What Brokers Need: Stronger Support, Better Outcomes

Brokers share what drove demand in 2025

We split our questions into two key areas: broker’s previous experience, and their preferences for the future. Our first question – “Thinking about your own experience, are the following statements true or false for you?” – revealed an interesting binary result.

The statements: “In 2025, I worked with specialist lenders to find loans for clients” (53%); “In 2025, I saw more enquiries relating to specialist finance than I did in 2024” (64%); and “I am confident in identifying when specialist finance is appropriate for a client” (60%) were selected most among our respondents.

But the answers with the fewest selections somewhat counteracted these results. Only 37% agreed with the statement: “Clients are generally already well-informed about specialist finance options before speaking to me”.

This was followed by “I am knowledgeable enough about specialist finance to clearly explain to my clients what it is, and how and why they could use it” (46%), and “Specialist finance/specialist lenders now form an important part of the advice/products I offer to clients” (47%).

Brokers appear happy to work with specialist lenders, yet aren’t confident when it comes to breaking down a specialist loan’s benefits to their clients. Most seem to be able to identify when a specialist loan is appropriate, but also believe most borrowers aren’t well-informed on the specialist finance options available to them.

Clearly, there are kinks to work out here. There are many brokers and borrowers out there who need to educate themselves on this market. This could only lead to positive results for brokers, and lenders alike.

Indeed, while specialist lending is on the rise generally, that increase could be substantially higher if we tackle these blind spots. A report tracking the intermediary mortgage market revealed that in Q3 2025[3], residential lending made up over two-thirds of intermediaries’ business, with BTL at about a fifth. Yet, specialist lending was only used for around one case in ten.

Circumstances that needed specialist finance

For the brokers in our survey who worked with specialist lenders to find loans for their clients, we then asked them specifically: What, if any, types of specialist finance solutions did you source for your clients in 2025?

Complicated circumstances take the top spot

Complex income, adverse credit, or self-employed cases took the top spot with 42%. This is understandable, considering how complicated the market has become. Borrowers have been beset by countless economic and political challenges in recent years.

In fact, a specialist lending study covering 2025[4] found that 30% of adults in the UK (16.6 million) have experienced adverse credit at some point in their lives. This was an increase from 15.3 million the previous year, and the highest figure to date.

This highlights the continued impact of the cost-of-living crisis. What’s more, 9.26 million UK adults have experienced adverse credit within the last three years and of those, 8.21 million have missed a credit payment.

Short-term objectives

Second place for types of specialist finance in our results was “bridging and short-term finance”, with 40%. This is pretty self-explanatory. But if we look at what’s going on in the property market, it’s clear to see why short-term finance has become especially useful. So useful in fact that it’s evident that more brokers could benefit greatly by partnering with bespoke lenders, or learning more about their options.

Fall throughs reached in excess of 300,000 throughout 2025, according to the latest TwentyCi data[5], 4.5% higher than 2024. What’s more, price changes topped 1,000,000 (up 10.8%), and the number of withdrawn properties hit 803,612 (up 7.6%).

Evidently, brokers and borrowers need quick, short-term finance solutions when their circumstances shift suddenly, and unexpectedly. Given how much uncertainty still lingers in the market, chances are there will be a clear need for bridging and short-term finance for some time.

We’re finally set to get building

In third place, we had development finance/development exit finance (30%). Given how much emphasis is being placed on building more homes in the UK[6], it’s unsurprising that brokers are seeing an uptick in development funding needs.

Fortunately, we’re likely to see efforts to get building pay off over the coming months. Barclays’ latest Business Prosperity Index report[7] revealed that despite affordability pressures, regulatory challenges and financial caution – four in five businesses operating in housebuilding and its supply chains remain confident about their outlook for the year ahead.

Specifically, architects (+2.3%) and quantity surveyors (+4.8%) recorded rising incoming cash flows between Q3 2024 and Q3 2025, signalling strengthening activity at the initial phases of the development pipeline. Also, looking ahead, leaders plan to increase total investment by around 38% over the next 12 months, including marketing (42%), new equipment (39%), and paying to attract talent (37%).

Brokers would like more support from their clubs and networks

We also turned our attention to brokers who were registered with one or more mortgage clubs or networks. We asked these brokers whether they agreed or disagreed with network- or club-related statements. The results showed that an overwhelming majority would like more guidance and support from the clubs and networks they work with.

