prabhuFinding the right financing for commercial property investments requires expertise and market knowledge that goes beyond traditional lending approaches. The best commercial mortgages are often offered by brokers, not banks, as these specialists maintain relationships with multiple lenders and understand complex deal structures.
In 2025 commercial mortgage brokers provide invaluable access to flexible solutions, competitive rates, and flexible terms that match specific business needs. From first-time investors to seasoned developers, choosing the right broker can make the difference between securing optimal financing and settling for substandard terms.
1. KIS Finance
KIS Finance commercial mortgages are considered one of the best in the UK market. Their commercial mortgage offerings include loans from £100,000 to £250 million, making them suitable for both small business purchases and large-scale commercial investment .
Loan Amounts: KIS Finance provides commercial mortgages starting from £100,000 with no upper limit specified, though they advertise facilities up to £250 million . They maintain an extensive range of specialist facilities for commercial mortgages exceeding £1 million .
Repayment Terms: The company offers flexible repayment terms ranging from 3 to 30 years, enabled by their extensive panel of lenders. This flexibility allows businesses to structure payments according to their cash flow requirements and business projections.
Loan-to-Value Ratios: KIS Finance can arrange 100% commercial mortgages, though this typically requires additional securit . Without additional security, the standard loan-to-value ratio is limited to a maximum of 75%.
Property Types: Their commercial mortgage services cover owner-occupied commercial properties, commercial buy-to-let investments, and residential properties intended for rental purposes, particularly for professional landlords with large portfolios or buy-to-let limited companies.
Interest Rate Options: The broker offers both variable and fixed rate options . Variable rates typically follow the Bank of England’s base rate or LIBOR, while fixed rates can be secured for periods up to 10 years. They also provide interest-only mortgage options and cap-and-collar arrangements for businesses seeking rate protection
2. John Charcol
John Charcol provides commercial mortgage services through their partnership with Propp, a specialist commercial mortgage broker, giving clients access to a broader range of lenders and competitive rates. The company leverages over 50 years of experience and relationships with more than 120 lender networks.
Property Coverage: John Charcol arranges commercial mortgages for diverse property types including office buildings, warehouses, shopping centers, care homes, dental and medical surgeries, veterinary practices, pharmacies, blocks of flats, hotels, and agricultural land.
Current Market Rates: Commercial mortgage rates fluctuate between 6% and 12%, depending on the loan size and complexity, with investment properties typically carrying higher rates due to perceived increased risk. The company emphasizes that 2025 presents favorable conditions for commercial mortgage applications with improving rates.
Borrower Categories: John Charcol serves business owner-occupiers purchasing trading premises, commercial property investors, residential property investors buying multi-unit freehold blocks, and property owners with varied portfolios seeking remortgage solutions.
Rate Structure: The company offers both fixed and variable commercial mortgage rates. Fixed rates remain constant throughout the agreed term and can be secured from 2 years up to the full mortgage term, while variable rates fluctuate based on benchmarks like the Bank of England Base Rate or LIBOR.
Application Process: John Charcol follows an 8-step process including initial consultation, decision in principle, property offer, application submission, lender underwriting, mortgage offer, conveyancing, and completion. The typical timeframe ranges from 8 to 18 weeks
3. Fox Davidson
Fox Davidson specializes in commercial mortgages for business premises, working with SMEs and larger corporations across all industry sectors from aerospace to transport and offices . The Bristol-based broker has won multiple awards, including Financial Company of the Year at the 2020 Bristol Property Awards.
Loan Ranges: Fox Davidson arranges commercial mortgages for business premises from £100,000 with no specified upper limit. They work with both small and medium enterprises as well as multinational corporations.
Lending Terms: The company typically offers up to 80% loan-to-value ratios for business premises finance. They provide both interest-only and capital-and-interest repayment options, along with fixed and variable rate structures.
Flexible Options: Fox Davidson can arrange mortgages with no early repayment charge options and 0% arrangement fee options, depending on the lender and specific circumstances.
Lender Network: The broker works with private banks, high street commercial banks, building societies, and challenger bank . They specialize in presenting applications in the most favorable light to ensure lender approval and negotiate optimal terms.
Risk Assessment: Commercial lenders consider multiple factors when setting interest rates, including loan-to-value ratios, loan size, business strength, and additional banking opportunities such as invoice finance and overdraft facilities.
4. Mortgage Finance Brokers
Following a rebrand in January 2024, Mortgage Finance Brokers (MFB) represents the evolution of Mortgages for Business after 32 years in the commercial mortgage sector. The company is a founder member of the National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers.
