Octane Capital is a London-based specialist bridging lender founded in 2017 by Jonathan Samuels and Matt Smith. It trades as a name of Aldermore Bank PLC and offers unregulated bridging finance exclusively through the broker channel.
Its defining characteristic is the “product-less” underwriting model: Octane does not publish rate bands by LTV. Every loan is manually priced by the credit team based on the specific risk of your deal.
The result is flexibility for complex transactions, and a starting rate from 0.73%/month that is competitive against the market average of 0.84%.
Octane Capital Bridging Finance at a Glance
Our Verdict
Octane Capital is best suited to experienced property investors and developers who need something that standard lenders will not do: 100% of your refurbishment costs funded on day one, offshore entity structures, or bespoke deal pricing on a complex asset.
The BBR-linked rate model means there is no fixed rate certainty over the bridge term — if the Bank of England base rate moves, so does your cost. If you need certainty, that matters.
Unregulated only. If you need a regulated bridge for a residential purchase or chain break, you must use a different lender.
Best For
If you need 100% of your refurbishment costs funded alongside 75% net LTV on the purchase price, Octane is one of the few lenders that can do this.
Also right for you if your deal involves SPVs, offshore entities, or complex trust structures where your deal structure — rather than your credit history — is the obstacle.
Not Ideal For
If you need regulated bridging, Octane cannot help you — look at Precise or Shawbrook.
If your loan is below £175,000, you are below Octane’s minimum. If you need rate certainty, the BBR-linked model is not right for you: your cost floats with the base rate.
If your deal is a standard clean-credit residential bridge, your rate from Precise (from 0.57%) will be considerably lower.
Key Facts
| Feature | Detail |
|---|---|
| Rate | From 0.73%/month (BBR-linked) |
| Maximum LTV | 75% across all products |
| Refurbishment product | 75% net LTV + 100% of refurb costs funded |
| Minimum loan | £175,000 (standard); £250,000 (developer exit) |
| Maximum loan | £15,000,000–£25,000,000 (larger by case) |
| Maximum term | 24 months |
| Arrangement fee | 2% of loan |
| Exit fee | None |
| Regulated bridging | Not offered – unregulated only |
| Distribution | Broker-only (no direct applications) |
| DIP turnaround | Within 2 hours |
| Trustpilot | 4.7/5 (150 reviews, May 2026) |
What Is Octane Capital Bridging Finance?
How Octane Capital Bridging Loans Work
Octane Capital provides short-term secured loans against UK investment and commercial property. Your loan is drawn down quickly and repaid in full at your planned exit — typically via property sale or refinance onto a longer-term product.
What makes Octane different is its underwriting approach. Rather than publishing tiered rate bands by LTV, Octane’s credit team manually prices every deal.
Octane’s credit team looks at your asset quality, your deal structure, and the viability of your exit — not a score against a rate table. This is what Octane calls its “product-less” model.
Your rate is BBR-linked, meaning it moves with the Bank of England base rate. If the base rate falls, your rate falls. If it rises, your rate rises. Rates start from 0.73%/month as of May 2026.
Regulated vs Unregulated Bridging
Octane Capital does not offer regulated bridging loans. All Octane bridging products are unregulated.
Regulated bridging applies where the borrower or a close family member intends to occupy the security property as their main residence. These loans carry FCA consumer protections and access to the Financial Ombudsman Service.
Octane lends exclusively to investors and developers using properties for commercial or investment purposes.
If you are buying a home, bridging a property chain, or need FCA protection, you need a lender that offers regulated bridging. Shawbrook, Precise Mortgages, and Together all offer regulated bridging.
Octane Capital is a trading name of Aldermore Bank PLC, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (FRN 204503). However, the bridging products themselves fall outside the FCA regulatory perimeter because they are advanced for investment and commercial purposes.
Main Loan Options
Octane Capital offers three core bridging products:
| Product | Purpose | Max LTV | Min loan |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard bridging | Purchase, refinance, or equity release on investment property | 75% | £175,000 |
| Refurbishment bridging | Purchase plus 100% of refurb costs alongside 75% net day-one LTV | 75% net + 100% refurb | £175,000 |
| Developer exit | Refinance development finance once units are nearly complete | 75% | £250,000 |
Octane Capital Bridging Loan Rates and Costs
Monthly Rates and Total Cost of Borrowing
Octane Capital does not publish a rate table. Rates are set deal by deal from 0.73%/month.
