Back to Blog
January 17, 2025

How LendInvest’s Technology is Transforming the UK Property Finance Market

Erik Niewiarowski Written by Erik Niewiarowski
Blog post
Share this article:

The UK property market remains a resilient performer, blending value creation for developers with the stability of asset-backed returns for investors. 

Increasingly, technology has become a critical driver of growth in the sector, addressing inefficiencies and unlocking new opportunities across the sector. 

This focus on the value of technology in disrupting and evolving the sector was a core part of a recent interview between LendInvest CEO Rod Lockhart and Rae Maile, Managing Director of Research at investment bank Panmure Liberum. The below write up captures the core elements of the conversation – from LendInvest’s founding ambitions to insights into why some of the world’s biggest banks choose to partner with the company.

Why LendInvest was founded

LendInvest was founded to meet a critical need in the UK property finance market, addressing gaps left by traditional lenders.

“Initially, the business focused on providing finance to parts of the market uderserved by traditional lenders,” Lockhart explained.

“But we quickly realised that technology could evolve the market, addressing frustrations like slow application processes and inefficient underwriting, while supporting growth for investors and developers through a seamless experience.”

This early insight became the foundation of LendInvest’s strategy, enabling it to develop a technology-led service proposition that delivers better outcomes for brokers, borrowers and institutional investors alike.

Mortgages. Simple for everyone.

View our products

The Value of Technology

Lockhart highlighted the dual impact of LendInvest’s technology: faster, more transparent process for borrowers and brokers, and greater efficiency and scalability for investors. “It’s a win-win for borrowers and investors alike,” he said.

“Our platform allows LendInvest to deliver property finance faster and more transparently than traditional lenders, many of which struggle with interconnected legacy systems that hinder agility,” he explained. In contrast, LendInvest’s modern, cloud-based platform facilitates swift changes to pricing, underwriting and customer data assessments.

“Borrowers and brokers benefit from enhanced speed and personalisation, which means LendInvest competes on the quality of its service rather than solely on price.”

The benefits of LendInvest’s bespoke technology also extend to investors.

“A single underwriter on our platform can now process over £100 million in mortgages annually,” Lockhart explained.

“It’s this kind of operational leverage that sets LendInvest apart, underpinning our strong performance for both borrowers and investors. The more efficient we can make our systems, the better returns we can deliver for all of our investors – capital and equity alike.”

Rod Lockhart, CEO of LendInvest

Developing Technology to Fit Market Dynamics

LendInvest’s technology is also designed to adapt to evolving market dynamics, a crucial element of its competitive advantage.

“We release new updates daily to ensure our platform remains ahead of the curve,” Lockhart notes.

An example of this adaptability is the platform’s ability to support professional landlords in the Buy-to-Let (BTL) sector. Since 2015, tax and regulatory changes have made it increasingly difficult for amateur landlords to operate.

“This shift has driven the professionalisation of landlords, with many now managing larger and more complex portfolios,” Lockhart explained.

The platform is built to handle these complex needs, from financing portfolio acquisitions to supporting property conversions into residential opportunities such as Housing for Multiple Occupancies (HMOs).

“For example, a landlord might start with a bridging loan to refurbish a property and later move on to a larger development loan for a bigger project. LendInvest’s platform support their aspirations across multiple products, helping them secure financing in a risk-controlled, sustainable way.”

Why Big Banks Invest with LendInvest

LendInvest’s funding model includes a divers range of investors, from individuals using the self-select platform to major institutions.

Lockhart highlighted the strength of this approach: “Our diversity of investors, from individuals to global institutions like JP Morgan and HSBC, reflects the UK property market’s status as a strong investable proposition.”

The company’s technology and expertise allow it to offer access to niche property finance markets that traditional institutions find difficult to accomodate.

Lockhart added: “JP Morgan, one of the world’s biggest banks, partners with LendInvest to access niche markets that are otherwise difficult to serve.”

The partnerships validate LendInvest’s business model while supporting liquidity in the UK property market.

“Our capital-light approach, combined with recurring revenue streams from initiatives like annual RMBS securitisations, attracts further investment and helps keep funds flowing into this critical sector,” he added.

Ambitions for the Future

Looking ahead, LendInvest is focused on scaling its operations and expanding its impact on the UK housing market.

“We’re an ambitious business operating in deep markets,” Lockhart said. “We expect to significantly grow our assets under management, increasing lending volumes year after year.

“More widely, we’ll continue to expand the breadth and depth of our product offerings, to ensure we continue to grow both market share, shareholder value and support risk-controlled sustainable lending growth across the UK property finance market.”

Lockart also emphasised the resilience and adaptability that underpin these ambitions.

“The property finance sector has faced challenging times recently, but we’ve emerged strong by focusing on cost efficiency and evolving our funding model. These foundations position us well to deliver long-term calue for investors while continuing to support the UK housing market.”

Through its innovative technology, diverse funding base and commitment to supporting underserved segments of the property finance market, LendInvest is reshaping the future of UK property finance, one milestone at a time.

To watch the interview, click here.

Ready to Cut the Complex?

Go to Products

Tagged under:Invest

Related articles in Invest

view all
How LendInvest’s Technology is Transforming the UK Property Finance Market
Invest

How LendInvest’s Technology is Transforming the UK Property Finance Market

Portal Updates; 3 new ways we’re making mortgages simple
Borrow

Portal Updates; 3 new ways we’re making mortgages simple

You didn’t ask. We listened: How we’re using user insights to make mortgages simple
Technology

You didn’t ask. We listened: How we’re using user insights to make mortgages simple