New Light Renovation Product Range
Why Light Renovation Matters for Brokers
Many renovation cases fall into a gap between what mainstream lenders can support and what heavier-duty renovation or bridging products are designed for. When a property is missing a working kitchen or bathroom, or requires non-structural improvements before it is considered habitable, brokers often find their clients pushed towards short-term bridging – even when the project doesn’t justify the cost or the pressure of a 12-month repayment term.
This has left a clear need for a product that can fund “doer-upper” properties that are wind and watertight but not mortgage-ready – without forcing clients into inappropriate short-term finance.
Introducing BuildLoan’s Light Renovation Range
BuildLoan has launched a new Light Renovation range to give brokers a straightforward way to support clients buying or remortgaging a property that needs non-structural work before it can become mortgageable. The range is designed to bridge the gap between standard residential mortgages, bridging loans and full renovation finance, offering borrrowing that reflects the scope of the improvement work rather than the property’s current condition.
Clients can borrow up to 85% of the purchase price or value, plus up to 100% of the renovation costs, with funds released in stages as the renovation progresses. Unlike valuation-based stage payments, BuildLoan uses a professional build cost assessment to align funding with actual project costs, removing the risks of down-valuations affecting cashflow or delaying work.
Which Projects Fit?
The range is suitable where:
- The property is wind and watertight
- Proposed works are non-structural
- No full planning permission is required
- The build period is relatively short and focused on improvement rather than major reconfiguration
Typical projects include kitchen and bathroom replacement, rewiring, heating upgrades, insulation improvements, roof repairs, or internal layout changes that only require Building Regulations approval.
Why This Helps Brokers Deliver Better Outcomes
Light renovation has been an underserved part of the market. Many products cater for major structural works, leaving clients with limited options for smaller but still essential improvements that render the property unmortgageable at the outset. By combining stage-released funding with a simplified application and costings process, BuildLoan gives brokers a practical alternative to bridging – one that better matches the nature of light renovation projects and reduced risk for both client and adviser.
The range has been developed with several lender partners, including Stafford for Intermediaries, Chorley Building Society and Furness Building Society, expanding the number of suitable options brokers can access.
Specialist Support Throughout the Project
With more than 20 years of stage payment expertise, BuildLoan supports brokers with project assessment, cost checks and cashflow forecasting to ensure the renovation is properly funded from start to finish. The structure helps avoid delays, improves certainty for the client, and gives advisers confidence that the funding aligns with the planned work.
What This Means for Your Clients
For clients buying an unmortgageable property, or homeowners improving what they already own, the Light Renovation range provides a clear and manageable funding route. Instead of relying on savings or short-term finance, funding is tied directly to the progression of the renovation – helping ensure the work can move forward without unnecessary interruption.
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The activities carried out by BuildLoan are not regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority.