BIZL

Buying a property for your trading business? One of the biggest decisions you’ll make is how you structure the purchase.

In this blog we break down OpCo / PropCo in practical terms. including:
• why some buyers separate the trading business from the property
• how this can help with risk and asset protection
• what lenders typically look for when funding different structures

OpCo / PropCo can work really well in the right scenario - but it can also complicate funding if it’s set up without proper advice.

That’s why understanding your structure before you apply for finance is so important.

If you’re planning a commercial property purchase and want to know what structure might work best for you, this blog is a great place to start 👉 https://bizl.co/blog/opco-propco/

Mortgage brokers – commercial enquiries don’t have to be dead ends.

We were introduced by a national mortgage broker to a client buying a £400,000 office for their growing business. The plan was to purchase via a new Ltd Co and let the property to their trading company, allowing them to move out of rented space and scale up.

The challenge?
An existing lender reduced the loan to 65% LTV, wouldn’t fund the vat, and left the client needing an extra £80,000 - all with a tight 6‑week deadline.

What we did:
✅ sourced two strong commercial mortgage options
✅ increased borrowing to 75% LTV
✅ secured VAT funding on purchase
✅ delivered full offers quickly to keep the deal moving
✅ coordinated lender, valuation and solicitors to hit completion

The result:
A successful purchase, a new office for the business, and a much stronger outcome than the original offer. Happy client. Happy mortgage broker. Generally lots of happiness.

If you’re a mortgage broker with commercial enquiries on your desk, we can help you turn them into completed deals, additional revenue and happier clients. Check us out at https://bizl.co/advisers/

Build trust first. Everything else follows 🤍

Our newst broker, Nimish Shah, has been busy doing what he does best - listening properly, being straight with the client, and building on the trust that was already there. No pressure, no noise, just clear conversations and a structure that actually made sense.

He's midway through a really strong bridging loan deal, raising capital against 2 residential assets so that the client can purchase additional commercial assets. The deal will enable our client to be a cash buyer, meaning he can negotiate hard and move quick.

The plan? Buy vacant commercial units under market value, obtain planning consent to convert to resi and then sell.

Nimish is arranging:
✨ £700k
✨ 55% LTV
✨ 16‑month term
✨ Just 6.6% p.a.

This is exactly how we like to work. Thoughtful structuring, honest advice, and backing our clients with the confidence to move decisively when the right opportunity comes along.

We recently had a bit of anti‑money laundering training as a team 🥳

Led by Tony – our resident banking veteran. He’s seen a thing or two on the front lines, which helps us enormously at work and occasionally makes for a good yarn after hours.

A practical session, down‑to‑earth, and focused on the details that feel dull right up until the moment they become extremely important.

We’re friendly, human, and easy to deal with. But behind that is decades of financial services experience, proper process, and people like Tony making sure everything holds up to scrutiny.

Safe ✔️ Professional ✔️ Done properly ✔️

We trust you.

Tony would just like to see the paperwork 👀

Happy Renters' Rights Act Day 🥳🫩

Today marks the start of the biggest shake‑up to renting in England for a generation.

No more Section 21. Rolling tenancies. New possession rules. More compliance. More forms.

Tenants gain certainty. Landlords gain homework.

We’ve pulled together a practical, landlord‑focused guide setting out what the Renters Reform Act (now the Renters’ Rights Act) actually means in practice – where the risks now sit, and what landlords should be thinking about next.

If you own rental property in England, it’s worth a read 👉 https://bizl.co/blog/renters-reform-act-for-landlords/

Happy reform day 🍾🙄

Thinking about buying a shop? 🏪 Getting a mortgage is very achievable.

Whether you’re buying as an investment or for your own business, shop mortgages are widely available and more straightforward than many people expect.

Lenders regularly support:
- A wide range of retail uses
- Shops with or without flats above
- Both investors and owner‑occupiers

We’ve written a clear, practical guide explaining how shop mortgages work and how to approach a purchase with confidence.

📖 Read the guide: https://bizl.co/blog/can-i-get-a-mortgage-to-buy-a-shop/

A huge thank you to Landbay for hosting our team meeting at their lovely Victoria offices this week.

We genuinely enjoy working together, and getting time face to face really shows how strong that partnership is.

A special thanks to Harry Phillips for working so closely with us – that personal contact and approachability mean a lot and make collaboration easy 🙌

We value Landbay because they’re responsive, open, and great to deal with. Clear communication, quick answers, and a shared focus on getting deals over the line – it all makes a real difference.

The best results always come from close, trusted partnerships and taking the time to work properly together 😍 😇

Considering semi-commercial property?🏢

Shops with flats above. Mixed-use buildings. Investments that sit between residential and commercial – and often get overlooked.

Semi-commercial can offer better yields, less competition, and more flexible lending, but there are a few traps to watch out for.

We’ve put together a short, practical guide covering:

- what lenders look for
- common investor mistakes
- when these deals work best

Read the guide: https://bizl.co/blog/a-guide-to-investing-in-semi-commercial-property/

Ever wondered what trade credit actually is – and whether it’s really helping or quietly squeezing your cashflow?

We’ve broken it down in plain English: what it is, how it works, and when it makes sense for your business.

👉 https://bizl.co/blog/what-is-trade-credit/

Last week we spent ages going back and forth with underwriting at Proplend.

Despite our best efforts, we ended up frustrated. AGAIN.

They’ve got some balls. But to be fair, we were literally just playing ping pong at Bounce Farringdon 🏓

Fortunately, we’ve had far more success actually getting deals agreed with them than winning rallies.

And they tell us their investors get better returns than I do at the ping pong table – which is reassuring 😊

Proplend...Underwriting by day. Ping pong by night.