Two Thirds Of Top Lenders For UK Property Are German Banks

Savills has named the top 12 lenders for the UK property market this year. Of this, eight are German banks and only two are UK lenders.

Savills interviewed in excess of 100 global lenders, over 40 of whom claim to have an appetite to lend to UK property, albeit on varying terms. However, many organisations are lending strictly to existing customers only. In addition, the international property advisor found that in reality the scale of lending has changed dramatically over the past 18 months. Whereas, in 2007 'big ticket' was £100m+, Savills reduced its definition in 2008 to £50m+. Only 12 lenders will consider deals above £25m. Banks are also taking longer to go through their approvals processes. Furthermore, secondary investment properties and development projects are in general unfinanceable, and those properties that will be considered are under more strict lending terms averaging 60% LTVs and higher margins of 200+ basis points.


The 12 lenders in the 'big ticket' category are:

• Abbey
• BLME
• Deka Bank
• Deutsche Postbank
• D G Hyp
• Helaba
• Landesbank Berlin
• LBBW (Stuttgart)
• Munich Hyp
• Nationwide Building Society
• Société Géneralé
• West Immo

William Newsom, Head of Savills UK Valuation, said: "I know of at least half a dozen other lenders who may also be on the list, but the level of actual loans committed is variable. The UK is immensely attractive to lenders (and investors) due to a repricing of property and currency value changes. Whilst many of the big banks are out of the market due to their exposure to toxic activities, and swathes of the property market are unfinanceable due to perceived insecure cash flows, for lenders with liquidity (of whom a large number do exist) there are good returns to be made from lending secured against good quality assets, and those lenders are taking advantage of the changed market situation."

(CD/JM)