Specialist lender Glenhawk has provided £1.4 million in bridging finance to Dutch property investors acquiring a farmhouse and holiday let cottage complex in Bristol. The facility was arranged through broker Portway Finance and structured at 75% loan-to-purchase-price.
The transaction enabled the investors to proceed quickly after a previous property purchase fell through. Callum Taylor and the team at Portway Finance introduced the deal, while Glenhawk’s underwriter Loulou Rich and senior business development manager Peter Turner managed the case.
Complex ownership structure
The transaction presented several challenges during underwriting and legal processes. The borrowing special purpose vehicle was owned through three offshore companies, adding layers of complexity to the structure. An overage deed also emerged during the latter stages of legal work.
The lender worked with Portway Finance, legal representatives and other parties to address structural and legal issues while maintaining the completion timeline. The case reflects broader trends in specialist finance, as regulatory changes continue to reshape lending requirements across the property sector.
Bridging finance market activity
Glenhawk provides short-term property finance across residential, commercial and investment transactions, focusing on cases requiring flexible underwriting approaches.
Peter Turner, senior business development manager at Glenhawk, said: “This deal had it all: a complex borrower profile, a specialist property and a number of moving parts throughout the process. It highlights how important it is to take a commercial and solutions-focused approach when challenges arise later in a transaction.”
Callum Taylor, chief executive officer at Portway Finance, commented on the lender’s approach to challenging cases: “Having worked with Glenhawk for many years, I’ve always admired their proactive and practical approach to more complex transactions. No challenge ever seems too difficult to work through, and this deal was a strong example of that mindset in practice.”
The completion of this facility demonstrates continued appetite among international investors for UK holiday let properties, despite recent regulatory scrutiny of short-term letting arrangements in various UK regions. The bridging finance sector has seen increased activity in recent months as investors seek alternatives to traditional mortgage products for time-sensitive acquisitions.