Rates are BBR-linked: the margin sits above the Bank of England base rate, so your cost adjusts if the base rate changes during your bridge term.
If the base rate rises 0.25% partway through a 12-month bridge, your cash flow at exit is larger than your original model projected. Stress-test this scenario before you draw down.
Worked example for a representative investment purchase:
| Scenario | Loan | Rate | Term | Interest | Arrangement (2%) | Exit fee | Total repayable |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Investment purchase, 70% LTV | £500,000 | 0.73%/month | 12 months | £43,800 | £10,000 | £0 | £553,800 |
Legal costs and valuation fees are additional — the borrower pays both sides. Budget £3,000–£6,000 for a loan of this size.
Rolled-Up vs Serviced Interest
Octane Capital’s standard structure is rolled-up interest: no monthly payments during the bridge term. The full interest balance accrues and is repaid at exit alongside the principal.
This preserves monthly cash flow during a refurbishment or while waiting for a buyer, but the total repayment at exit is larger because interest compounds on the growing balance.
Serviced interest may be available on a case-by-case basis — confirm with your broker at DIP stage.
Fees and Charges
| Fee | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Arrangement fee | 2% of gross loan | Standard across all products |
| Exit fee | None | No early repayment charges on any Octane product |
| Legal costs | Borrower pays both sides | Budget £3,000–£6,000 for larger loans |
| Valuation | Borrower pays | RICS physical valuation required |
What Affects Your Rate
Octane does not use fixed rate bands, so multiple factors affect your final rate: asset quality, LTV, deal complexity, exit strategy strength, and the current Bank of England base rate. The published floor is 0.73%/month.
Because pricing is bespoke, the rate you receive on a broker DIP is the most accurate indicator for your specific deal. Confirm your rate before committing to a transaction based on the published headline.
When you submit a DIP via your broker on Friday afternoon, your AIP arrives the same day — typically within 2 hours. That window matters when your deal is time-sensitive.
If the Bank of England cuts rates by 0.25% during your 12-month bridge, your Octane rate drops by the same margin.
If it rises by 0.25%, your cost increases. On a £500,000 loan, a 0.25% move is £1,250 per year. Factor this into your budget.
Octane Capital Bridging Loan Eligibility
Who Can Apply
Octane lends to a wide range of entity types:
| Borrower type | Accepted? |
|---|---|
| Private individuals (UK nationals) | Yes |
| Limited companies (Ltd Co) | Yes |
| Limited liability partnerships (LLPs) | Yes |
| Special purpose vehicles (SPVs) | Yes |
| Offshore companies and complex trusts | Yes |
| Expats | Yes |
| Foreign nationals | Yes |
There is no minimum personal income requirement. No personal guarantee is required as standard.
Property Types, LTV and Adverse Credit
Acceptable property types for your loan: standard residential investment, semi-commercial, commercial property being converted to residential, HMOs, land with planning permission, and new builds under developer exit parameters.
LTV: 75% maximum across all product types.
Adverse credit: Octane’s manual underwriting will consider your case if you have CCJs, defaults, or missed payments. The assessment focuses on your deal — asset quality and exit strategy — not a scoring algorithm.
Octane does not publish specific adverse credit thresholds; your eligibility is determined deal by deal via broker DIP.
If your deal involves an offshore SPV structure that a high-street lender has already declined, Octane’s manual underwriting means your deal goes in front of a credit professional who reads the full picture.
That is a meaningful difference from a lender that runs your details through a scoring system and returns an automated decline.
Security Requirements
Octane requires a first charge over UK property. Physical RICS valuations are required — no published AVM facility. You are responsible for both sets of legal costs.
For offshore entities and foreign nationals, additional AML and KYC documentation will be required.
Octane Capital Bridging Loan Application Process
How to Apply for a Octane Capital Bridging Loan
Octane Capital is broker-only. You cannot apply directly. You will need to use a specialist commercial finance broker to submit an enquiry and receive a Decision in Principle.
Your broker deals directly with Octane’s underwriters, which enables the fast DIP turnaround and the bespoke deal structuring that makes Octane suitable for complex cases.
When you apply via a broker, your application goes directly to an Octane underwriter — not a credit scoring system. That means your deal structure, your exit strategy, and your asset quality are the deciding factors.
Valuation, Legal Work and Documents Needed
A RICS physical valuation is required on all Octane Capital bridging cases. The borrower pays for the valuation.
Documents typically required: proof of identity for all borrowers and directors, title documents for the security property, evidence of your exit strategy (sale agreement, BTL mortgage in principle, development programme), and corporate documents if applying through a company structure.