Commercial Focus: While originally focused on commercial mortgages, MFB now provides a diverse range of services including buy-to-let mortgages for individuals and limited companies, commercial mortgages for owner-occupiers and investors, and development finance.
Specialized Properties: The company arranges mortgages for HMOs, MUFBs (Multi-Unit Freehold Blocks), holiday lets, student accommodation, and various commercial property types.
Complex Lending: MFB excels in complex lending scenarios, working with clients who have non-standard income, adverse credit, or unique property types, leveraging longstanding relationships with leading commercial mortgage lenders.
5. AS Financial
AS Financial operates as a London-based mortgage adviser specializing in complex funding requirements for high-net-worth clients, property developers, and business owners. The company provides access to the full UK lending market for commercial property transactions.
Target Market: AS Financial focuses on discerning clients requiring sophisticated financing solutions, including individuals, limited companies, and special-purpose vehicles seeking commercial property finance.
Personalized Approach: The company offers bespoke mortgage arrangements designed around specific client circumstances and requirements, providing access to both mainstream lending institutions and private banks.
Complex Scenarios: AS Financial specializes in non-standard income streams and unique financial profiles, offering solutions that wouldn’t be available through traditional routes.
6. Private Finance
Private Finance, established in 1999 and based at 29 Lincolns Inn Fields, London, operates as an award-winning independent mortgage broker with over 25 years of experience in arranging complex commercial mortgage solutions.
Lender Network: Private Finance works with over 175 different lenders, including mainstream banks, private banks, specialist lenders, and institutions without consumer-facing presence. This extensive network includes small building societies to global banking brands.
Specialization: The company excels in high-value and complex commercial mortgages, serving high-net-worth clients with unique financial circumstances or non-standard requirements.
London Expertise: With over 25 years of experience, Private Finance has developed particular expertise in addressing the complex requirements of London commercial mortgages.
7. Funding Focus
Funding Focus specializes in high-value commercial mortgage transactions, positioning itself as a specialist in large-scale deals and complex financing structures for substantial commercial property investments.
Transaction Range: Funding Focus handles commercial mortgage transactions ranging between £300,000 and £500 million, with the capability to arrange financing beyond these limits in exceptional circumstances.
Full Purchase Financing: The company can arrange up to 100% of purchase price financing with the benefit of supporting security, making it attractive for leveraged commercial property investments.
Bespoke Approach: Unlike standardized residential mortgages, Funding Focus treats each commercial mortgage as a bespoke transaction, with lending amounts based on the strength of individual proposals rather than standard criteria.
Property Types: The firm provides mortgages for both business premises (owner-occupier) and commercial investment properties, including mixed-use and semi-commercial properties
8. Swoop
Swoop operates as a technology-driven business finance platform that expanded into commercial mortgages in 2020 with the appointment of commercial mortgage expert Ian Boden. The platform combines technology with experienced advisors to streamline the commercial mortgage process.
Expert Team: Swoop’s commercial mortgage team averages 15 years of experience across banks and brokerages. The team includes specialists in property-backed trading businesses, portfolio lending, and care market financing.
Deposit and Terms: Swoop typically arranges commercial mortgages with deposit levels between 20-40% and terms up to 30 years. Interest rates generally range between 2.5-6%, with both fixed and variable rate options available.
Technology Integration: The platform uses matching technology to connect businesses with suitable lenders and provides commercial mortgage calculators and risk assessment tools. This technology-driven approach aims to reduce application time and improve approval rates.
Service Range: Beyond commercial mortgages, Swoop provides access to development finance, bridging loans, and comprehensive business finance solutions through their network of over 1,000 mainstream banks and alternative lending providers.
Customer Satisfaction: Swoop maintains a 4.9 out of 5 rating on Trustpilot, with customers frequently praising the platform’s ease of use, speed of service, and knowledgeable team support .8
Summary
The UK’s commercial property financing market offers numerous opportunities for businesses and investors seeking optimal funding solutions. While KIS Finance is considered the best commercial mortgage broker due to their independent status, extensive lender panel, and ability to arrange mortgages up to £250 million, there are many other companies which are competitive in delivering exceptional service and results.
From John Charcol’s five decades of market experience to Swoop’s innovative approach with highly-rated client reviews, the best commercial mortgage brokers each bring unique strengths to the table. Whether you require complex buy-to-let financing, high-value transactions, or specialized owner-occupier solutions, these leading brokers provide the expertise and lender relationships necessary to secure competitive terms that support your business objectives and long-term growth strategy.
