Commercial mortgage brokers in Glasgow
2 independent, FCA-authorised advisers covering Glasgow and the wider Scotland area who handle commercial mortgage cases. Contact them directly — we never sell your details.
Commercial mortgages in Glasgow: what to know
Commercial mortgages cover premises used for business — shops, offices, industrial units, and mixed-use buildings with a residential element above. Unlike residential lending there is very little standardised pricing: terms are negotiated case by case on the strength of the business, the asset and the covenant. Deposits of 25–40% are typical. For Glasgow businesses, a broker with genuine commercial lender relationships matters far more than it does on a straightforward residential case.
- Pricing is individually negotiated. Two businesses buying similar units can be quoted materially different rates depending on trading history and sector.
- Lenders will want two to three years of accounts, and usually projections. Newer businesses can still borrow but should expect a larger deposit and possibly personal guarantees.
- Owner-occupier cases (you trade from the property) are generally viewed more favourably than commercial investment where you are letting to a third party.
- Semi-commercial and mixed-use properties fall between residential and commercial criteria, and are a common source of declines when placed with the wrong lender.
What matters locally in Glasgow
The West End, from Hyndland to Dowanhill and Partick, is dominated by Victorian sandstone tenement flats and is the city's strongest owner-occupier and rental market. The Southside — Shawlands, Battlefield, Pollokshields, Newlands — mixes tenements with larger villas and has seen sustained demand from families priced out of the West End. The East End and north of the city are markedly more affordable and include substantial ex-local-authority stock. City-centre and Merchant City flats include many commercial conversions. Glasgow's sandstone tenements bring recurring lending issues: shared roof and close repairs, stone condition, and factoring arrangements that a lender and conveyancer will want documented.
- First-time buyers on modest deposits, well served by a market where much of the flatted stock remains within reach of local incomes.
- Ex-local-authority flats and non-standard construction, including some system-built blocks that a number of lenders will not consider.
Do I pay the Additional Dwelling Supplement on a Glasgow buy-to-let?
Yes. The Additional Dwelling Supplement is Scotland's equivalent of the additional-property stamp duty surcharge and applies on top of LBTT when you buy a second home or an investment property. It is charged on the whole purchase price, not just the amount above a threshold, so it is a significant cash cost that needs to sit alongside your deposit. Check the current rate with Revenue Scotland.
Questions worth asking a commercial broker
- What deposit do I need for a commercial mortgage in Glasgow?
- Typically 25% to 40% of the purchase price. Owner-occupiers with strong trading accounts sit at the lower end; investment purchases and less established businesses at the higher end.
- How long do commercial mortgage terms run?
- Commonly 15 to 25 years, though shorter terms of five to ten years are frequent for investment cases. Rates are more often variable or linked to a reference rate than fixed for long periods.
- Will I need to give a personal guarantee?
- Frequently, yes — particularly for limited-company borrowing or newer businesses. The guarantee may be capped at a proportion of the loan, and that cap is usually negotiable.
- Can I get a commercial mortgage for a business I am buying?
- Yes, though lenders will underwrite the business you are acquiring as well as the property. Sectors such as hospitality and care are treated as specialist and have a narrower lender pool.