A commercial bridging loan is short-term borrowing secured against commercial or mixed-use property, used to cover a gap until a defined event repays it — typically a sale or a refinance onto longer-term funding. Terms are measured in months rather than years, and the cost is higher than mainstream lending.
It is used where speed or timing is the obstacle. Common examples include completing a purchase before an existing property sells, buying at auction where completion deadlines are tight, or funding refurbishment so a building meets a mainstream lender’s requirements.
The lender’s main focus is the property and the exit rather than years of trading history. That is what allows bridging to move faster than a commercial mortgage, and it is also why the property carries so much of the risk.
If the loan is not repaid, the lender can enforce its security and sell the property. Where directors have given personal guarantees, they are personally liable for any shortfall. Bridging should only be used where you have a realistic route to repay.