When timing is everything—whether you're buying at auction, breaking a chain, or seizing an opportunity—bridging finance can unlock fast access to funds. But how fast can it really be arranged? And what factors affect the timeline?

In this 2025 guide, we’ll walk you through:

• The bridging finance timeline (best and worst case)
• What speeds things up (and what slows things down)
• How Willow Private Finance consistently completes bridging loans in days—not weeks

If you're under pressure to complete quickly, this is the information you need.

⏱️ The Quick Answer: How Fast Can It Be Done?

In ideal conditions, bridging loans can be arranged and completed in as little as 48–72 hours. However, most bridging loans take 1–2+ weeks and require all parties to act quickly. 

This is significantly faster than a traditional mortgage, which can take 6–12 weeks or longer.

That said, the actual timeline depends on:

• The complexity of your case
• How prepared you are
• The responsiveness of valuers and solicitors
• The lender’s internal processes

Bridging loans are intended for short-term use and often come with higher fees/interest – they should only be used when a clear exit plan is in place.



🧠 What Speeds Up the Process?

1. Prepared Clients

If you have the following ready from Day 1, we can move fast:

• ID and proof of address
• Source of funds for deposit
• Property details and ownership docs
• Exit strategy clearly defined
• Legal representation confirmed

2. Good Broker Relationships

At Willow, we work closely with fast-moving bridging lenders and underwriters. That means:

• Priority processing
• Same-day credit signoff
• Access to lenders who don’t over-paper deals

3. Efficient Legal Teams

Bridging is legal-heavy. A proactive solicitor familiar with bridging loans can save you days in chasing title deeds, drafting legal charges, and executing contracts.

Willow works with legal partners who understand bridging deadlines and handle urgent completions every week.

4. Streamlined Properties

The simpler the property, the faster we move:

• Residential property (not commercial or mixed-use)
• Single title
• No planning disputes, tenant complications, or unusual covenants

🐌 What Slows It Down?

• Missing documents (especially proof of deposit)
• Slow solicitors unfamiliar with bridging
• Unusual property types (e.g. commercial units, split titles)
• Lenders requiring external credit committee approval
• Poor communication between parties

The biggest time waster? Clients using solicitors who aren’t used to bridging. These lawyers often treat the deal like a standard residential mortgage—and that can add weeks.

⚡ Real-Life Fast Completion: £1.2M Loan in 3 Days

Client: Developer purchasing a distressed asset in Central London

Loan Size: £1.2M bridging loan at 65% LTV

Challenge: Completion required within 72 hours or deal would fall through

Solution: Willow:

• Packaged and submitted the case within hours
• Arranged desktop valuation same day
• Coordinated directly with lender legal and client solicitors

Outcome: Funds released on Day 3. Deal secured. Client has since returned for two further projects.

🔑 What You Can Do to Speed Things Up

If you’re looking to move quickly on a bridging deal, here’s how to make it happen:

✅ Choose the Right Broker

Not all brokers are equal. Willow specialises in urgent, high-pressure bridging finance—we know who to call, what to prepare, and how to push a deal through when time is tight.

✅ Use the Right Solicitor

We can recommend solicitors who:

• Understand bridging
• Prioritise urgent completions
• Work electronically
• Are approved by most major lenders

✅ Be Transparent

Tell us your full situation—no surprises. Even if you have credit issues, non-standard property, or unresolved paperwork, we can help structure the right solution. But we need to know early.

✅ Be Available

We’ll need signatures, document uploads, and quick replies. The faster you engage, the faster we move.

🧾 Is There a Cost to Moving Fast?

Bridging finance is priced based on risk, term, and speed.

Fast completion does not always mean higher interest, but it can mean:

• Slightly higher arrangement fees (e.g. 2% instead of 1%)
• Use of lenders who specialise in urgent cases
• Potential need for desktop valuations or indemnity policies to save time

Willow will always be transparent about cost—and help you compare fast options vs slightly slower/lower-cost routes if time permits.

🔚 Exit Strategy Still Matters

Even in a fast bridging deal, the lender wants to know how you’ll repay the loan.

This can include:

• Sale of an existing property
• Refinancing with a term lender or buy-to-let mortgage
• Asset disposal
• Planned remortgage after works are completed

We help you document and present a clear, credible exit plan from the start.

🤝 Why Clients Choose Willow for Fast Bridging Loans

✅ Access to 100+ specialist and private bridging lenders
✅ Deals completed in as little as 48 hours
✅ Dedicated legal partners and valuation contacts
✅ Experience handling distressed, off-market, and high-value assets
✅ Honest advice, fast action, and total discretion

FAQs: Fast Bridging Finance

What’s the fastest I can get a bridging loan?
Realistically, 48–72 hours with the right broker, lender, solicitor, and documents.

Do I need perfect credit for fast bridging?
No. Many lenders focus on the asset and exit, not your credit score.

Can I use bridging to buy at auction?
Absolutely—it’s one of the most common use cases.

Is bridging finance regulated?
Only if the property is or will be occupied by the borrower. Investment-only property bridging is usually

unregulated.

Final Thought

Bridging finance can be arranged incredibly quickly—but only if you know how the system works, who the fast lenders are, and which legal teams to trust.

At Willow Private Finance, we do this every week—and we get it done when it matters most.

📞 Need Fast Finance in Days—Not Weeks?

We’ve helped clients secure urgent bridging loans in as little as 48 hours. Speak to our team now.