minimal information and documents needed upfront. More due diligence comes before formal approval for larger loans.
Hope Capital Rates & Fees
Here are the Hope Capital bridging loan rates for 2023.
| Loan Type | Rates From | Max. LTV | Max. GDV |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residential | 0.85% | 75% | 70% |
| Semi-Commercial | 0.89% | 70% | 65% |
| Commercial | 0.95% | 65% | 60% |
| Refurbishment | 0.85% | 80%* | ❎ |
| Finish & Exit | 0.89% | 75% | ❎ |
| Development Exit | 0.85% | 75% | ❎ |
| Land with Planning | 1.45% | 60% | ❎ |
*80% Day 1 only available on residential properties
Fees
Hope Capital’s loans come with a set of additional fees that are important to be aware of. Here are some of the main ones.
| Fee | Description | Value |
|---|---|---|
| Valuation Fee | Charged for the valuation report, which is used to calculate how much Hope Capital will lend to you | Variable |
| Capital Repayment Fee | Charged to administer payments made at any time during the term of the loan | £250 |
| Unpaid Fee | Charged when any monthly payment is late or unpaid. | £25 |
| Title Insurance | Charged for insuring the title in the context of the limited title due diligence by solicitors | 0.16% of Gross Loan |
You can consult the full list of fees on Hope Capital’s website.
Hope Capital Reviews & Ratings
Overall, Hope Capital receives positive reviews, earning a good score on Feefo and an average score on Trustpilot.
As with many bridging loan providers, the number of reviews might seem a bit low to get a proper idea of the quality of service, but they are interesting nonetheless.
The vast majority of the positive reviews praise the staff’s professionalism and helpfulness in completing transactions.
Interestingly, the few negative reviews also mention the interactions they had with the staff. As with many competitors, your experience with a bridging provider will depend on many factors, including the person handling your case.
The very low amount of negative ratings makes me believe Hope Capital to be a trustworthy lender, with easy processes and helpful staff.
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Hope Capital FAQs
What types of bridging loans does Hope Capital offer?
Hope Capital provides a variety of bridging loan services including re-bridge, capital raising, auction purchases, light/medium/heavy refurbishment, development exit, finish & exit, change of use schemes, and permitted development schemes across England, Wales, and Scotland1. They have also introduced a new bridging product for borrowers looking to purchase residential properties at auction.
How does Hope Capital assess loan applications?
Hope Capital assesses each case and application on its own merits, making it a flexible option for investors and developers with unique funding needs5.
How transparent is Hope Capital regarding the fees and interests of its bridging loans?
Hope Capital is known for its transparency around fees and interest, providing clear information to borrowers. They also ensure quick decisions and have a provision for immediate payment of all broker fees upon loan completion.
What is the minimum and maximum loan amount I can borrow from Hope Capital?
You can borrow a minimum of £50k and a maximum of £5m for your bridging loan needs from Hope Capital.
