Magnet Capital
Magnet Capital is a London-based specialist property development finance lender offering short-term loans of £500,000–£4,000,000 to UK property developers across England and Wales for ground-up builds, refurbishments, and conversions, distributed via direct relationships and broker intermediaries.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2018
- HeadquartersLondon, United Kingdom
- Headcount1–10
- GTM typeB2B
- OfferingServices
What Magnet Capital does
Magnet Capital is a London-based specialist property development finance lender founded in 2018 by co-founders Ashley Ilsen and Sam Howard. The firm provides short-term development loans ranging from £500,000 to £4,000,000 to property developers across England and Wales, primarily south of Manchester and extending to Cardiff, Newport, and Plymouth. Its product suite comprises four core lending products: Ground Up Development Finance for new-build projects, Light Refurbishment Finance, Heavy Refurbishment Finance for significant structural works, and Conversion Development Finance spanning offices-to-residential, barn, and mixed-use conversions. The firm is authorized and regulated by the UK Financial Conduct Authority (FRN 827220), is a member of the Bridging and Development Lenders Association (BDLA), and is an NACFB Patron operating on Dynam's broker panel.
The business model is transaction-fee driven: revenue is generated through interest charges (structured as either rolled-up accruals on drawn funds or monthly serviced interest), arrangement fees, exit fees, and third-party costs including surveying and legal. Loans are priced project-by-project with up to 90% loan-to-cost, up to 70% loan-to-value, up to 65% loan-to-GDV, and terms up to 18 months. Underwriting is relationship-led and speed-oriented, with Decision in Principle typically delivered within minutes of receiving key project information and stage payments released within 48 hours of site inspection. Distribution runs through direct developer engagement (including site visits) and a broker intermediary channel, with the firm including additional introducer fees within loan structures to support broker flow. Internal technology supports underwriting process streamlining but is not described as an AI/ML system.
Magnet Capital has supported 150+ developers since inception and reports a 45% borrower return rate, with at least one customer on their fourth project. The team comprises co-CEOs, a Head of Sales, two BDMs, three underwriters, an Operations Manager, Operations Consultant, and Financial Controller — a deliberately small specialist headcount consistent with a boutique lender model. The firm has been voted Best Service Provider by Business Moneyfacts for three consecutive years, and a Magnet-funded project won the 2022 LABC Best Small New Housing Development award in East Anglia.
Magnet Capital firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Magnet Capital
- Legal name
- Magnet Capital
- Website
- https://magnetcapital.co.uk
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2018
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 1–10 employees
- Short description
- Magnet Capital is a London-based specialist property development finance lender offering short-term loans of £500,000–£4,000,000 to UK property developers across England and Wales for ground-up builds, refurbishments, and conversions, distributed via direct relationships and broker intermediaries.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Magnet Capital industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Property Development Finance
- NAICS
- Real Estate Credit (522292)
- SIC
- Short-Term Business Credit Institutions (6153)
- akta.pro primary industry
- SME Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending (FSABABAG)
- akta.pro secondary industry
- SME Term Loans & Growth Capital (FSAKAGAB)
Keywords
Where Magnet Capital is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- London
- HQ country
- United Kingdom
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices2 records
Markets served
Magnet Capital business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2B
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others
Revenue model
- Development Finance Loans: Short-term property development finance loans generating revenue through interest charges, arrangement fees, and exit fees. Interest can be calculated on a rolled-up basis (accruing only on drawn funds, repaid at term end) or serviced monthly. Third-party costs include surveying and legal fees.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Conversion Development Finance: £500,000-£4,000,000 loans |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels2 records
Marketing channels6 records
Magnet Capital product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Magnet Capital is a specialist property development finance lender providing short-term loans of £500,000 to £4,000,000 to property developers and brokers across England and Wales. Its four core lending products cover ground-up new-build, light and heavy refurbishment, and conversion (including residential, mixed-use, and rural projects such as barn conversions), with loan terms up to 18 months, up to 90% loan-to-cost, and stage payments released within 48 hours of site inspection.
Product overview
Magnet Capital is a specialist property development finance lender offering four core lending products: Ground Up Development Finance for new-build projects, Light Refurbishment Finance for aesthetic updates, Heavy Refurbishment Finance for significant structural works, and Conversion Development Finance for converting buildings into residential and mixed-use schemes. The company provides short-term development loans ranging from £500,000 to £4,000,000, operating across England and Wales primarily south of Manchester, extending to Cardiff, Newport, and Plymouth.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Ground Up Development Finance Structured funding designed to support new-build property development from acquisition through to project completion, with certainty at every stage. Targeted at property developers undertaking ground-up residential or mixed-use builds.
