Flexible, fast, and personal solutions for today's complex homebuying market
This article was produced in partnership with Together
Together’s latest research into regulated bridging loans revealed significant disruption in the UK housing market, highlighting that 49,000 property chains were tied up in the last year alone. As Maeve Ward, head of intermediary sales, puts it, “That’s a massive statistic.”
“Many of the results absolutely blew my mind, but the headline for me was the sheer scale of the disruption,” Ward says, adding it wasn’t all bad news.
“The positive was the growing appetite for more flexible, faster lending solutions for some of these borrowers that were caught up in a property chain. That’s what the market needs more of.”
Stand-out stats: What do the numbers say?
Over half (59%) of respondents reported being caught up in a chain, and 25% experienced delays in the past five years. The disruptions took a heavy toll: 57% of those surveyed said they had considered walking away from a transaction, and another 57% reported increased hesitation to make future offers on homes due to their experiences. A whopping 66% indicating the process was more stressful than raising a deposit, something Ward understands completely.
“When you’re saving, for all intents and purposes you have some form of control; you know how much you need and you keep going until you reach the amount,” she explains. “If you’re in a chain, it’s not a done deal until completion has taken place and you sign on that dotted line. That stat really landed with me in terms of the emotional stress people experience.”
When Ward reflected on the findings, she realised it made sense that 41% of the overall bridging transactions in 2024 were for regulated bridging loans. It’s a reflection of the high proportion of people seeking alternative solutions to purchase a property or prevent the chain they’re in from collapsing, and it’s “bread and butter for Together,” she notes.
A typical scenario Together encounters involves a homeowner selling their existing property to purchase a new one, only for their buyer to pull out at the last minute. There are many reasons why buyers withdraw: sometimes a property survey reveals unexpected issues, prompting second thoughts; other times, delays in securing a mortgage or changes in lender criteria make it impossible for the buyer to continue. Additionally, turbulent market conditions can cause buyers to reconsider whether it’s the right time to move, leading to last-minute changes of heart.
“We don’t want anyone to go through a chain break, but we see it on a daily basis — it happens far more frequently than people talk about,” Ward says. “Providing solutions to keep transactions on track is a core part of our work.”
A people-first approach blended with experience
Together may handle a lot of these transactions, but no two are treated the same. With half a century under its belt, the lender rests on a foundation of deep knowledge and experience. If someone’s going into a bridge, often it’s because they need to transact quickly. Together stands out for its ability to deliver rapid, often same-day decisions thanks to tools like automated desktop valuations.
But leveraging the latest technology for speed does not ever supplant human judgment: Together leans into innovation, but not at the cost of that customer-focused, personal touch. Clients benefit from direct access to decision makers who understand their goals, and while competitive pricing is important, Together’s real differentiator is its collaborative approach with brokers to find the right solution for each unique customer need, ensuring both speed and reliability.
“The ability to have a conversation with somebody about bespoke requirements is so important,” Ward notes. “That along with our ability to act quickly and our broad, flexible underwriting criteria really does set us apart, especially in this space.”
Bridging: Where knowledge is king
The Together team is passionate about spreading awareness around bridging finance, which they view as essential for navigating today’s complex property market. It should be a core part of every mortgage advisor’s toolkit, either through direct experience or by partnering with specialists in the sector.
In the right situation, this solution lends itself to great customer outcomes. But it must be clearly communicated that a regulated bridging loan is intended strictly as a short-term solution. Its purpose is in the name: designed to bridge a gap for a set period until a longer-term solution comes to fruition.
Ward stresses there must always be a clear exit strategy in place and already underway, whether it’s a mortgage application in progress, a property listed for sale, or inheritance due to be received. Above all, it’s essential that customers are fully informed about their options and the structure of the loan, so they feel comfortable and confident.
“Knowledge is king,” Ward says, suggesting brokers use Together’s research to start the conversation with their client and explain from the outset the risk of the chain collapsing, and how a bridge product can be used to save the day.
Brokers are ideally suited to reduce stress for clients during a property chain breakdown because they are connected to all other parties including lenders, valuers, and solicitors. Again, Ward underscores the emotional weight of these situations, noting that people get attached very quickly. They may have already planned the layout of the bedrooms, for example, or contacted someone for a kitchen redesign, or have new curtains on order.
“These transactions are very complex, they are time sensitive, and they are emotionally charged,” Ward says. “That last fact needs to come alive. This is going to be somebody’s main residential home; they’ve often already moved in inside their head.”
‘We’re very much in this together’
By championing flexibility, innovative solutions, and putting people at the heart of every transaction, Together isn’t just helping brokers assist clients in achieving the best outcome — the ultimate test, Ward notes. They’re working to reshape the home buying experience for the better.
“We know that, especially when it comes to brokers, we’re very much in this together; it’s a collaboration, and the beauty and magic of working with Together is its people,” Ward explains. “We want to reduce the delays that plague the current system, and our research shows that supporting buyers and sellers through regulated bridging loans is one way to unlock the movement in the housing market that we really want to see.”
Find out more here.
