Buying your business premises or a property to let?
A preparation guide for the first broker conversation.
Matt Lenzie
Commercial Mortgages Broker
15 October 2026
| Use | Income to explain |
|---|---|
| Your business trades there | Business cash available for repayments |
| You let it to commercial tenants | Rent and the terms governing receipt |
Tell your broker if your own company will rent from a separate property company, or if the building has residential space.
CMB’s guide to commercial mortgage types explains the routes. Lenders assess the full structure.
| Prepare | Include |
|---|---|
| Borrower | Proposed owner and borrowing entity |
| Property | Address, current use, tenure and particulars |
| Funding | Price, loan request, deposit amount and source |
| Timing | Target completion and known dependencies |
Keep purchase costs and cash reserves separate from the deposit. CMB’s commercial mortgage service covers finance for business premises and commercial investments.
| Evidence to organise | Question it helps answer |
|---|---|
| Financial accounts | How has the business performed? |
| Recent management figures | What has changed since year end? |
| Cash-flow forecast | Can cash cover repayments after the move? |
Explain moving costs and any period when both old and new premises need funding.
Preparation prompts, not a universal lender checklist. Allica’s mortgage guide discusses accounts, current performance and forecasts.
| Evidence to organise | What to highlight |
|---|---|
| Leases and rent schedule | Tenant, annual rent, expiry and breaks |
| Payment record | Rent received and any arrears |
| Incentives and empty space | Rent-free periods and letting assumptions |
Separate contracted rent from expected receipts. Ask how the lender will assess lease terms and affordability.
These are preparation prompts. Your broker should confirm the documents and periods the chosen lender needs.
| Illustrative lease | Cash received |
|---|---|
| Annual rent, paid monthly | £60,000 ÷ 12 = £5,000 |
| First three months rent-free | 3 × £5,000 = £15,000 forgone |
| Remaining nine months paid in full | 9 × £5,000 = £45,000 |
The first-year forecast needs to explain the £15,000 difference before costs and mortgage payments.
Hypothetical, not a client case or lender affordability formula. Assumes the lease starts at the beginning of year one. Excludes VAT, arrears, costs and later rent changes.
“We plan to buy [property and use] for [price], borrowing [amount]. Our deposit is [amount and source]. Repayments would come from [business cash flow or rent].”
“We aim to complete by [date]. We have [documents ready]. The outstanding issue is [missing evidence or uncertainty].”
Use this outline to discuss your case with Commercial Mortgages Broker.
Ask for the lender-specific document list and a secure route for financial records. Completing this checklist does not establish eligibility or guarantee an offer.
Allica Bank: commercial mortgages guide
Occupancy routes and financial evidence.
Aldermore: commercial mortgage application
Borrower, property, loan and deposit fields. This form covers its stated £500,000 to £3 million range, not the whole market.
Sources checked 15 October 2026. No lender rates or eligibility thresholds are recommended. The cash illustration is CMB’s own arithmetic.
Matt Lenzie, Commercial Mortgages Broker. CMB is a commercial mortgage broker with a commercial interest in enquiries. OpenAI Codex assisted with research, drafting and layout. Educational preparation guide, not a lending decision.