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Auction Borrowing Criteria

auction finance criteria

What must I have to qualify for Auction Finance?

Purchasing property at an auction means working under time constraints with no time for errors. There are various checks carried out by the lender when assessing auction finance, so our aim is to make you are aware of what you need prior to making an offer for the auction.

Being compliant with the auction finance terms in advance means eliminating risks, improving chances of successful completion, and safeguarding your deposit. When buying, auction buyers sign the contract immediately hence being prepared is vastly important


What counts as auction finance criteria?

Security

As a backing to secure the loan, you may pledge property, which could include homes, commercial property, or even land, depending on what the financial institution may finance.

Exit or repayment plan

An executable and believable exit strategy is necessary. Typically, this details repayment of the loan, whether through the sale of the asset or refinance after project completion. Ambiguity in exit strategy is a serious concern and the biggest cause for the failure of an application for a loan.

LTV - Loan-to-value

Normally, the lender will finance a percentage of up to 70-75% of the property’s value with regard to the price offered at the auction. This final amount will be the lowest between the price of purchase or the value of the property. The lower the percentage of the total value of the property allowed to be financed by the lender, the simpler the repayment terms.

Credit profile

As the loan approval will be decided on the asset as opposed to one’s credit history, this means that your conventional credit scoring is not the principal barrier - but - issues such as poor credit and payment defaults might still sway charges for higher premiums, penalties, or terms that would-be more favorable to the lender, than to you.

Typical auction finance qualifying criteria

Criteria Factor Typical Requirement
Lending amount starts from:
£100,000
Length needed:
1 to 24 Months
Locality:
England Wales, and Scotland (dependent on individual case checks).
Security type:
May be residential homes, property used for businesses, land, and developments.
Applicant age:
Must be 18 years or older. Some lenders may require 21 years or older however.
Residency status:
Prior preference given to UK residents, but offshore opportunities may be available
‘Exit strategy’:
Should be well-articulated and realistic

For an initial assessment of your enquiry, all we need initially is:

Estimated value of property

Type of property and location

Amount required and how long for

How you plan to repay the loan

What the lender cares about

The lenders who finance auction purchases think about risk in a way that differs from lenders for regular mortgages. They know the importance of the speed that auction buyers need, but they still perform thorough checks.

The points they consider are primarily:

  •  Comparison of the hammer price to open market valuation
  •  The condition of the property at the time of sale
  •  Whether the auction sale is unconditional
  •  Strength and quality of the exit strategy
  •  The deadline for completion set by the auction
  • Whether the loan is a first charge or second charge

Some lenders are quite open about credit history, while the focus of others is solely on the asset and the exit strategy. We utilise a group of specialist lenders to find the best fit based on your circumstances.

auction finance lender
auction finance documents and requirements

Information to be obtained during initial evaluation

To check your eligibility and give you a rapid assessment, we usually need:

  • Estimated auction property value, including type of building and location
  • Buying price and the deposit you can provide             
  • Identity certificate and address certificate
  • Auction legal pack or key extracts
  • Details regarding the security property and evidence supporting your exit plan
  • Accounts for the company, if you are borrowing through a business or SPV

Want to know more about property auction finance?

The importance of auction finance criteria

There is no second thought when it comes to auctions. A business transaction is done whenever the hammer falls. You will not manage funds on time, chances are that you might lose your deposits.

Knowing the lender criteria before you bid:

  • Reduces the chance of missing out to other interested parties
  • Enhances pricing and lender choices

It gives you true confidence in making your bid. The sweet spot is prior to the auction, not following the auction.

Not sure if you qualify?

If you are in doubt as to whether you qualify for auction finance, we would be delighted to review your circumstances obligation-free. We will help clarify your status, the criteria the lenders will be looking for, and how you should prepare in order to bid with confidence.

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