Tag: commercial mortgage

When do you need a commercial mortgage?

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

One question we’re often asked is, ‘when do I need a commercial mortgage?’

The simple answer is that if you are looking for a commercial premises, either for an office, a shop or even a manufacturing unit or workshop, and you, like most people, can’t afford to buy premises outright, then a commercial mortgage is what you’ll need.

Aside from investing in a new property, you may want a commercial mortgage if you are looking to extend a premises or refurbish or update a property.

What is a commercial mortgage?

Funds borrowed against a commercial mortgage are protected with the bank having a registered interest in the property in the same way that your domestic mortgage would.

Why can’t I just borrow against my existing mortgage?

It’s essential that when you are borrowing for a business, you borrow against a commercial mortgage because borrowing against a standard domestic mortgage could mean you are risking your home and your business.

A commercial mortgage works differently to a standard mortgage. Decisions to approve a commercial mortgage will take into consideration your business plan, expected returns, and also the way in which the property will be used.

Commercial mortgages can be more generous than domestic mortgages, but you will need a decent deposit of 2030% or more.

That’s not all, you’ll also need to convince the lender that you know what you’re doing.

Ideally, you’ll have some proof of experience in the sector. You’ll need a good personal credit history and, if you already run a business, the lender will want to see your trading accounts to make sure you’re responsible with your cash.

They’ll also expect a comprehensive debt proposal. It’s not easy to secure a commercial mortgage but if you know what lenders are looking for, and have the information that they need available, you can substantially boost your chances of a positive response to your application.

You can also get specific sector mortgages too, such as hospitality mortgages, which are designed to support investors in that particular niche. Often their documentation and information requirements are slightly different, reflecting the nuances of that industry, but at Stewart Hindley, we have a team of specialists available to help you jump through the paperwork hoops and get the best chances at securing the right mortgage for you, whatever you need, whatever industry you are in.

To speak to our experts and find out more about how they can help you to find and secure the right commercial mortgage, or hospitality mortgage for your business, call us today on 01488 684834.

How a B&B Commercial Mortgage makes good financial sense for your B&B business

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

With New Year around the corner, many of us start to think about what we want out of the year ahead.

The prospect of being your own boss and running a lifestyle business from home definitely has its appeal and a B&B Commercial Mortgage can help you to make that dream a reality.

New Year offers a new start, a chance to take the first step towards achieving those dreams and creating the life that you want. Whether you’re looking for freedom from office politics, or whether you’ve always dreamed about being the hostess with the mostess and creating a welcoming environment in your home for tourists and holiday makers, or whether you just want another income stream, a B&B could be exactly what you are looking for to take control of your own lifestyle and work from home.

One of the first things you’ll need to consider is B&B Commercial Mortgage finance. You’ll need capital to invest, but it’s likely that beyond a deposit, you’ll need B&B finance to bridge the gap.

Why B&B Finance?

If you’ve already got a mortgage on your existing home and you’re planning to borrow against it, you may want to reconsider. Using a standard residential home mortgage can lead to your mortgage debt being called in early if you are making an income from letting rooms in your property.

If your mortgage debt is called in early, you’re then faced with a challenge – either find alternative B&B Finance at VERY short notice or lose your home and your livelihood.

Other reasons you might need B&B Finance

Perhaps you already have a B&B that you don’t feel fulfils its potential. Sometimes a small cash injection is just what you need to be able to create the business you want, or to open up new opportunities with what you have.

Often a B&B Commercial Mortgage provider will take into consideration your plans for the business, delivering greater potential benefits at a lower rate than a standard credit card or bank loan might do.

Stewart Hindley & Partners are hospitality finance specialists that can help you find the hospitality finance you need to build the business you’ve always wanted. For more information on how you could benefit from hospitality finance, or to find out how you could raise finance for your hospitality business, contact Stewart Hindley & Partners on 01488 393049.

12 places in the UK which will make you feel you are abroad

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

British staycations are on the rise, not purely for Brexit or financial reasons, either – many of us are (re)discovering the UK’s incredible landscape, beautiful beaches and exciting cities. Hence it could be a good time to go into the B&B, guesthouse or hotel business.
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How to turn your home into a successful bed and breakfast

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

You’ve got a large property, the children have flown the nest and now you’re just rattling around in it. Or perhaps you and your partner have inherited a house but it’s costing the earth to maintain. Wouldn’t it be great if your home could actually make money for you? Converting it into a bed and breakfast could not only enhance its value, but provide an income, offering you a completely new way of life and the means/motivation to keep the property in good condition.

