Drawdown achieved in just eight working days
Cambridge & Counties Bank worked in partnership with long‑standing broker Stewart Hindley & Partners to support an experienced property investor with the purchase of a fully income‑producing mixed‑use asset in the West Midlands.
The investor, whose diversified property and business portfolio spans hospitality, retail and residential holdings, sought funding to acquire a new asset on a busy high street as part of their wider long‑term investment strategy. The opportunity was time‑sensitive, with pressure from the vendor to complete quickly and a multi‑party legal chain involving three sets of solicitors.
The Challenge
The transaction presented a number of complexities:
- Tight completion deadlines imposed by the vendor
- Multiple solicitors involved across the chain
- Requirement to verify multiple tenancies
- Title Insurance conditions to satisfy
- Need to ensure smooth coordination between broker, Bank and solicitors
- Purchase through a newly established SPV requiring fast set‑up and documentation
Despite the intricacies, the broker recognised that Cambridge & Counties Bank’s responsiveness and relationship-led approach would be the best fit for their client.
Our Solution
From the outset, the Bank and broker worked collaboratively to keep momentum high and reduce friction for the customer.
Key actions included:
- Proactive valuation instruction before final approval, mitigating seasonal delays and enabling early progress
- Swift credit approval, with the £332,500 loan representing 70% LTV against a £475,000 purchase
- Immediate solicitor instruction to enable a fast legal start
- Clear and coordinated communication across all parties to manage Perfect Title Insurance requirements, tenancy checks, CP satisfaction and document flow
- Rapid underwriting sign-offs, including mixed-use asset assessment, DSCR and tenancy verification
- Efficient processing of all drawdown documents, CHAPS verification and final payment authorisation
In addition to close collaboration across all parties, the use of Title Insurance helped streamline key elements of the legal due‑diligence process. This reduced potential bottlenecks and supported the exceptionally fast timeline, enabling solicitors to progress more efficiently through the title and tenancy requirements.
The Outcome
The purchase completed in just eight working days from solicitor instruction - an exceptionally fast turnaround for a term investment loan of this type.
Marco Brice, Head of Direct Business, Cambridge & Counties Bank
“Completing a term investment purchase in just eight working days is an exceptional achievement in this market and a testament to how seamlessly our teams and broker partners work together. This level of pace, without compromising on credit or legal diligence, is exactly what sets Cambridge & Counties Bank apart in delivering for their clients.”
The broker commented that the Bank’s ability to operate at pace was a critical factor in ensuring the client could meet the vendor’s expectations and avoid delays in the chain.
Chris McDonagh, Head of Partnerships, Stewart Hindley & Partners
“This was a time‑critical purchase with a lot of moving parts, but Cambridge & Counties Bank moved quickly, communicated clearly, and were fully aligned with us throughout. Their proactive approach — especially around valuation and legal coordination — made all the difference in getting the client over the line on schedule.”
Why Cambridge & Counties Bank
- Fast, commercially minded underwriting
- Strong broker partnerships
- Relationship-led lending model
- Expertise in mixed‑use and investment property lending
- Ability to coordinate complex legal and valuation processes efficiently
This case once again demonstrates how Cambridge & Counties Bank and broker partners like Stewart Hindley & Partners work together to deliver clarity, certainty and speed for clients - even on time‑pressured and multi‑faceted transactions.