Why discipline matters in bridging lending

Last week I wrote about trust.

This week, I want to talk about discipline in bridging lending.

As a relatively new entrant to the market, there’s sometimes a mistaken view that we have to lend. Of course, if we don’t lend, we don’t have a business. But equally, not every request fits our criteria, and that’s by design.

At Inhale Capital, we currently don’t do development, heavy refurbishment, or land without planning.

There are plenty of lenders who do this exceptionally well. At this stage of our journey, however, those transactions sit further up the risk curve than we’re comfortable with.

Discipline comes from knowing what you can do, and just as importantly, what you shouldn’t.

With over 30 years in the property market and as a qualified Chartered Surveyor, I’m comfortable undertaking our own in-house valuations across all asset types, including commercial property.

That won’t work for every lender – sometimes funding structures don’t allow it, sometimes the asset class simply isn’t well understood.

For us, it brings clarity.

We use one value: what we believe the asset is worth.No confusion over market value vs 180-day or 90-day values.No unnecessary uncertainty for the borrower.

Yes, we want to grow the loan book. But we’ll do so in a disciplined way, on assets we understand and where our expertise genuinely adds value.

Stick to what you know.

Stay in your lane.

And stay disciplined even when the requests keep coming.