Lender review · Asset finance (hire purchase and lease)
Liberty Leasing
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Companies House 04302060
- Methodology Public
Hampshire-based independent asset finance lender running hire purchase, lease and refinance across vehicles, plant, soft assets and IT. Broker-distributed with direct relationships into UK SMEs. Solid track record on cases mainstream banks decline, particularly soft-asset and used-equipment deals.
Director, BestBusinessLoans
Oliver leads BestBusinessLoans's editorial reviews and methodology. With a background in UK commercial finance, he oversees lender research, rate verification and review independence.
Last reviewed: 8 May 2026
At a glance
- Product
- Asset finance (hire purchase and lease)
- Ticket size
- £3k to £500k
- Typical rate
- Quoted at offer
- Decision time
- 24 to 72 hours
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- No
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
- Companies House
- 04302060
- Founded
- 2001
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency4/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed4/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Liberty Leasing works
Liberty Leasing operates as a asset finance (hire purchase and lease) provider in the UK SMB market. Hampshire-based independent asset finance lender running hire purchase, lease and refinance across vehicles, plant, soft assets and IT. Broker-distributed with direct relationships into UK SMEs. Solid track record on cases mainstream banks decline, particularly soft-asset and used-equipment deals.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £3k to £500k band, decisions land within 24 to 72 hours, and the published rate range is Quoted at offer. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Liberty Leasing is FCA regulated.
Where Liberty Leasing fits best: soft-asset hp and lease, asset refinance for cash release, used-vehicle and plant deals. Where it does not fit: pure unsecured working capital, sub-£3k tickets, self-serve fintech borrowers.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Liberty Leasing's published rate range (Quoted at offer). This lender prices by factor rate or bespoke quote, so we show the structure, not a worked APR.
| Ticket | Term | Estimated total cost | Approx monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 24 months | See lender quote | See lender quote |
| £50,000 | 36 months | See lender quote | See lender quote |
| £100,000 | 48 months | See lender quote | See lender quote |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Liberty Leasing quote.
Eligibility
- Trading time: typically 12 to 24 months minimum for the cleanest pricing.
- Turnover floor: not always published. As a working figure, expect a £100k+ turnover requirement for term loans of £50k+. Smaller tickets and MCA structures have lower floors.
- Sector exclusions: Pure unsecured working capital; Sub-£3k tickets; Self-serve fintech borrowers.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies and (in some cases) sole traders / partnerships.
- Best fit: Soft-asset HP and lease; Asset refinance for cash release; Used-vehicle and plant deals.
Pros
- + Strong on soft assets and used-equipment cases mainstream banks reject.
- + Refinance product unlocks equity in owned plant and vehicles.
- + Direct underwriter access on live cases.
- + Healthy Trustpilot footprint.
Cons
- − No published rates.
- − Broker-led distribution; direct route is slower.
- − No unsecured working capital product.
Best for
- · Soft-asset HP and lease
- · Asset refinance for cash release
- · Used-vehicle and plant deals
Weak at
- · Pure unsecured working capital
- · Sub-£3k tickets
- · Self-serve fintech borrowers
When to use Liberty Leasing
Use Liberty Leasing when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: soft-asset hp and lease, asset refinance for cash release, used-vehicle and plant deals. The published ticket range (£3k to £500k) covers your ask, the decision speed (24 to 72 hours) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (Quoted at offer) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Liberty Leasing when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: pure unsecured working capital, sub-£3k tickets, self-serve fintech borrowers. Liberty Leasing will likely decline, and the decline itself can sit on broker records for 90 days. If you have any of these flags, route directly to a specialist (post-decline lender, MCA against card flow, asset-backed alternative) rather than using Liberty Leasing as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Liberty Leasing?
Liberty Leasing typically asks for 12 to 24 months of trading. Newer businesses can sometimes qualify against alternative underwriting (card flow for MCA, asset security for asset finance), but the cleanest pricing tends to require two full sets of accounts.
Does Liberty Leasing require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Liberty Leasing is no exception in the standard case. The few exceptions: asset-backed lending where the asset itself stands as security, and a small number of MCA structures where card flow is the underwriting basis. For asset finance (hire purchase and lease) specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Liberty Leasing fund?
Liberty Leasing quotes 24 to 72 hours for an underwriting decision. Funding to bank account typically follows within one to three working days of acceptance, subject to KYC, signed documents, and (where applicable) registration of any debenture or charge.
What rate should I expect from Liberty Leasing?
Liberty Leasing's published range is Quoted at offer. The headline number is rarely the offered number. Rate transparency on this lender scores 4/5 in our methodology. Expect the cleaner end of the band only if you have 2+ years of trading, clean credit, and turnover comfortably above the lender's stated floor.
What happens if Liberty Leasing declines me?
If Liberty Leasing declines, you have three realistic next steps. First, ask for the decline reason in writing, most reputable UK lenders will tell you. Second, route the application to a specialist post-decline lender (Bizcap, JPM Capital, Bolton Finance) where credit issues are the constraint, or to an asset-backed alternative where security is available. Third, use a broker panel to fan the application across the lenders most likely to accept your specific decline reason. Liberty Leasing scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.libertyleasing.co.uk, or use our free quote form to be matched across the UK broker panel most likely to approve your specific profile, not just Liberty Leasing.
Specialty alternatives
- · Haydock Finance, Lancashire-based independent asset finance specialist trading since 1980. Hire purchase, finance lease and refinance acr...
- · Propel, Newport-based asset finance specialist, one of the largest independents in the UK with a heavy push into vendor finance ...
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: www.libertyleasing.co.uk.