Category: News

Alec Lawrence joins MS Lending Group from MFS, bringing with him valuable experience in relationship management and a strong track record of supporting brokers and clients across the specialist lending market. In his new role, Alec will be responsible for strengthening MS Lending Group’s presence across London, working closely with broker partners to deliver tailored lending solutions and exceptional service.

Alec’s appointment reflects MS Lending Group’s continued growth and commitment to expanding its regional support for intermediaries. His experience and market insight will play a key role in further developing relationships and ensuring brokers have access to responsive, knowledgeable support.

Commenting on his appointment, Alec Lawrence said:
“I’m delighted to be joining MS Lending Group at such an exciting time for the business. The team has built a strong reputation for delivering flexible lending solutions and excellent broker support, and I’m looking forward to working with partners across the London to help them find the right outcomes for their clients.”

Jamie Pritchard, Sales Director of MS Lending Group added:
“We are very pleased to welcome Alec to the team. Once we spoke to him we knew he was a MSLG fit, and his experience, professionalism and understanding of the intermediary market make him a fantastic addition to the business. As we continue to grow, strengthening our regional relationships remains a key priority, and Alec will play an important role in supporting brokers throughout the South.”

MS Lending Group has hired team members in all areas of the business in the last month; Nikki in Sales Support, Chris in underwriting, as well as Tony in a QA role, and has sights on further appointments before the end of the quarter.

In 2026, the UK bridging finance market is moving faster than ever. Borrowers want quick completions, sellers want certainty, and property transactions often come with tight deadlines.

For brokers placing bridging loans, the pressure is on to secure terms quickly, keep the deal on track, and find a lender that can handle real-world complexity. That is why more brokers are looking for bridging lenders who deliver three things consistently: speed, certainty and flexibility. These are the things that help brokers place deals with confidence and give clients a smoother, more reliable experience with short-term property finance.

Speed

Speed matters in bridging because time kills deals. Whether your client needs an auction bridging loan, a fast bridging loan to complete a purchase, or a bridging loan to prevent a chain from collapsing, delays create uncertainty and cost. Slow decisions can lead to missed opportunities, higher legal and holding costs, and frustrated clients who start exploring other options. Brokers need a bridging lender that can give a clear view from the start and maintain momentum through to completion. MS Lending Group is built for that pace. We can issue terms within 2 hours, and we use AVM and Desktop valuations where appropriate to reduce delays and help keep bridging cases moving quickly.

Certainty

Certainty is just as important as speed when it comes to bridging. Broker’s need to know where the deal stands from day one and trust the lender’s position will stay consistent as the case progresses. Clear credit appetite, honest feedback and steady communication make it easier to advise clients with confidence. This matters across every type of bridging finance, from simple purchases to more complex refinance or exit scenarios. At MS Lending Group, certainty comes from direct access to decision makers, so you are not chasing updates through layers. Where it suits the case, dual representation is available to reduce friction and speed up completion. We also make second charge bridging available, supporting brokers when a second charge bridging loan is the right structure for the client’s needs.

Flexibility

Flexibility is the third expectation that brokers increasingly need from bridging finance lenders. Many bridging deals are not straightforward. Property types can be unusual, borrower circumstances can be non-standard, and timelines can shift quickly. Bridging finance is often used for real-world situations that do not fit neatly into strict criteria, including complex property purchases, time-sensitive opportunities, and cases where an exit strategy needs careful consideration. Brokers need a lender that looks at the full picture and structures the loan around the scenario, not around tick boxes. MS Lending Group takes a practical approach to bridging loans with no tick boxes, no minimum loan size, and tailored terms that reflect the asset, the borrower and the timeline.

What this means for brokers is simple. In the bridging market in 2026, speed helps you win business, certainty helps you protect relationships, and flexibility helps you place more deals successfully. MS Lending Group delivers all three as an operating standard. If you are looking for a UK bridging lender that can move quickly, communicate clearly, and structure bridging loans around real situations, we are here to support your next bridging finance enquiry.

In the first of our Funding Without Friction series, we’ll be exploring how bridging finance deals actually get across the line in 2026.

Hosted by our Sales Director, Jamie Pritchard, the session will explore the current property and bridging finance market, what causes bridging finance deals to stall, and why early engagement and strong commercial judgement matter more than ever. We’ll share real bridging loan case studies to demonstrate how we approach deals, structure bridging finance solutions, and apply flexible thinking beyond rigid lending criteria, particularly where traditional property finance lenders slow down or step away.

Attendees will gain practical insight into when MS Lending Group can add value, and how bridging finance can be used as a problem-solving funding tool for property finance transactions in 2026.

Register now to secure your place!

MS Lending Group has successfully completed a £5.2 million bridging loan for a corporate borrower to support the acquisition of a portfolio of multi-unit residential assets across multiple UK locations.

