How Fast Can You Actually Get Bridging Finance? UK Completion Times Explained

Time is the great enemy of property deals. You've found the perfect investment property. The seller's motivated. The price is right. And then... you wait. You wait for mortgage approvals. You wait for valuations. You wait for underwriters who've gone on holiday. And while you're waiting, someone else swoops in with cash and takes your deal.

This is where bridging finance earns its keep. Because when everyone else is talking in weeks and months, bridging lenders are talking in days.

But how fast is "fast," really? And more importantly, what actually determines whether your deal completes in 10 days or drags on for 8 weeks?

Let's break it down properly, because there's a big difference between what's theoretically possible and what actually happens in the real world.

The Reality: Completion Times Have Dropped Dramatically

First, the good news. The bridging market has become ruthlessly efficient over the past few years. According to the latest industry data, the average completion time for bridging loans in the UK has dropped from 58 days in 2023 to just 47 days in 2024. That's a 23% improvement in a single year.

And here's the thing: that's the average. Which means plenty of deals are completing much faster, often in under two weeks when everything lines up.

Compare that to a standard mortgage, which takes a minimum of 8-12 weeks even when there are no complications. Some mortgage applications drag on for 16+ weeks. By the time you've completed, the market's moved, the opportunity's gone, and you're left wondering what could have been.

Bridging finance, done right, operates on a completely different timeline. But "done right" is doing a lot of heavy lifting in that sentence.

What's the Fastest Possible Timeline?

In absolute best-case scenarios—where the stars align, the property's straightforward, and everyone involved knows what they're doing—bridging loans can complete in as little as 7-10 days.

We're talking:

• Clean legal title
• No valuation surprises
• All your paperwork ready to go
• Responsive solicitors on both sides
• Standard residential property
• Clear exit strategy backed by solid evidence

Does this happen often? No. But it happens often enough that it's worth mentioning, because when you really need speed—maybe you're about to lose an auction property or a chain break is threatening a six-figure opportunity—it's achievable.

More realistically, most straightforward bridging deals complete within 2-3 weeks. That's still lightning fast compared to traditional finance.

The Typical Timeline: What to Expect

Let's walk through a normal bridging application timeline, so you know what you're dealing with.

Days 1-2: Initial Enquiry and Indicative Offer

You contact a bridging lender with your property details, loan amount, and exit strategy. Within 24-48 hours, you'll get an indicative offer: interest rate, fees, LTV, and whether they're willing to lend in principle.

This isn't a formal offer yet, but it tells you whether the deal's viable and gives you enough information to decide if you want to proceed.

Days 3-5: Formal Application and Documentation

You submit your full application with supporting documents:

• ID and proof of address
• Proof of deposit/funds
• Property details and purchase info
• Evidence of your exit strategy (mortgage in principle, estate agent valuations, etc.)

How quickly you can pull this together makes a massive difference. Have everything organised in advance and you'll shave days off the timeline.

Days 6-10: Valuation

The lender arranges for a surveyor to value the property. In a perfect world, this happens within 48 hours and the report comes back clean. In practice, it depends on surveyor availability and how complex the property is.

Standard residential properties in accessible locations? Quick. Listed buildings in rural Scotland requiring a specialist surveyor? Not so quick.

Days 11-14: Underwriting and Formal Offer

The lender's underwriting team reviews everything—the valuation, your documents, the exit strategy—and makes a final decision. If everything checks out, you get a formal loan offer with full terms and conditions.

Days 15-21: Legal Work

Your solicitor and the lender's solicitor handle the legal documentation and security arrangements. This is often the bottleneck. Responsive solicitors who specialise in bridging can turn this around in a few days. Generalist solicitors who treat it like a standard conveyancing job? Weeks.

Day 21-28: Completion

Once all the legal work is done and signed off, funds are released and the deal completes.

So there's your typical timeline: somewhere between 3-4 weeks for a straightforward case, assuming no major complications.

What Makes Some Deals Faster Than Others?

Not all bridging applications are created equal. Some sail through in 10 days. Others take 6+ weeks. What's the difference?

1. How Organised You Are

This is the single biggest factor you control. If you submit a complete application with all documents ready, you'll move fast. If the lender has to chase you for missing paperwork, you'll move slow.