For offshore entities and foreign nationals, additional AML and KYC documentation will be required.
Instruct your solicitor as soon as you receive the formal offer — legal work is typically the longest lead time before funds release.
Decision and Completion Times
Your Decision in Principle is typically issued within 2 hours of broker submission. Octane has direct underwriter-to-broker communication which enables this speed.
Standard completion is 7–14 working days. Octane has a track record of completing complex multi-million-pound loans in 4–8 working days on time-sensitive cases, including auction purchases.
If your auction lot closes on a Thursday and the deposit is due by Monday, instruct your broker to submit your application on Thursday morning.
You will have an AIP within 2 hours, and completion in 7–14 working days (as few as 4–8 on urgent cases). Instruct your solicitor the same day as your AIP — legal is the longest lead time before your funds are released.
Exit Strategy and Risk
Acceptable Exit Routes
| Exit route | Notes |
|---|---|
| Open market sale | Standard exit; evidence of marketing progress at renewal stage |
| Refinance onto BTL mortgage | Octane offers own BTL term products (2–5 years) for internal switch |
| Refinance onto commercial mortgage | Accepted with evidence of mortgage in principle from receiving lender |
| Developer exit | Sale of units or refinance of completed development block |
Open vs Closed Bridge
A closed bridge has a fixed, guaranteed exit — contracts exchanged on a sale, or a mortgage offer from a receiving lender. Risk is low and Octane prices accordingly.
An open bridge has a planned but unconfirmed exit — for example, a property listed for sale but not yet under offer. Octane accommodates open bridges up to 24 months, with the exit strategy assessed on its credibility by the underwriter.
What Happens If the Exit Is Delayed
If your planned exit takes longer than expected, contact your broker and Octane early. Extensions may be available, but each month of additional bridge term adds to your rolled-up interest balance.
When your planned sale falls through three weeks before your bridge expires, call your broker the same day.
Octane can discuss an extension, but each extra month adds to the rolled-up balance you will repay at the new exit.
Because your rate is BBR-linked and interest is rolled up, a longer bridge means a larger final repayment. Plan your exit timeline conservatively and allow a 3-month buffer.
If exit cannot be achieved, Octane can appoint a receiver or seek possession. At 75% LTV there is meaningful equity headroom in most scenarios, but enforcement costs and market conditions can reduce this.
Always have a primary exit and a credible fallback before you draw down.
Octane Capital Bridging Loan Customer Reviews
What Customers Like
We verified Octane Capital’s Trustpilot rating as at May 2026: 4.7/5 from 150 reviews. We found review volume is lower than mainstream banks but consistent with a specialist lender serving the professional investor segment.
Recurring positive themes: transactional speed, transparency from the underwriting team on complex cases, and a pragmatic approach when navigating last-minute legal complications.
Common Complaints
Review volume is lower than Shawbrook or Precise, which have significantly larger retail lending books. Octane’s client base is narrower — experienced investors and developers. No systematic complaints pattern is visible in Octane’s Trustpilot profile.
The most common source of friction in specialist bridging generally is the physical valuation and legal process, both outside the lender’s direct control.
Octane Capital Support and Regulation
Customer Support
Because Octane is broker-only, you will not deal with the lender directly. Your broker has direct access to Octane’s underwriting team — useful for complex deals that need a live conversation rather than a portal form.
Contact for brokers: Haskell House, 152 West End Lane, London NW6 1SD. Phone 0345 222 9009. Email deals@octanecapital.co.uk.
If you do not already have a specialist commercial finance broker, you will need to appoint one before approaching Octane — you cannot apply to Octane directly.
Regulatory Status and Complaints
Octane Capital is a trading name of Aldermore Bank PLC, which is authorised by the PRA and regulated by the FCA and PRA (Financial Services Register number: 204503).
The bridging loans Octane offers are unregulated financial products — they fall outside the FCA’s consumer protection framework because they are advanced for investment and commercial purposes.
Because these loans are unregulated, you cannot escalate a dispute to the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) or claim under the FSCS. Your statutory consumer protections do not apply here.
If a dispute arises, your route is through your broker and Octane’s internal complaints process. Ask your broker to confirm their complaints handling procedure before you draw down — you want that answer before you need it, not after.
Octane Capital vs Alternatives
Octane Capital vs Precise Mortgages
Precise Mortgages offers lower starting rates than Octane: 0.57%/month for standard bridging up to 75% LTV with a fee-free AVM. If your deal is a clean, straightforward residential investment bridge, Precise is cheaper.
