Brokers increasingly turning to bridging as client needs become more complex

The continued rise in the popularity of bridging finance is being reflected in broker activity on Knowledge Bank, with year-on-year growth in searches highlighting the sector’s expanding importance within the UK lending market.

Search data from Knowledge Bank shows that brokers are increasingly turning to bridging solutions as client needs become more complex and time-sensitive. This demand has translated into greater engagement with bridging-related criteria across the platform.

November search data revealed notable movement within bridging criteria, offering early insight into how broker priorities may shape the market heading into 2026. ‘Directors loan’ emerged as a growing area of interest, reflecting the increase in limited company landlords seeking short-term funding solutions. 

Within the top 10 bridging searches, some of the biggest movers highlighted a shift towards more specialist use cases. 'Splitting title deeds' entered the top 10 after jumping from 32nd to 10th, while 're-bridging allowed' surged from 22nd to 2nd place. Searches relating to expats also saw strong growth, moving from 24th to 8th, signalling rising demand for flexible finance solutions for internationally based clients.

These trends not only underline the versatility of bridging finance but also provide an early indication of how the market is likely to begin the year ahead, with brokers increasingly focused on specialist scenarios, refinancing options and complex ownership structures.

As broker demand has grown, Knowledge Bank has continued to expand its lender panel. In response to increased activity, new bridging and/or development lenders including Abigail Finance, C&M Wealth, Inhale Capital and Magnet Capital have been added to the system, with a further eight bridging lenders due to join in the first quarter of 2026. 

Shane Chawatama, sales director at Knowledge Bank, said: “We’ve now optimised over 50 individual questions within the bridging lending type, working closely with our lenders and taking direct feedback from specialist brokers. Our focus has been on making sure bridging criteria answers the right questions, at the right time.

“Most bridging deals don’t start life as bridging. They often begin as a residential or buy-to-let enquiry, but either through a declined application or a deeper fact find, bridging quickly becomes the most appropriate route. Brokers are leaning into the criteria we display on Knowledge Bank, alongside our educational webinars, to understand how best to structure these scenarios and ultimately achieve the best possible outcome for their clients."