Have ready:

• ID documents (passport, driving licence)
• Proof of address (recent utility bills, bank statements)
• Proof of deposit funds (bank statements showing the money)
• Property details (purchase contract, estate agent details, floorplans)
• Exit strategy evidence (mortgage in principle, estate agent letters, comparable sales)

The more complete your application, the faster it moves.

2. Property Type and Condition

A standard three-bed semi in a normal residential area will value quickly and move through underwriting without drama.

A Grade II listed farmhouse conversion with agricultural ties and a quirky layout? That'll need a specialist valuer, more detailed underwriting, and likely more questions from the legal team.

Commercial properties, development sites, and anything non-standard will add time to the process.

3. Your Exit Strategy

A clear, well-evidenced exit strategy speeds things up. If you've got a mortgage in principle from a mainstream lender, estate agent comparables showing realistic sale prices, and a sensible timeline, underwriters can assess quickly.

A vague exit strategy—"I'll probably refinance at some point"—creates questions, delays, and sometimes outright rejections.

4. Valuation Turnaround

You can't control surveyor availability, but you can influence it. Properties in high-demand areas with lots of surveyors nearby? Quick valuations. Remote locations with limited surveyors? Slower.

If time really matters, choosing a property in an accessible location helps.

5. Solicitor Speed

This is huge. Bridging-specialist solicitors understand the urgency and know the process inside out. They'll turn around legal work in 3-5 days.

A general conveyancing solicitor who's never handled bridging before? They'll treat it like a standard property purchase, which means 2-3 weeks of legal work instead of a few days.

Pro tip: Ask your lender for solicitor recommendations. They'll point you toward firms that move fast.

6. Lender Efficiency

Not all bridging lenders operate at the same speed. Some have streamlined underwriting processes and dedicated teams. Others are slower and more bureaucratic.

At Black Props, we've built our reputation on speed. We know that when someone needs bridging finance, they need it now—not in 6 weeks. Our average completion time sits well below the market average because we've designed our processes to move quickly without cutting corners.

What Can Slow Things Down (And How to Avoid It)?

Even the best-laid plans can hit snags. Here are the common delays and how to sidestep them:

Missing Documents

The lender asks for proof of funds. You take three days to find your bank statements. They ask for an updated ID. You're away on holiday. Each delay compounds.

Solution: Have everything ready before you even make your first enquiry. Seriously—assume you'll need every document and have digital copies ready to go.

Valuation Issues

The surveyor spots issues with the property that weren't disclosed. Maybe there's Japanese knotweed, structural concerns, or planning violations. Now you're negotiating with the seller and getting quotes for remedial work.

Solution: Do your due diligence upfront. If you know there are issues, be transparent about them from the start so they can be factored into the valuation and offer.

Legal Complications

The property has a complicated lease structure, unclear boundaries, or restrictive covenants that need reviewing. Each one adds time to the legal process.

Solution: Get a basic legal overview before you commit. If you know the title is messy, build that into your timeline expectations.

Weak Exit Strategy

You tell the lender you'll "probably sell" but haven't got any evidence. The underwriter comes back with questions. You scramble to get estate agent letters. More delays.

Solution: Line up your exit evidence before you apply. Get a mortgage in principle, estate agent valuations, whatever you need to prove your exit is realistic.

How to Speed Up Your Bridging Application

Here are some tips to speed up your bridging application:

• Submit a complete application with all documents ready
• Choose a property in an accessible location
• Get a bridging-specialist solicitor
• Select a lender known for efficiency
• Have a clear and well-evidenced exit strategy

By following these tips, you can significantly reduce the time it takes to get your bridging finance.

So, How Fast Can You Really Get Bridging Finance?

Let's summarise:

• Absolute fastest (rare): 7-10 days for perfect scenarios
• Realistically fast (common): 14-21 days for well-prepared applications
• Average (typical): 3-4 weeks for standard cases
• Slower (complications): 5-8 weeks when issues arise

Compare that to mortgages at 8-16 weeks minimum, and the advantage is clear.

The key takeaway? Speed isn't just about the lender. It's about you. Come prepared, organised, and with a clear exit strategy, and you'll move fast. Turn up unprepared with a vague plan and missing documents, and even the fastest lender in the world can't help you.

At Black Props, we've seen both extremes. The investors who treat bridging applications like a military operation complete quickly and rarely hit snags. The ones who wing it? They don't.

If you need finance fast, make sure you're bringing the same urgency to your preparation. Because in property, speed isn't just an advantage—it's often the difference between winning and losing.