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Commercial Mortgages for Brokers

If your client needs a commercial mortgage, they need absolute certainty.

We arrange commercial mortgages for owner-occupiers and investors across trading businesses, semi-commercial property, and mixed-use portfolios.

With access to a wide lender panel, including exclusive rates – we know how each lender views affordability, DSCR, lease profiles and trading performance. Being clever means always placing deals where they fit.

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For brokers and introducers. We partner with advisers on their clients’ cases. Looking for finance yourself? See our commercial mortgages page.

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Clever Lending Team

What Makes Us So Clever?

We don’t just “find rates.” We navigate the entire process for you. So, if your client is purchasing new premises, refinancing to release equity, or switching from a short-term bridging loan, we will find you the best possible terms structured around the lease, the cash flow and your client’s long-term strategy.

Commercial Mortgage Overview

Access to exclusive, market leading rates
Loans up to £25m+
Up to 75% LTV (higher considered with additional security)
Freehold and long leasehold property considered
Owner-occupier and investment accepted
Flexible repayment terms up to 25 years
Interest-only or capital-and-interest options
Trading business, semi-commercial and mixed-use property accepted
SPVs, LLPs, LTDs and sole traders considered
Expat and foreign national borrowing available
Lending across England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland
No exit fees with most lenders
Refinance, acquisition and capital-raise cases accepted
Commercial Mortgages

How Clever Lending Handles a Commercial Mortgage Case

Typical Timings: Straightforward commercial mortgage cases usually complete within 10-14 weeks, depending on valuation, legals and lease review.

We’ll always give you realistic dates at the start and update you as soon as anything changes.

Same-Day Sense Check

Send the outline: property and security, amount and leverage, timescale, exit, and any quirks and we will come back within 24 working hours with target lenders and the likely structure.

Lender-Specific Pack List

One checklist per lender and no blanket uploads, which means fewer re-underwrites.

DIP → Valuation → Offer

We request the signed Decision in Principle (DIP), instruct valuation as soon as the pack lands, and set out conditions in clear terms you can forward to your client.

Legals & Completion

We keep legals progressing and update you at every stage. If a date shifts, you’ll hear it from us first (along with a new date).

What To Have Ready

To help us assess quickly, line up the key details and documents early.
Here’s what we’ll need to sense-check your commercial mortgage case and get it lender-ready.

Core Details:

  • Property address and security type
  • Loan amount, term and purpose
  • Purchase price or current valuation
  • Lease term or trading accounts summary
  • Borrower background and entity type
  • Tenancy schedule (if investment)

Documents:

  • ID and proof of address for all applicants
  • Business bank statements (3–6 months)
  • Latest company accounts or SA302s
  • Copy of lease / draft lease heads
  • Existing mortgage statements (if applicable)
  • Valuation access contact

Commercial Mortgage Case Studies

Refinancing a Commercial Property: Your Options and the Right Timing

Owning a commercial property is not a set-and-forget decision. The mortgage you...

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What Commercial Mortgage Lenders Look For: How to Get Your Deal Approved

You have found the property, you have a rough idea of the...

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Semi-Commercial Mortgages: Funding Mixed-Use Property

Semi-commercial mortgages are built for property that is part business and part...

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Speak to Someone Clever About Commercial Mortgages

Refer your case, and we’ll come back within 24 working hours with a realistic route and a clear list of what we need to issue formal terms. If, for whatever reason, the case doesn’t fit, we will tell you immediately and explain exactly why.

There are no fees payable until we have a solution, and you will always speak to an advisor, not to a triage team passing you on. We believe in speaking to an expert from the start.

Call 0800 316 2224 Request A Callback
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Commercial Mortgage FAQs

Most commercial mortgages complete within 2-4 months from start to finish. Timescales depend on the property, the valuation and legal process, as well as how quickly the required documents are provided.
Yes. We structure affordability based on trading performance and realistic projections.
Yes. Where we arrange the bridging loan, we will assess affordability at the outset to ensure the refinance onto a commercial mortgage is viable, and the transition runs smoothly.
For investments, it’s DSCR based on passing rent and interest assumptions. For owner-occupiers, it’s EBITDA or adjusted net profit, plus projected serviceability.
We have lenders that will lend to both SPVs and trading companies. We ensure we find the best lender for your client.
This depends on the lender, but in general, a longer unexpired lease is more favourable. Lenders will look at the full picture, including the remaining term, any break clauses, tenant quality, rental income and location.
Not necessarily. This depends on the property, the improvement works required, and how long those works will take. In some cases, a bridging loan may be used to complete the upgrades before refinancing onto a commercial term mortgage.
Sometimes. It depends on how long is left on the lease and the lender’s comfort level.
Yes, subject to the purpose of the capital raise and lender policy. We’ll assess your client’s plans and identify which lenders are most likely to support the raise.
Commercial mortgage procuration fees typically range from 0.5 to 1% of loan, paid on completion, with some lenders paying up to 1.5% on complex or larger cases. We disclose the proc fee on each indicative terms sheet so brokers can structure client fees transparently. Payment is made on the day funds release, direct to the introducing broker.
Standard packaging includes a fact-find, borrower or director ID, two to three years of company accounts (plus year-to-date management accounts), the lease or lease heads of terms, an asset and liability statement, and the exit or business plan. Investment cases need tenant schedules and rent demands. Owner-occupier cases need EBITDA workings. We issue lender-specific pack lists at the terms stage.
Most commercial mortgage cases take 10 to 14 weeks from full submission to completion. The biggest variables are valuation lead time (3 to 6 weeks for complex investments), legal review of leases and title, and tenant referencing on investment cases. We sequence valuation and legals in parallel where possible to keep the timeline as tight as it can sensibly be.
Most mainstream commercial lenders apply MEES rules and won't fund a non-compliant property without a clear remediation plan. A handful of specialist lenders will fund sub-E properties on the basis that improvements will be carried out post-completion, sometimes with a retention held back. The lettable rating differs from residential, so check the asset's commercial EPC band carefully.
Yes, but lenders typically want the unexpired lease term to be at least 25 to 30 years longer than the mortgage term. Below that, the options narrow and pricing reflects the residual lease risk. Where a short lease can be extended pre or post-completion, we'll package the deal around the extension timetable to maximise the lender pool.
Investment commercial mortgages are sized to a Debt Service Coverage Ratio (net rental income divided by debt service) of typically 130 to 150%. Owner-occupier deals are stressed on business EBITDA rather than DSCR, usually requiring 1.5 to 2 times coverage. The stressed rate used (pay rate or revert rate, plus margin) materially affects how much your client can borrow.
Yes. Bridge-to-term commercial refinancing is a high-volume route. The bridge typically funds acquisition (speed, unmortgageable property, vacant possession), then the commercial mortgage refinances onto longer-term debt once income or works are in place. We model the take-out at the bridge stage so the timeline and exit are aligned from day one.
Owner-occupier mortgages are underwritten against the trading business, typically using two to three years of accounts, year-to-date management accounts, sector experience and the strategic rationale for buying versus leasing. Sectors with predictable income (healthcare, education, professional services) attract better terms than discretionary retail or hospitality. We match the sector to lender appetite at submission.
Yes. Equity release or capital raise against unencumbered or low-LTV commercial property is straightforward when the purpose is business-related (acquisition, working capital, second property purchase). Lenders usually want the purpose documented in writing. Capital-raising for personal use against commercial property is more restricted. Semi-commercial security with a residential element opens additional options.

More process and commercial questions, covering referrals, packaging, fees and payment, are answered in our broker FAQs.

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