About Us

At the Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA), we protect and promote the interests of our lender members and their customers. As the only trade association dedicated to bridging and development lenders, we give confidence to all parties who transact business with the sector, helping to raise standards and build growth in a sustainable, customer-focused market. We regularly engage with journalists, regulators and policy makers to raise awareness and increase engagement with the sector.

Formerly known as the Association of Short Term Lenders (ASTL), the association originally launched in 2008, and since then we have played an instrumental role in helping to grow the size and reputation of the bridging and development lending industry.

In 2023, we launched the Certified Practitioner in Specialist Property Finance (CPSP), following a joint initiative with the Financial Intermediary & Broker Association (FIBA) and the London Institute of Banking & Finance (LIBF), and this represents a major stepping stone in continuing to enhance standards, increase professionalism and advance the reputation of the specialist finance sector.

BDLA Objectives 

At the BDLA, we have created a group of organisations with common interests, who all sign up to the association’s Code of Conduct and Membership Rules.

As an association, we have a number of objectives:

• Collect and distribute industry statistics
• Provide members with updates on regulatory issues that affect, or are likely to affect, the industry
• Protect members’ interests, including fraud prevention
• Handle external relations, and collaborate with the press and regulatory authorities
• Work with regulatory authorities to ensure new rules and regulations are implemented with consideration to the short term lending industry and remain in the best interests of our customers
• Give confidence to the public, businesses, the financial community and all parties who transact with the members

Code of Conduct

All BDLA members must commit to upholding and maintaining the standards and behaviours as set out in our Code of Conduct document.

The Code of Conduct requires members to:

• act in a professional manner, with honesty and integrity in their dealings with customers
• disclose all costs and fees up front, with no small print or misrepresentation of product offerings
• not charge non-refundable fees which could be perceived as being excessive
• not issue terms nor charge fees where they do not expect to lend
• follow up customer complaints in a professional and speedy manner
• abide by the rules imposed by relevant regulatory authorities, other trade bodies and the BDLA

Click here for the full Code of Conduct | Click here for full Membership Rules

Membership Benefits

There continues to be ever-increasing competition in the short-term lending space. BDLA membership distinguishes all its members as those that set the benchmark high for quality service and customer focus.

The BDLA is the only trade association that solely represents the interests of short-term property lenders, including bridging and development finance providers, receiving regular, favourable commentary in the press. This often includes mention of member firms and we offer the opportunity to co-author press articles for publication.  There is also the opportunity to contribute to our monthly newsletter.

The BDLA agenda is always busy and fraud prevention remains high on the list of priorities. BDLA members benefit from group membership of the SIRA anti-fraud software, which provides a highly developed solution to fraud prevention, as well as preferential terms with National Hunter. For example, fees for National Hunter are charged per enquiry, which is more appropriate for smaller firms.  The BDLA currently pays the one-off joining fee. There is also the opportunity to join fraud prevention meetings where members can discuss issues under strict ‘Chatham House’ rules.

At the BDLA, we maintain an ongoing communication with all key industry stakeholders. This has previously included dialogue with HM Treasury on the COVID-19 moratorium, access to court proceedings on defaults and the Stamp Duty Land Tax holiday deadline and extensions.

We continue to monitor and test regulatory and market issues which we believe may affect our members and we encourage active debate and support. We have and will continue to represent our sector with the FCA and HM Treasury and, wherever possible, we endeavour to work closely with NACFB, FIBA, AMI and the CML to encourage a collaborative and aligned approach.

Here’s a summary of some of the benefits of membership:

• Participation in a group of highly responsible lenders that all share a common interest in acting with integrity and adherence to the highest of standards, at all times
• Interaction between Lender and Associate Members covering a wide range of disciplines from legal and audit, through to valuation and property management
• Representation to the FCA, HM Treasury and other important regulatory and trade bodies
• Access to meetings arranged jointly with broker trade bodies
• Access to the HMRC Mortgage Verification Scheme
• Reduced cost to access National SIRA and Hunter Fraud System
• Informal group meetings for members to discuss current market issues
• Formal meetings and lunches to debate topics of the day and seminars where members staff are encouraged to participate
• Quarterly data distribution providing insight to current market trends
• Regular Industry sentiment surveys
• Regular updates, both legal and regulatory, on bridging and associated industry issues
• Opportunity to contribute to, and be mentioned within, BDLA press coverage
• Contribution to the BDLA monthly newsletter
• Inclusion on the BDLA website including a link to your own website and use of the BDLA logo

Click here for full Membership Rules | Join the Association

BDLA Executive Committee

OUR MEMBERS & ASSOCIATES

We are proud to represent the interests of our Members and Associate Members.