It sounds like such a simple idea, maybe too good to be true, but it’s one which many people have opted for and they’ve never looked back. Here are some points to consider if you’re thinking about turning your home into a B&B.

1. Could you attract business?

The trend for ‘staycation’ holidays is not diminishing. With affordability still the biggest issue for British holidaymakers, not to mention security fears, research reveals that some 77 per cent of UK adults either went on or planned to go on a staycation in 2015. It’s looking good for 2016, too – which is good news for those that run B&Bs and guesthouses.

Before getting on to the subject of B&B finance, one big consideration and contributing factor towards your success is location. It’s vital that you are situated somewhere that would attract guests. HuffPost Travel named among its top staycation destinations the Lake District, the Norfolk Broads, Edinburgh, Cornwall and North Wales. Big towns and cities are similarly a good option. Just consider your situation – is there enough in the vicinity to attract guests?

2. Decide if running a bed and breakfast is for you

In our blog: Why owning a B&B can be a dream come true, we explore the best bits about leaving the nine-to-five and changing your life. You get to be your own boss and meet endless numbers of interesting people.

If you’re seriously considering converting your home into a B&B, ask yourself whether you’d feel happy about having other people coming and going through your home. Also, think about the lifestyle. While many B&B owners say they love their new business, it does require hard work and commitment. However, if you’re fine with all of that, let’s talk money.

3. Know what you’ll need finances for

When arranging B&B finance, in addition to paying the mortgage, remember to allocate sufficient funds for renovating the house into guest accommodation. This covers furnishings, decorations, refurbishments and countless other tasks that will need to be completed before you can open. Then there’s advertising, creating a website and potentially paying staff wages, too.

It’s pertinent you keep funds in reserve to cover all eventualities, as there will be changes in demand and economic circumstances. However, if you get the right advice and choose the best mortgage deal, you should be able to keep a tight control over your cash flow.

Buying a B&B
4. Choose the right bed and breakfast mortgage

One of the questions we’re most often asked by people who are ‘new to trade’ is: ‘Can I get a residential mortgage on a to trade as a B&B?’ The answer is no. Running a B&B requires a commercial mortgage. In fact, using your existing residential mortgage can actually get you into trouble with your lender owing to the differences in rates between residential and commercial mortgages.

You’ll therefore need to replace your existing residential mortgage to a commercial one. As this is a business, there are many more, and different, conditions that need to be taken into account by both lenders and you. However, an advantage of commercial mortgages is that the repayments can track the season, meaning you can pay more during peak times and less when it’s quiet.

5. Get good advice

Running a bed and breakfast is a huge undertaking, so it’s important to do your research and speak to the experts. With regard to finance, contact a broker that specialises in the industry – like us at Stewart Hindley and Partners, who can identify the most appropriate solution to suit your individual situation. We can advise on other aspects of the business, too, helping you to create a business plan and secure a mortgage which allow you to realise your dream.

Another good idea is to contact other B&B owners, or read case studies, so that you can gain first hand insight into the everyday operation of such a business. Learn from their experience, take advantage of their knowledge and see your own business thrives.

Providing you satisfy all of the personal and financial criteria and are sure that this is the move for you, then there’s no reason why you can’t turn your home into a bed and breakfast, enjoying a way of life that so many others can only envy. Why not give it some thought?

If you’d like to discover more about B&B finance, we’d love to help.

The pitfalls of trading a B&B on a residential mortgage

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

Opening your own B&B is a life-changing experience, one that can be a dream come true. Providing you observe the rules around trading, that is. One of the most common and most costly mistakes made by new-to-trade owners is operating on a residential mortgage when they should have a commercial mortgage for their B&B. It’s something we’ve seen and dealt with frequently; a pitfall which can put people in a very difficult situation.

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Getting a Commercial Mortgage is not always easy!

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

We were instructed by a client in East Sussex who had been with her bank for over 40 years. She purchased a house in a popular tourist town close to Brighton in East Sussex with a regular residential mortgage but after moving in she decided to let out two of her three bedrooms as B&B accommodation.  She traded well and paid her mortgage every month, unfortunately the bank then realised she was trading the business and as her mortgage was not a commercial one they called in her loan due to a breach of covenant.

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How to finance a hotel

Posted on by Stewart Hindley

It’s good news for the British hotel sector. After a buoyant 2015, forecasts by PwC for 2016 suggest that UK hotels could expect revenue per available room (RevPAR) growth of 2.3 per cent in London and 4.2 per cent outside the capital. These rates have increased consecutively for the last seven years in London and four years in the Provinces, so setting up a hotel right now could end up being a lucrative endeavour.

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