The 12-month term loan, secured against five multi-unit freehold blocks of flats located in Derby, Manchester and Huddersfield, was agreed at 59% loan-to-value based on market value, with a total asset value of £8.65 million.

What set this transaction apart was the exceptional speed of execution. Following an initial enquiry on Monday, MS Lending Group instructed valuations and legal work by Wednesday, once day-one terms were agreed. Reports on title were received by Friday, with the transaction successfully completing the following Monday.

Desktop valuations were utilised to streamline the process, enabling the borrower to meet tight acquisition deadlines without compromising due diligence or structure.

Michael Stratton CEO & Founder MS Lending Group commented:

“This was a fast-moving, high-pressure transaction with multiple assets across different locations. We were presented with an existing borrower, conservative LTV, and tight timescales. At MSLG we have tailored the business so we can do exactly these types of deals. It’s a great example of what can be achieved when a lender can think and look outside the box, and find solutions.”

The transaction highlights MS Lending Group’s ability to deliver time critical funding solutions for its borrowers, whether it is large borrowings, multi unit, or smaller single unit purchase sizes.  

MS Lending Group is delighted to announce a momentous achievement, having funded over £500 million in loans since its inception in 2021. This significant milestone underscores the company’s phenomenal growth, market agility, and unwavering commitment to serving the needs of property investors and developers across the UK.

Launched during the challenging environment of the COVID-19 pandemic, MS Lending Group rapidly established itself as a disruptor in the bridging finance sector by focusing on speed, flexibility, and a common-sense approach to lending.

Michael Stratton, CEO and Founder of MS Lending Group, commented:

“To hit the £500 million of completed loans from a standing start in just a few short years is an extraordinary achievement and a massive testament to the dedication of our incredible team and the trust placed in us by our brokers and clients. When we started in 2021, our vision was to strip back the jargon, provide fast and reliable capital, and genuinely partner with our borrowers, and we’ve done exactly that! This milestone isn’t just a number; it represents thousands of successful property deals facilitated and solidifies our position as a major player in the market.”

The company has consistently delivered record breaking quarters and attributes its success to a high level of repeat business and referrals, highlighting the quality of its customer centric service. As well as it’s agile product offering, including no minimum loan size, and no valuation necessary on certain properties.

Michael Stratton concluded:

“We remain committed to continuously improving our proposition and look forward to building on this momentum as we strive to become the top choice lender for bridging finance in the UK. Thank you to everyone who has been a part of this incredible journey so far.”

MS Lending Group, has announced a series of rapid completions in September, underscoring its commitment to speed, flexibility, and certainty of funding in the bridging finance space.

The lender completed over 60 cases in September, five of those with remarkable efficiency, showcasing the strength of its streamlined processes and dedicated team. The standout performance included a deal funded in just two working days, alongside three separate transactions that completed in just eight working days.

This flurry of activity, with five of the six deals being auction purchases, demonstrates MS Lending Group’s operational efficiency in handling time critical and complex bridging requirements. The use of Desktop and AVM valuations were key to achieving these speeds.

These accelerated completion times provide a clear competitive advantage to property professionals who require urgent, short-term funding for opportunities such as auction purchases, rapid refinances, or time sensitive purchases.

Michael Stratton, CEO and Founder of MS Lending Group, commented:

“The figures speak for themselves. This is not just a one-off quick completion; this is a clear pattern of market leading speed and efficiency across a range of complex assets, from multi-unit freeholds and semi-commercial to standard residential. To complete six deals in such a short window, including one in two days and three others in just eight, truly validates the strength of our underwriting model and the dedication of our team.

“The certainty we provide, particularly for auction buyers under strict deadlines, is what sets us apart. Our ability to utilise digital valuations and collaborative relationships we have with our valued brokers and legal partners ensures that when time is the critical factor, MS Lending Group will always deliver.”

MS Lending Group continues to build on its foundation of excellent service and rapid execution, aiming to provide the fastest and most flexible solutions to support property investors across the UK.

MS Lending Group has announced its most successful month to date, funding a record breaking 64 deals.

The company has announced the achievement is the largest since the company’s inception in 2021, and underscores the businesses continued growth in the bridging finance market. 

Since its launch in 2021, MS Lending Group has demonstrated consistent growth.

CEO and founder, Michael Stratton said, “We are absolutely thrilled with these results from the team. It is a testament to their hard work and dedication, and the trust and relationships they have built with our clients and brokers. We committed to providing fast, flexible and reliable finance when we set up the business and I’m delighted we’re not only delivering but exceeding our goals.”

Michael Stratton added, “In an incredibly diluted bridging space, I am really proud of the team being able to originate and complete the levels we currently are. We have stuck to our identity since inception, never tried to be something we’re not and always focussed on what’s going on between our four walls. Seeing that come together is a huge testament to the team backing what we’re doing, and implementing it incredibly”