We calculated the interest difference on a £500,000 12-month bridge: roughly £8,000 (0.57% vs 0.73%). Precise also offers regulated bridging for owner-occupiers, which Octane does not.
We rate Octane’s advantage over Precise as bespoke underwriting for complex structures — offshore entities, SPVs, deals where Precise’s cascade eligibility system may not accommodate your borrower profile. For standard investment cases, the rate arithmetic favours Precise.
Octane Capital vs Together
Together’s unregulated bridging starts from 0.83%/month — more expensive than Octane’s 0.73% for comparable LTV. Both lenders offer 75% LTV maximum.
Together’s advantage over Octane: much lower minimum loan (£26,000 regulated vs £175,000), regulated bridging for owner-occupiers and chain breaks, and broader accessibility.
For professional investors with loans above £175,000 and no need for regulated bridging, Octane is cheaper.
Final Verdict: Is Octane Capital Bridging Finance Worth It?
Octane Capital is the right lender in one specific situation: your deal needs bespoke underwriting — 100% of refurbishment costs, an offshore entity structure, or a deal that standard lenders are declining on structure rather than credit.
If your deal is a standard investment bridge with a clean borrower profile, Precise Mortgages (from 0.57%/month) is materially cheaper and should be your first call. On a £500,000 12-month bridge, the rate gap is £8,000 in interest.
The BBR-linked pricing model is worth understanding before you commit. In a falling rate environment this is an advantage; in a rising one it adds cost. Confirm your DIP rate before committing to a transaction.
If you are comparing Octane to a fixed-rate lender over 12 months and the base rate moves 0.5%, your total cost on a £500,000 bridge shifts by £2,500. That is material over a longer bridge term.
The diagnostic question: is your deal complex enough to benefit from Octane’s product-less model, or is it a standard investment bridge where a cheaper rate-card lender will do the job?
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the minimum loan for Octane Capital bridging?
The minimum loan for standard bridging and refurbishment is £175,000. The developer exit product has a higher minimum of £250,000. Octane does not offer small bridging loans below these thresholds.
Does Octane Capital offer regulated bridging?
No. Octane Capital only offers unregulated bridging loans for investment and commercial purposes. If you or a family member will live in the security property, you need a regulated bridging lender such as Shawbrook, Precise Mortgages, or Together.
Can you apply directly to Octane Capital?
No. Octane Capital is broker-only. Borrowers cannot apply directly. You will need to use a specialist commercial finance broker to submit an enquiry and receive a Decision in Principle.
What does BBR-linked mean for Octane Capital bridging rates?
BBR-linked means the interest rate on your Octane bridging loan is linked to the Bank of England base rate. If the base rate falls, your rate falls. If it rises, your rate rises. As of May 2026, rates start from 0.73%/month. This differs from fixed-rate bridging, where the rate is set at drawdown and does not change during the loan term.
How long does Octane Capital take to complete a bridging loan?
Standard completion is 7–14 working days. Octane has completed complex multi-million-pound loans in as little as 4–8 working days for time-critical cases. The Decision in Principle is typically issued within 2 hours of broker submission.
Does Octane Capital lend to foreign nationals and offshore companies?
Yes. Octane Capital accepts applications from foreign nationals, expats, offshore companies, and complex trust structures. This is one of Octane’s key differentiators from more mainstream specialist lenders. Additional AML and KYC documentation will be required for these cases.
Methodology and Disclosure
How we reviewed Octane Capital Bridging Loans
What we assessed. We evaluated Octane Capital bridging loans on rates, LTV, fees, eligibility, deal complexity capacity, application process, completion times, and customer reviews.
We focused particularly on the product-less underwriting model, the BBR-linked rate structure, the refurbishment product’s 100% works cost funding, and how Octane compares to Precise and Together for standard investment cases.
Data sources. We verified rates and product terms from Octane Capital’s website, their November 2025 product guide via broker packaging sites, and published news in May 2026. We verified £250 million record lending and 75% LTV product launches from Octane’s own announcements.
We checked Trustpilot (4.7/5, 150 reviews) as at May 2026. We verified the FCA register for Aldermore Bank PLC (FRN 204503). We reviewed broker profile pages and case studies for eligibility corroboration.
Update cadence. We re-verify rates and eligibility on this page at least quarterly. We have no affiliate relationship with Octane Capital that affects our editorial assessment. See our editorial policy.