Lender review · Bridging and BTL mortgages
Roma Finance
- Reviewed May 2026
- Editor Oliver Mackman
- Methodology Public
Manchester-based principal lender covering residential bridging, refurb and a specialist BTL mortgage line. Notable for the "RomaFLOW" streamlined process on cleaner cases and a strong service reputation in the broker market. FCA-regulated for the regulated bridging and BTL book. Note: multiple Roma-named entities on Companies House; verify the operating entity at publish time before citing a CN.
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
- Bridging and BTL mortgages
- Ticket size
- £75k to £3m
- Typical rate
- From 0.69% per month
- Decision time
- 3 to 10 business days
- Soft search at quote
- No
- Limited companies only
- No
- FCA regulated
- Yes (check the FCA Register)
- Founded
- 2009
Scores against our methodology
- Rate transparency4/5
- Eligibility clarity4/5
- Decision speed4/5
- Decline handling4/5
How Roma Finance works
Roma Finance operates as a bridging and btl mortgages provider in the UK SMB market. Manchester-based principal lender covering residential bridging, refurb and a specialist BTL mortgage line. Notable for the "RomaFLOW" streamlined process on cleaner cases and a strong service reputation in the broker market. FCA-regulated for the regulated bridging and BTL book. Note: multiple Roma-named entities on Companies House; verify the operating entity at publish time before citing a CN.
The product mechanic is straightforward in shape but the underwriting is sector-specific. Tickets sit in the £75k to £3m band, decisions land within 3 to 10 business days, and the published rate range is From 0.69% per month. A hard search may apply at quote stage; ask before you submit if credit-file footprint matters to you. Roma Finance is FCA regulated.
Where Roma Finance fits best: £100k to £1.5m residential bridging, btl mortgages, refurb projects. Where it does not fit: £3m+ tickets, ground-up development, self-serve consumer journey.
Pricing examples
Worked examples using Roma Finance's published rate range (From 0.69% per month). Simple-interest approximation, mid-band rate. Real offers will differ and should be confirmed on the lender quote.
| Ticket | Term | Estimated total cost | Approx monthly |
|---|---|---|---|
| £25,000 | 24 months | £29,140 | £1,214 |
| £50,000 | 36 months | £62,420 | £1,734 |
| £100,000 | 48 months | £133,120 | £2,773 |
Indicative only. Confirm on a Roma Finance 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: £3m+ tickets; Ground-up development; Self-serve consumer journey.
- Credit profile: Clean credit preferred; older satisfied items often acceptable.
- Company structure: Limited companies and (in some cases) sole traders / partnerships.
- Best fit: £100k to £1.5m residential bridging; BTL mortgages; Refurb projects.
Pros
- + Strong Trustpilot footprint, top end of bridging category.
- + In-house BTL mortgage product alongside bridging.
- + Streamlined process for prime cases.
- + FCA-regulated for the regulated book.
Cons
- − Broker-distributed; direct applicants routed.
- − Per-month rate quoting; total cost varies with exit.
- − £3m ticket cap limits utility for larger schemes.
Best for
- · £100k to £1.5m residential bridging
- · BTL mortgages
- · Refurb projects
Weak at
- · £3m+ tickets
- · Ground-up development
- · Self-serve consumer journey
When to use Roma Finance
Use Roma Finance when
Your application matches the best-fit profile: £100k to £1.5m residential bridging, btl mortgages, refurb projects. The published ticket range (£75k to £3m) covers your ask, the decision speed (3 to 10 business days) fits your cash-gap timeline, and the rate range (From 0.69% per month) is acceptable to you given your credit profile.
Do not use Roma Finance when
Your profile sits in the weak-at list: £3m+ tickets, ground-up development, self-serve consumer journey. Roma Finance 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 Roma Finance as a screen.
FAQs
What is the minimum trading time for Roma Finance?
Roma Finance 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 Roma Finance require a personal guarantee?
Most UK SMB lenders require a personal guarantee from at least one director. Roma Finance 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 bridging and btl mortgages specifically, expect a PG to be requested.
How fast does Roma Finance fund?
Roma Finance quotes 3 to 10 business days 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 Roma Finance?
Roma Finance's published range is From 0.69% per month. 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 Roma Finance declines me?
If Roma Finance 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. Roma Finance scores 4/5 on decline handling in our methodology.
Where to apply
Apply directly via www.romafinance.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 Roma Finance.
Specialty alternatives
- · MT Finance, North London principal lender covering bridging, refurb and a specialist BTL mortgage book. One of the higher-volume bri...
Reviewed by Oliver Mackman, Director. Last reviewed: 8 May 2026. Lender website: www.romafinance.co.uk.