Understand UK commercial mortgages before you commit to a property or refinance. Compare borrowing, deposits, lender tests, documents, valuation, legal security and repayment choices, then open the guide that matches your next decision.
Start with the decision in front of you
A commercial mortgage is borrowing secured against property used for business or investment. The right route depends on the property, deposit or equity, affordability evidence, borrower, lease and intended use. Use this hub to understand the next decision, prepare a clearer case and find the guide that answers your question.
From initial facts to an existing loan
You do not need every answer before speaking to an adviser. You do need a clear account of the property, transaction, money available and timescale. These five stages show where different questions usually arise.
Set out whether you are buying or refinancing, the price or value, property use, loan required and deadline.
Consider cash or equity, rent or trading income, existing borrowing, likely costs and repayment pressure.
Accounts, bank statements, tax records, leases, property details and a business plan may be relevant to the case.
Valuation, title, searches, legal security, lender conditions and insurance can all affect completion.
Keep track of repayments, covenants, consent requirements, refinance options and the maturity date.
Choose the route that fits the property
The same property can be assessed differently depending on who will occupy it, how income is generated and whether the borrowing is for a purchase or an existing loan.
Start with the trading business, property use, deposit, accounts and how the proposed repayments would be supported.
Owner-occupied commercial mortgagesConsider the lease, tenant, rental income, property type, deposit and how the investment would perform if circumstances changed.
Commercial buy-to-let mortgagesIdentify the current balance, repayment terms, property value, reason for refinancing, deadline and any lender or maturity pressure.
Commercial remortgagingFind the answer you need
Choose the question closest to your situation. Each link opens a focused guide so you can keep this decision map available while you read.
Use these guides when you are testing whether the numbers may work before making an offer or approaching a lender.
Start here when the borrower, business history, credit record or ownership structure needs closer explanation.
Use these guides to prepare evidence, understand the process and compare a property-backed loan with other routes.
These guides cover the work between offer and completion and the decisions that arise while a commercial mortgage is running.
Navigation reviewed: 16 August 2026. These links cover 31 distinct commercial mortgage questions. Lender criteria, legal requirements, property suitability and individual outcomes remain case-specific.
Straight answers before you enquire
These concise answers explain the common starting points. The linked guides above provide the detail needed for each decision.
A commercial mortgage is a loan secured against property used wholly or partly for business or investment purposes. The lender assesses the property, borrower, purpose and proposed repayment route rather than relying on a standard residential affordability model.
There is no single deposit percentage for every case. The amount depends on the property, business or rental evidence, borrower experience, credit profile and lender appetite, with fees and taxes normally funded separately.
Borrowing may be limited by both the lender's loan-to-value ceiling and the income available to support repayments. Trading profit, rent, existing debt, property condition, lease terms and the proposed mortgage term can all affect the result.
A lender may request accounts, bank statements, tax documents, identification, proof of deposit, property details, leases, tenancy information and a business plan or forecast. The exact evidence depends on the borrower and transaction.
Timing varies with the application, valuation, legal work, searches, lender conditions and responsiveness of everyone involved. A property or title issue, incomplete evidence or a short deadline can materially change the timetable.
No. A broker can help assess the facts, identify suitable routes and present the case, but the lender decides whether to issue an offer and may apply conditions after underwriting, valuation and legal review.
Prepare a useful first conversation
A concise first enquiry helps an adviser understand the route and identify obvious evidence gaps. Do not send passwords or original identity documents through an initial enquiry form.
New and recently reviewed
The newest articles appear below. Use the decision map above when you need a particular answer rather than the most recent publication.
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A practical UK guide to when commercial mortgage lenders may request personal guarantees, the clauses directors should understand and the questions to take to a solicitor.
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