Top 6 Secured Business Loan Providers in the UK (2026)

A secured business loan uses a business or personal asset – usually property – as collateral in exchange for lower interest rates and access to larger sums. Of the six UK lenders we verified for 2026, advertised rates start at 5.24% (Shawbrook, commercial mortgages), amounts run from £3,000 (Nucleus) to £35 million, and most price case-by-case rather than publishing a rate card. Here is how they compare.

What Is a Secured Business Loan?

A secured business loan is a term loan where the borrower pledges an asset – commercial or residential property, equipment, or other business assets – as security against the loan. If the business defaults, the lender can seize the asset to recover its money. In return for this security, lenders offer lower interest rates, larger loan amounts, and longer repayment terms than equivalent unsecured products.

The most common form of business security in the UK is a charge over commercial property, either owned by the business or by a company director personally. For smaller loans, lenders often accept a personal guarantee instead of a formal charge – technically not a “secured” loan in legal terms, but functionally similar if the director has personal assets behind the guarantee.

Secured lending gives lenders a clear recovery route if you default, which is why rates are substantially lower than unsecured equivalents. The key structural difference from unsecured loans: if you default, the lender’s first recourse is the pledged asset, not just legal action against you personally.

The Top 6 Secured Business Loan Providers Compared

All six lenders below were verified against their own published terms in July 2026. Most do not publish rates – that is normal for secured lending, where pricing depends on the property, loan-to-value ratio and covenant strength. Where a from-rate appears, note its basis: Nucleus prices per month, not as an APR.

Nucleus is the accessible small-ticket option: secured loans of £3,000 to £500,000 against residential or commercial property in England and Wales, priced from 1% per month. That is a monthly rate, not an APR – roughly 12% a year and up before compounding, so compare carefully against bank alternatives on longer terms.

Uniquely among the six, Nucleus states it does not turn businesses away on trading history alone – start-ups are considered, and third-party guarantors are accepted if you lack property of your own. Expect around 2–3 weeks to complete once the property valuation is done.

Together’s secured business loan covers £30,000 to £5 million against a home, commercial premises or investment property, with terms from 3 to 40 years – the longest maximum term of the six. It accepts businesses from 12 months trading, considers expat and non-UK applicants, and handles complex ownership structures that mainstream banks decline.

Together does not publish a rate for the secured business loan itself; its separate commercial property mortgage advertises rates from 8.74%. Watch the fee stack – arrangement, early repayment and redemption administration fees all apply, with amounts disclosed at quote stage.

Allica specialises in established trading businesses buying or refinancing their own premises: £150,000 to £10 million over 5–30 years, at up to 80% loan-to-value on owner-occupied property – the highest LTV we verified. You apply directly online rather than through a broker, and one published case study cites a mortgage offer within seven days.

The gate is history: Allica requires two full years of financial accounts, so newer businesses should look to Together or Nucleus instead. Arrangement fees are published – 1.5% on owner-occupied lending, 2% on investment – but rates are quoted individually.

Shawbrook publishes what most secured lenders will not: rates from 5.24%, on commercial and semi-commercial mortgages of £150,000 to £35 million over 3–25 years, at up to 75% LTV. Fixed terms of 2, 3, 5 and 10 years are available; variable pricing tracks Shawbrook’s own base rate.

Note the from-rate is not stated as an APR, and distribution is broker-led – Shawbrook passes direct enquiries to partner brokers rather than taking applications itself. For businesses borrowing above £5 million it is effectively the only option on this list alongside Cambridge & Counties.

Atom lends £100,000 to £10 million secured on commercial property over 2–25 years at up to 75% LTV, with fixed terms of 2–6 years or a variable rate over Bank of England base. A Growth Guarantee Scheme variant covers £250,000 to £2 million for businesses that need the government-backed route.

Two things to know before shortlisting Atom: it is strictly intermediary-only, so you must apply through a commercial broker, and it publishes no rates – only a 2% fee is stated. A useful sweetener: 10% annual overpayment is allowed without early repayment charges.

Cambridge & Counties lends £150,000 to £15 million (minimum £500,000 in Scotland) over 1–25 years at up to 70% of open market value, with variable or 3/5-year fixed options priced case-by-case. Its commercial investment product is aimed squarely at experienced property investors rather than first-time borrowers.

A borrower-friendly policy worth noting: no valuation fee is payable until the loan is approved, which removes one of the sunk costs that stings elsewhere when secured applications fall through.