- Light Refurbishment Finance Tailored funding for projects involving light refurbishment works and the updating of existing buildings to improve design and aesthetics. Aimed at property developers undertaking light residential or mixed-use refurbishment projects.
- Heavy Refurbishment Finance Tailored funding for projects involving significant structural works and the transformation of existing buildings to restore them to their full potential. Aimed at property developers undertaking heavy structural refurbishment projects.
- Conversion Development Finance Specialist funding for the conversion of buildings into residential and mixed-use schemes, including offices-to-residential conversions and barn conversions in urban and rural locations. Targeted at property developers undertaking conversion projects such as barn or heritage building conversions.
Quantifiable outcome
- 45% borrower return rate demonstrates strong customer loyalty
- +3 more outcomes
Companies that use Magnet Capital
Customer profileNamed customers7 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Magnet Capital technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature2 records
Magnet Capital partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
One partnership is on record.
- Bridging & Development Lenders Association (BDLA)coreMember of the BDLA, demonstrating commitment to high standards, transparency and best practice within the development finance market.
Scale indicators9 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Magnet Capital competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- Tuscan Capital: UK specialist development finance and bridging lender focused on short-term property finance for developers. Highly comparable on loan size range, term length, and broker-led distribution model.
- Hope Capital: UK specialist development and bridging lender serving SME property professionals through direct and broker channels. Directly comparable on short-tenor development loans, target borrower (developer), and broker-led origination.
- MT Finance: UK specialist property development and refurbishment finance lender offering short-term bridging and development loans to SME developers. Directly comparable in product, ticket size, geography (England and Wales), and target customer (property developers and brokers).
- SPF Private Finance (Shackleton Property Finance): UK specialist short-term property finance provider focused on bridging and development for SME developers and brokers. Highly comparable in target customer, product, and broker-driven go-to-market.
- Aspen Bridging: UK specialist short-term property lender offering bridging and development finance to brokers and developers. Closely comparable on product offering, ticket size, speed of decision, and broker-led distribution.
Broad incumbents
- Octopus Real Estate: UK specialist real estate lender and investor (part of Octopus Group) active in development finance, bridging, and investment loans. Comparable on developer-facing lending but typically with larger deal sizes and institutional funding.
- Together Money (Together Financial Services): One of the largest UK specialist lenders offering bridging, development, and short-term finance to SMEs and property professionals. Overlaps with Magnet on development finance but operates as a broad incumbent across multiple secured lending products.
- United Trust Bank: UK challenger bank with a sizable specialist property finance division covering bridging and development. Comparable in product set but with broader deposit-taking banking activities behind the lending.
- Paragon Banking Group: UK specialist bank with a well-established development finance franchise alongside buy-to-let and asset finance. Broader incumbent, but its development lending unit competes head-to-head with Magnet on developer loans.
- Aldermore Bank (development finance): UK challenger bank with a specialist property development finance offering for SME developers. Overlaps on the target customer and product type but is part of a broader deposit-taking bank.
Market position
Strengths4 records
Weaknesses4 records
Competitive moat5 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
Magnet Capital social profiles
Digital presenceMagnet Capital compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance3 records
Magnet Capital financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Magnet Capital leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles12 records
Magnet Capital funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Magnet Capital M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Magnet Capital
What does Magnet Capital do?
Magnet Capital is a specialist property development finance lender providing short-term loans of £500,000 to £4,000,000 to property developers and brokers across England and Wales. Its four core lending products cover ground-up new-build, light and heavy refurbishment, and conversion (including residential, mixed-use, and rural projects such as barn conversions), with loan terms up to 18 months, up to 90% loan-to-cost, and stage payments released within 48 hours of site inspection.
Is Magnet Capital a public or private company?
Magnet Capital is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Magnet Capital founded?
Magnet Capital was founded in 2018. It employs 1 to 10 people.
Where is Magnet Capital based?
Magnet Capital is headquartered in London, United Kingdom, in the Europe region.
How does Magnet Capital make money?
One revenue line is on record: development Finance Loans.
Who are Magnet Capital's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are Tuscan Capital, Hope Capital, MT Finance, SPF Private Finance (Shackleton Property Finance) and Aspen Bridging. Broad incumbents are Octopus Real Estate, Together Money (Together Financial Services), United Trust Bank, Paragon Banking Group and Aldermore Bank (development finance).
Does Magnet Capital have an API?
No public API is recorded for Magnet Capital.
What industry is Magnet Capital in?
Magnet Capital's product category is Property Development Finance. Its primary akta.pro industry code is FSABABAG, SME Commercial Real Estate (CRE) Lending, with a secondary code of FSAKAGAB, SME Term Loans & Growth Capital. Its NAICS code is 522292 and its SIC code is 6153.