Proven Case Study: Development Finance to Buy-to-Let Refinance for Offshore London Property

Completing a development finance to buy-to-let refinance in the UK requires technical structuring and whole-market lender access. In this case study, Articus Finance secured a high-LTV, five-year fixed, interest-only buy-to-let mortgage for a £750,000 London development originally held offshore. By moving the arrangement onshore seamlessly, we delivered both rental flexibility and long-term investment stability for a high-net-worth client.


Introduction to Development Finance to Buy-to-Let Refinance

Transitioning from development finance to buy-to-let refinance successfully is a vital step for property developers. Development loans are designed for short-term build projects and are often expensive if extended. On completion, a smooth transition into a buy-to-let structure ensures the developer can secure competitive borrowing, retain the property, and earn long-term rental income. Offshore structures complicate this process, making it essential to use specialist lenders and bespoke packaging.

Client Background

Our client was a seasoned developer who had completed a newly built London property worth approximately £750,000. Initially financed with development funding offshore, the client wished to retain the property for rental yield. The offshore company structure which had served its purpose during the construction process became a problem when it came to refinancing within the UK lending system.

The ultimate objective: secure a high-LTV, interest-only buy-to-let facility, allowing income-focused returns rather than an immediate sale. Tax structure, intercompany ownership, and lender scepticism posed challenges that required expert handling.

The Challenge

Arranging a development finance to buy-to-let refinance with an offshore starting point presented several obstacles:

  • Offshore Holding: UK lenders are restrictive towards offshore structures due to compliance and underwriting difficulties.
  • Ownership Transfer: Moving the property from an offshore company to an onshore vehicle required careful legal and intercompany structuring support.
  • Timing Pressure: Development finance was due to expire, and delay could mean high penalty charges.
  • Lender Reluctance: Mainstream banks were unwilling to lend against properties transitioning from offshore structures.
  • Borrower Requirement: The client wanted an interest-only facility at high LTV to maximise flexibility and leverage rental returns.

Our Solution

Articus Finance identified a specialist buy-to-let lender experienced in complex ownership structures and intercompany transfers. Acting swiftly, we engaged the lender’s credit team to ensure full understanding of the client’s circumstances. The bespoke application package included:

  • Full documentation of the offshore ownership structure.
  • Evidence of financial transparency, proving clear beneficial owner identity.
  • Rental yield forecasting for the property, demonstrating affordability on an interest-only basis.
  • Client’s previous track record of successful developments.

By negotiating directly with senior underwriters, we secured a five-year fixed, interest-only buy-to-let mortgage at a high LTV. This arrangement fully refinanced the development debt onto an onshore structure, eliminated penalty risk, and optimised long-term rental returns for the client.

Key Highlights

  • Client Type: High-net-worth developer
  • Property: Newly completed London property, ~£750,000 value
  • Transaction: Seamless development finance to buy-to-let refinance
  • Structure: Offshore to onshore conversion with intercompany transfer
  • Mortgage: Five-year fixed, interest-only, high LTV
  • Result: Refinance executed on time, fully mortgage-approved

Why Articus Finance Delivered

Arranging a development finance to buy-to-let refinance with offshore and intercompany complexities demands specialist skill. Articus Finance delivered by:

  • Whole-Market Access: Working with lenders unavailable to mainstream brokers.
  • Offshore Structuring Insight: Deep experience handling cross-border finance and intercompany transfers.
  • Negotiation Strength: Directly engaging senior decision-makers to secure favourable LTV terms.
  • Timely Execution: Ensuring the refinance completed before development loan expiry.

This outcome highlights why experienced, discreet financial intermediaries are essential in navigating complex real estate transactions.

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Final Thoughts

This case demonstrates how development finance to buy-to-let refinance can be achieved smoothly even when offshore complexity is involved. Articus Finance tailored lender selection, structured a clean ownership transfer, and negotiated an attractive five-year fixed, interest-only arrangement—delivering security, flexibility, and profit potential for a high-net-worth client.


development finance to buy-to-let refinance

Proven Expertise

Our specialist mortgage brokers based in London are highly experienced in negotiating the best mortgages and mortgage rates, no matter how complex your situation.

With over 20 years’ combined experience sourcing the best mortgage deals for global clients, our brokers have the skills, knowledge, and lender relationships to turn your property aspirations into a reality. To find out how we do it, explore our case studies.