Secured vs Unsecured Business Loans: Key Differences

Use a secured loan when you need more than £100K, want the lowest possible interest rate, or need a term longer than 5 years. Use an unsecured loan when you need speed, don’t have assets to pledge, or need less than £100K and can absorb a higher rate. The rate differential between secured and unsecured is typically 5–15 percentage points – enough to make a meaningful difference on large or long-term borrowing.

Types of Secured Business Loan

The main types of secured business loan in the UK are: commercial mortgages (buy or refinance business premises), asset finance (secured against the equipment or vehicle being purchased), bridging loans (short-term property-secured finance, typically 1–18 months), and secured term loans (general-purpose, secured against existing property or assets). Each has a different use case, term profile, and lender market.

Commercial mortgages are secured against commercial property and used to purchase, develop, or refinance business premises. Terms run 5–25 years at rates typically 1–3% above the Bank of England base rate. Minimum loan is usually £50K–£100K, and a 25–40% deposit is standard for new purchases.

Asset finance (hire purchase, finance lease) is secured against the asset being acquired – vehicles, plant, machinery, technology. The asset itself is the security, which reduces rates significantly compared to unsecured equipment purchases. See our asset finance guide and business car finance comparison for the vehicle-specific market.

Bridging loans are short-term (1–24 months), high-value, property-secured finance used to bridge a gap – typically between buying a new property and selling an old one, or completing a development while awaiting permanent finance. Rates are higher than commercial mortgages (0.5–1.5% per month) but the speed of completion (days rather than weeks) justifies the cost in time-sensitive situations.

Secured Business Loan Rates in 2026

Advertised secured rates start at 5.24% (Shawbrook commercial mortgages) but most of the six verified lenders publish no rate at all – pricing is set case-by-case from loan-to-value, property type and covenant strength. With the Bank of England base rate at 3.75%, variable secured pricing typically sits at base plus a lender margin.

The rate you receive depends primarily on: loan-to-value ratio (lower LTV = lower rate), property type and condition, your business’s financial strength, loan amount and term, and whether you take a fixed or variable rate. Treat every advertised from-rate as a best-case anchor, not a quote – and check the basis, since specialist lenders like Nucleus price per month rather than annually.

How to Apply for a Secured Business Loan

Applying for a secured business loan involves additional steps compared to unsecured lending: a professional valuation of the security asset is required, which takes 2–4 weeks and costs £500–£1,500. You’ll also need a solicitor to handle the legal charge registration at Companies House. Budget 4–8 weeks for the full process from application to funds. Brokers who specialise in commercial lending can significantly accelerate this by preparing your application correctly before submission.

1. Identify your security – which asset you’re pledging, its estimated value, and whether it has any existing charges (mortgages or loans already secured against it).
2. Prepare your financials – 2 years of filed accounts, 6 months of bank statements, cash flow forecasts. Secured lenders conduct more thorough due diligence than unsecured lenders.
3. Get a professional valuation – most lenders require a RICS-qualified valuer to assess property used as security. This is typically arranged by the lender and costs £500–£1,500, payable by the borrower (Cambridge & Counties defers this until approval).
4. Appoint a solicitor – the legal charge must be registered at Companies House (for company assets) or HM Land Registry (for property). Solicitor fees are typically £1,000–£3,000 depending on complexity.
5. Review the facility letter carefully – check the charge type (fixed vs floating), repayment schedule, early repayment penalty, and what triggers a default clause.

Alternatives to Secured Business Loans

If you don’t have assets to secure against, or need funds faster than a secured loan allows, the main alternatives are: unsecured business loans (higher rate, no asset risk, faster), invoice finance (if the cash flow gap is driven by unpaid invoices), or a revolving credit facility (for recurring short-term needs). For property-related funding, development finance and commercial bridging are secured alternatives that operate faster than standard commercial mortgages.

• Unsecured Business Loans UK – no collateral required, faster decisions
• Best Invoice Factoring Companies – release cash tied up in invoices
• Short-Term Business Loans – 3–18 month working capital options
• Asset Finance UK – acquire equipment using the asset itself as security
• Business Loan Costs & Rates UK 2026 – compare total cost across loan types

Clara Wenslow

Finance & Business Services Editor

Clara analyses SME finance and procurement markets, covering business loans, invoice finance, payroll, and related B2B services. She ensures each comparison and guide is transparent and data-driven.

Reviewed by

Sarah Mitchell

B2B Commerce & Finance Reviewer