Of those who are registered with at least one network or club, they either agreed or strongly agreed with the following statements:

• I would benefit from stronger support and education from my network/club(s) for specialist finance cases. (69%)
• Clearer guidance on specialist lender criteria and processes from my network/club(s) would help me place more cases. (69%)
• The tools and technology available through my network/club(s) could be improved to better support specialist finance solutions. (77%)
• My network/club(s) could do more to actively encourage me to explore specialist finance opportunities. (66%)
• Better collaboration between my network/club(s) and specialist lenders would improve outcomes for my clients. (70%)

The other end of this scale was also revealing. Only 52% of our respondents agreed with the statement: “I have enough flexibility from my network/club(s) to support specialist finance clients effectively”.

Mortgage clubs and networks clearly need to better synchronise with their brokers, especially considering just how many rely on them for support. Network Consulting Services’ latest Network League Table[8] update showed that the mortgage network sector continued its upward trajectory in 2025.

There was a net increase of 275 Appointed Representative (AR) firms across the top 30 networks holding mortgage permissions. What’s more, nearly a fifth of brokers expect to retire in the next decade. But the number of younger brokers aged 18-30 registered between 2021 and 2024 rose by 10%.[9]As new generations of brokers replace the old, they will need guidance and support on how best to place their deals.

What can we prioritise to help brokers?

When it comes to supporting brokers and their underlying borrowers, both lenders as well as mortgage clubs and networks have their parts to play. For our final question within the survey, we asked brokers to think about the specialist market more broadly. We asked them to identify what, if anything, did they believe would most help brokers better understand and access specialist lending.

Our respondents were allowed to select up to three options, and the top three choices proved illuminating. “Fast decisions in principles (DIPs) from specialist lenders” took the top spot (32%). After this was “Improved training and guidance from networks and clubs” (29%), and “Greater flexibility around regulation and compliance” (26%).

Clearly, there is scope for better collaboration between brokers and their clubs and networks. Specialist lenders can also enhance their support efforts but at Market Financial Solutions, we like to think we’re already ahead of the curve here.

Market Financial Solutions is one of the few specialist lenders that is CPD accredited. Currently, we have seven property- and specialist finance-related courses available, which collectively provide 11 hours of structured CPD.

We were also one of the main contributors to the Certified Practitioner in Specialist Property Finance (CPSP) course, which was designed to illuminate the benefits of specialist finance, and raise standards within the industry.

We also have a broad range of free resources available which break down every facet of specialist finance, and how it fits in within the property market. Reports, comprehensive guides, blogs, case studies, and even podcast updates are all available to brokers at the click of a button.

For any industry to thrive, collaboration and mutual support are essential. We all should be mindful of that as we move through 2026 and beyond.

Reflecting on the findings – The view of our CEO

“Every industry’s success is built on the relationships that underpin it. In 2026, specialist lending is proving just how vital those relationships are – not only in supporting borrowers, but in helping brokers navigate an increasingly complex property landscape.

Our research makes one thing clear: specialist finance is no longer a niche solution. Demand is rising, brokers are seeing more enquiries, and bridging in particular has become an essential tool when circumstances shift quickly. But while the market has grown at pace, understanding and accessibility have not always kept up. Too many brokers still feel that specialist lending remains harder to explain, harder to place, or harder to access than it should be.

We cannot afford to view this as a lender challenge alone – it is an industry challenge. Brokers sit at the heart of the market, yet many are calling for stronger education, clearer guidance, and better collaboration from the clubs and networks they rely on. If specialist finance is to reach its full potential, we must ensure brokers are properly equipped, supported, and empowered to use these solutions with confidence.

There are encouraging signs. Specialist lending is increasingly being used for complex income cases, adverse credit, and short-term needs – precisely the scenarios where flexibility and speed matter most. And with the specialist mortgage market forecast to grow significantly over the coming years, the opportunity ahead is undeniable. But sustaining that momentum will depend on how well we work together to remove barriers, improve processes, and build greater awareness across the market.

At Market Financial Solutions, we’ve long believed that progress starts with partnership. Supporting brokers through CPD-accredited education, contributing to industry qualifications, and providing accessible resources isn’t just good practice – it’s essential.

Specialist finance has already become one of the most important pillars of the UK property market. The next chapter depends on whether we can make it simpler to access, easier to explain, and stronger through collaboration. Market Financial Solutions is already ahead of the curve, and we’re only just getting started.”

Paresh Raja
CEO of Market Financial Solutions