Leanspace's finance matching is more flexible and tailored. Bank loans for small refurbishments can be hard to get – banks prefer larger, long-term loans secured heavily by collateral. Our approach is short-term and focused on the project's upside. We also offer repayment flexibility (like revenue share or equity options) that banks don't provide. Additionally, interest on a bank loan means monthly payments right away, whereas many of our deals involve no out-of-pocket payments during the project (interest can be rolled up or taken from new rent after the upgrade). In short, we're faster, more creative, and our investors are willing to fund modest office upgrades that banks might not consider.

Our initial consultation and application process are free. If the landlord and the investor both decide to move forward, we typically charge a small arrangement fee (often a percentage of the funding amount, disclosed up front – e.g. 1-2%) to cover due diligence and legal costs. This can often be built into the funding so you don't pay it out-of-pocket (no hidden fees). We make our return from the agreed interest or profit share in the deal itself. All terms (interest rate, share percentage, any fees) will be clearly presented in the offer before you commits.

It's generally quick. After you submit your project details, we can usually give an in-principle match within 10 business days. Once terms are agreed and legal documents are signed, funding can be drawn in as little as 2–3 weeks. Overall, from first contact to funds reserved for the project, it may take around 3–6 weeks depending on the complexity of the deal (sometimes faster for very straightforward cases). This is much faster than conventional financing. We know timing is critical when you have a vacant space to upgrade and lease.

Not necessarily – this is a key benefit of our approach. Most of our financing options allow you to defer payments until the project is done or the property is leasing at higher income. For example, with an interest-only loan, we can roll up the interest and have you pay it in one go when you refinance or at the end of the term. With a revenue share or equity deal, there are no traditional "payments" at all – the investor just takes a portion of the rent once tenants are in. This means you won't be out of pocket while you're still completing improvements or if the space is temporarily empty. The exact structure depends on the agreement we choose, but all are designed to avoid stressing your cash flow during the upgrade phase.

No – any equity stake we take is minority and passive. You remain the decision-maker for the property. The investor would not have management control or say in daily operations; they're simply entitled to their share of the financial returns. Think of it like having a silent partner with a small ownership percentage. In many cases, the equity stake can be temporary (e.g. you buy them out after a few years). We ensure that any arrangement, equity or otherwise, is something you're comfortable with. You'll never be asked to give up majority control of your asset for a sub-£200k improvement project.

We assess projects carefully to ensure there's a solid business case (we want you to succeed!). That said, market conditions can vary. If the outcome is below projections, the structures like revenue share or equity automatically adjust – e.g. the investor shares that risk with the landlord by nature of getting a percentage of actual results. In a worst-case scenario where even with upgrades the property doesn't increase in value or income, a traditional loan would still need to be repaid (your property is the collateral). But we could work on solutions – perhaps extending the term or converting to an equity stake – to avoid fire-selling the property. Our goal is to be a partner, not a predator. By focusing on high-impact, low-risk upgrades (like the ones we target), we aim to maximise the chance that improvements pay off as planned.

Investments are primarily secured against the property itself. In legal terms, the finance is usually secured by a charge on the property's title (second charge if there's an existing mortgage). This means the property is the ultimate collateral for repayment. We typically do not require personal guarantees for these small development loans, assuming the deal metrics are solid, though in some cases a limited guarantee might be discussed. There's no requirement to provide additional collateral beyond the property in most deals. In summary, the office building and its future income serve as the security – your other assets are generally not on the line.

Our sweet spot is smaller-scale projects – generally under £200k in funding and focused on light or moderate refurbishments. If you have a bigger project (e.g. a multi-million-pound gut renovation or addition of new floors), that might be outside our scope. However, we're happy to advise or potentially co-fund alongside other financing if it fits. Our mission is to help upgrade the "in-between" projects that are too small for most banks but too large to fund from petty cash. If you're unsure, just ask – we can quickly tell you if it's a fit for our platform or if we can refer you elsewhere for larger financing needs.

Simple – outline what your space needs in the form above and we'll get back to you within two business days!