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Henry Wong

Mortgage Broker

Henry has amassed over five years of experience in the finance industry, where he has honed his skills in arranging financing facilities for both businesses and individual consumers. At Articus, he leverages his expertise in corporate finance to guide clients in achieving their business objectives, combining a deep understanding of market dynamics with a steadfast commitment to client success. Henry prides himself in problem solving and no deal is too large or complex for him to tackle, he enjoys crafting innovative solutions that drive results. His dedication to his clients is evident in his proactive communication style and his ability to build lasting relationships. Henry holds a degree in Economics from Queen Mary University London and outside of work, he is a creative within the music industry and is an avid fan of Liverpool FC.

Tafouse Raza

Client Services

Tafouse brings expertise from the prime London property market, excelling in client care. Dedicated to exceptional service, Tafouse goes above and beyond to meet your needs. Passionate about rugby, travel, and showjumping, his diverse interests reflect a commitment to excellence in every interaction.

Harry Lart

Mortgage Broker

Harry has over 16 years of experience within the Finance, Housing and Development sector. He started off his career as a CIMA Qualified Chartered Accountant and transitioned over to financial services in 2019. During this time he has dealt with a range of complex financial arrangements from ex pat mortgages to large development loans. Harry has a can do attitude and believes there’s a solution to every situation and will work tirelessly to ensure your deal crosses the line. In his spare time Harry likes to play poker, travel and try new cuisines.

Carolina Barreiros

Marketing Manager

Carolina is a multilingual Marketing Manager originally from Portugal. She specialises in International Marketing and Business, helping organisations expand their brand awareness globally over the last 4 years. Her past work includes supporting start-ups to multinational companies in the UK and across Europe. She is a creative and passionate individual, bringing a fresh perspective to the financial industry and delivering high quality research.

In her spare time, Carolina enjoys socialising & travelling around the world, embracing different cultures and experiences. 

Antonia Grieve

Office Manager

Antonia brings fantastic planning, organisational and time management skills to her role as office manager, ensuring that operations at Articus run smoothly. An experienced administrator with fantastic problem solving skills, Antonia began her career working in medical administration, so she is highly experienced working with confidential client data.

Jack Cuthbert

Client Services Executive

Jack comes from a background of delivering great customer service. He has worked in the property industry since 2016 and has solid knowledge of the property market, combined with a good knowledge of the mortgage industry. Jack is CeMap qualified and enjoys looking after his clients and building strong working relationships. Away from work, Jack spends most of his time travelling with friends, playing football and watching Charlton Athletic.

Matthew Currey

Case Manager

Matthew has experience working as a mortgage administrator and assisting with clients of any calibre. His main strength is his ability to develop a close relationship to his brokers and clients, allowing for a smooth transition throughout your mortgage journey, his friendly nature helps in making the process a lot less intimidating than it needs to be. Outside of work Matthew spends his time playing Chess and exploring the world with his Girlfriend.

Danny Doran

Business Development Manager

Danny started his career in financial services in 2005. He has developed an ability to build relationships and collaborate for success, through consistent communication, a holistic approach to deal building and an ability to swiftly problem solve. Danny has worked with Private and High Net Worth clients for over a decade and is driven by a strong, natural desire to ensure his clients and their businesses reach their full potential. As a property investor himself, he is well placed and experienced in all things property related. Outside of work, Danny has a keen interest in psychology, the outdoors and travelling.

Theo Osborn

Mortgage Broker

Theo started his journey in the specialist finance industry while working as a journalist at an industry trade magazine. During this time he amassed a great knowledge of mortgages, bridging, development and commercial funding and established a wealth of relationships in the industry. He transferred these skills and now specialises in assisting clients with their specialist finance requirements. Working alongside the CEO, Theo has learnt the nuances of ultra-complex transactions and knows how to most efficiently manage the funding process to completion. Theo aims to achieve the best solution for every client he deals with a particular focus on sourcing funding for developments and refurbishment.

Stefanos Petrou

Mortgage Broker

Stefanos started in financial services in 2013 managing clients across central London. Consistently providing a high level of thorough service. Prioritising communication, research, and innovation in order to meet his clients complex goals. Stefanos strengths lie in maintaining long standing relationships and being by his clients side throughout the process. Outside of work Stefanos enjoys spending time with his friends and family, unless of course Arsenal F.C are playing.

Dino Lazarides

Mortgage Broker

With over 20 years of financial services experience Dino is an accomplished mortgage adviser who relishes the more complex cases, enjoys a challenge and always does everything he can to ensure his clients not only get the result they need but to achieve their property goals.   A fully qualified financial adviser Dino quickly realised that property and mortgages were his passion and over the years gained his experience helping investors build their property portfolios.  When not working Dino enjoys spending time with his family, loves modern and classic performance cars, popular culture, technology, mountain biking and is a supporter of West Ham United.

