Roma Finance describes its own underwriting as "lending less ordinary": personalised, non-scorecard assessment built around auction, conversion and refurbishment cases, with over 80% of its RomaFLOW product completing within 28 days. It is one of the lenders Boxx Finance turns to for bridging loans where the exit is a term product Roma itself can also provide.
Roma Finance at a glance
| Roma Finance | |
|---|---|
| Loan size | £75,000 to £3 million (larger by referral) |
| Security | First charge |
| Coverage | Mainland UK |
| Regulation | Unregulated |
| Maximum LTV | 75% residential; land with planning 55%, or 60% loan-to-GDV |
| Term | 12 to 18 months |
| Rates from | 0.59% per month on residential and auction cases |
| Valuations | AVMs up to 70% LTV and £500,000, purchase and refinance |
| Speed | Over 80% of RomaFLOW cases complete within 28 days |
| Fees | No exit fee across most of the range |
What this means in practice
Roma's RomaPRO range of buy-to-let, HMO, holiday let and serviced accommodation term products means a refurbishment or conversion bridge can exit directly onto a Roma term product without a separate refinance search once the works are complete. That is a genuinely joined-up bridge-to-term route, and it removes one of the biggest uncertainties in any refurbishment bridge: whether a term lender will take the finished property.
How it works
Loans run from £75,000 up to £3 million, larger by referral, secured by first charge across mainland UK on an unregulated basis. Residential security reaches 75% LTV, with terms of 12 to 18 months. Land with planning permission is capped at 55% LTV, or 60% loan-to-GDV. Rates start from 0.59% per month on residential and auction cases; semi-commercial and commercial pricing is quoted case by case.
Automated valuations are used up to 70% LTV and £500,000, on both purchase and refinance, which removes the wait for a physical valuation on qualifying cases. No exit fee applies across most of the range.
How a case with Roma typically runs
Because Roma underwrites without a scorecard, the case is assessed on its own merits: the property, the works, the borrower's plan and the exit. On auction purchases, the RomaFLOW track record of over 80% completing within 28 days fits the standard auction completion window. Where the plan is a conversion or refurbishment, it helps to agree the intended RomaPRO exit early, so the finished property is designed around the term product it will move onto.
How Roma Finance compares with other lenders on the panel
Its closest rival for refurbishment is Hope Capital, whose FLIP product handles a growing scope of works; the Roma Finance vs Hope Capital comparison sets out when each fits. LendInvest also offers a bridge-to-let incentive, with free legals and valuation on a LendInvest buy-to-let exit, though it lends in England and Wales only.
For facilities above £3 million, lenders such as Shawbrook or West One Loans are built for larger loans. For HMO projects, our guide to bridging loans for HMO conversion covers the wider process, and for heritage property see bridging loans for listed buildings.
Who it suits
Roma Finance suits auction purchases, conversion and renovation projects, developer exit, ground-up development, HMOs, serviced accommodation, holiday lets, Grade II listed buildings and part-built sites, and specifically cases where the borrower wants the bridge and the eventual term exit from the same lender via RomaPRO.
Where it is not the strongest fit
The £3 million ceiling without referral rules Roma out for larger facilities; it is not built as a large-loan lender. Semi-commercial and commercial pricing is quoted case by case rather than as a headline rate, and Roma lends on an unregulated basis only.
Working to an auction deadline
Auction purchases usually need to complete within a fixed period set out in the auction terms, and the deposit is at risk if the buyer cannot complete in time. The practical answer is to line up the finance before the auction rather than after it. That means an agreement in principle, a view on the valuation route and a solicitor ready to review the legal pack. Roma's non-scorecard underwriting and RomaFLOW track record suit this kind of timeline, but the preparation before the hammer falls is what makes the deadline achievable. Our guide to financing auction property covers the process in more detail.
Questions worth asking before you apply
- Is the intended exit a RomaPRO product? If so, agree it at the outset.
- Does the case qualify for an AVM, at up to 70% LTV and £500,000?
- On an auction purchase, can the case run on the RomaFLOW track?
- Is the facility under £3 million, or will it need referral?
- For land, does the scheme have planning permission, and which LTV basis gives the better figure?
Summary
Roma Finance is a strong choice for refurbishment and conversion projects that need a genuinely joined-up term exit, with speed as a real differentiator on RomaFLOW cases. Figures above are correct as of May 2026 and should be confirmed with your broker before an application.