William Gleeson

Mortgage Broker

William started in financial services 2014 arranging finance for HNW clients and their families. One of his main strengths is building deep, long standing relationships with his clients, which enables him to fully understand their needs and tailor solutions to fit each client individually. William has relationships with a variety of lenders ranging from international private banks to some of the largest lenders within the UK. Outside of work, William enjoys spending time with his young family and is an avid rugby player.

Steven Boyde

Mortgage Broker

Steven started working across London’s property and financial services market in 2007. He specialises in development, bridging and commercial finance and has completed many multi-million transactions. Steven believes in customer focused relationships and has many clients who have been with him for years. Away from work, Steven spends most of his time with his two children and wife, on the golf course or watching Plymouth Argyle.

Samuel Asante

Mortgage Broker

Whether you require access to bespoke funding, or need to fund a project of any scale, Samuel will always find a solution to meet the requirements of any client. No matter how complex your case is, through his innovative and determined nature, he can find a structure to finance a client’s plans. As a trained martial artist, Samuel’s passion and confidence carries over into the workplace, and you can expect a clear and concise transaction journey from start to finish.

Jason Hunt

Mortgage Broker

Jason started in 2012 in financial services working across London’s property and financial services markets for HNW individuals. He is able to construct tailor-made solutions to suit his client’s needs, no matter how complicated. He has completed multi-million pound residential, buy to let and commercial developments across the UK. Jason is a confident and motivated individual whom takes pride in offering an exceptional and professional level of service to all of his clients. Outside of work he enjoys hiking, cycling and traveling the world with his sights set on Base Camp Everest.

Assad Younis

Mortgage Broker

Assad prides himself on being open minded and thinking outside the box. Through a personalised approach and consistent communication; Assad’s strong relationships with specialist lenders gives him the ability to reach the ideal outcome for his clients. With a particular strength in dealing with foreign nationals and ex-pats he approaches his clients with a can-do attitude. His attention to detail allows him to actively support his clients and build a long-term relationship by giving a truly tailored approach.  Outside of work, Assad is a keen explorer and foodie, regularly travelling to remote destinations and testing out the local cuisines.

Shyan Zubair

Co-Founder & Managing Director

Shyan is a global businessman with keen commercial acumen and a deep understanding of the UK property market. Following the successful completion of an undergraduate and postgraduate degree in Mathematics from King’s College London, Shyan has held a range of highly strategic roles, with a focus on UK property investment – meaning he is well versed in the world of HNW property finance. Not only is he an experienced UK landlord, he has an impressive history in the world of property trading, and has played a pivotal role in the completion of a number of large scale development projects with values up to £30 million.

Oliver Hines-Lloyd

Co-Founder & CEO

Ollie entered the world of high net worth mortgages after living in Geneva, where he provided tailored financial advice to private clients. This experience shaped his career trajectory, giving him first-hand experience in understanding and communicating the benefits of financial advice – all while developing the ability to build exceptional client relationships. Following this, Ollie moved back to London where he began specialising in mortgages. His drive, ambition and natural flair for anticipating the needs of his clients led him to progress quickly from Client Services to broker, where he honed his skillset after passing his CeMap exams. Outside of work, Ollie is an avid traveller – and an equally keen supporter of his local club, Fulham FC.

Antonio Michael

Co-Founder & CEO

Antonio has over a decade’s experience arranging and negotiating mortgage finance for some of the UK property market’s most complex transactions. During his career, he has worked at some of the UK’s most prestigious mortgage brokerages, as well as the fast-paced world of currency broking. As a result, he has a wealth of relevant experience in handling complicated cases, like clients buying properties through trusts. Crucially, Antonio has developed an almost unparalleled network of close industry relationships. This enables him to navigate challenging situations with ease, and he relishes taking on cases that have struggled to progress elsewhere and seeing them through to completion.

Antonio Michael

Co-Founder & CEO

Antonio started in financial services in 2006, arranging and negotiating mortgage finance for some of the UK property market’s most complex transactions. During his career, he has worked at some of the UK’s most prestigious mortgage brokerages, as well as the fast-paced world of currency broking.

As a result, he has a wealth of relevant experience in handling complicated cases, like clients buying properties through trusts. Crucially, Antonio has developed an almost unparalleled network of close industry relationships. This enables him to navigate challenging situations with ease, and he relishes taking on cases that have struggled to progress elsewhere and seeing them through to completion.