Why Patient Capital Wins in Commercial Property Finance

In commercial finance, the best outcomes rarely come from rushing. The strongest deals are usually the ones where the asset is positioned properly, the risks are reduced in the right order, and funding is lined up before the opportunity peaks.

This case study shows how Ramsay and White supported a client over a two year period to secure a £1 million commercial facility on a large scale asset, while also integrating a Local Authority loan at preferential rates to strengthen overall liquidity and future development potential.

The brief

A client approached Ramsay and White with a clear goal: acquire and restructure finance for a substantial commercial property of over 80,000 square feet. The proposed purchase strategy combined private finance, SSAS pension funds, and business partner capital. The ambition was sound, but the asset was not yet in a position that most term lenders would consider acceptable at sensible pricing.

The challenges

Two issues stood between the client and more mainstream commercial funding. First, one of the units was occupied by a primary retailer on a short lease, which created income uncertainty and increased perceived tenant risk. Second, one of the three ground floor retail stores was vacant, reducing net income and making lender serviceability harder to evidence. In simple terms, the property had potential, but on paper it did not yet look stable enough.

Ramsay and White’s approach

Rather than waiting until everything was fixed, Paul and Lewis worked with the client to map the end game. That meant understanding what the final tenancy position was likely to be, identifying the milestones lenders would need to see, and opening early discussions with appropriate lenders who understood that stabilisation would take time.

Crucially, Ramsay and White agreed Heads of Terms in principle with a peer to peer lender we work closely with. This gave the client clarity and confidence while they executed the tenancy improvements, and ensured the funding route was already warmed up. This is a core part of how we operate. We do not just source finance, we architect a funding strategy around the timeline and fundamentals of the asset.

The turning point

 After sustained work by the client, both risk points were resolved. A new tenant was secured for the previously vacant ground floor unit within four months, improving occupancy and stabilising cashflow. Secondly, a new longer term lease was agreed with the key retailer, strengthening income security and improving lender confidence.

With those fundamentals in place, the peer to peer lender was comfortable proceeding with a £1 million facility. In parallel, the client worked with the Local Authority to secure an additional loan at preferential rates, structured as a second charge behind the peer to peer lender’s first charge. The blended structure improved liquidity and reduced the need for more expensive capital elsewhere in the stack.

The result

By combining the first charge peer to peer facility with the Local Authority second charge loan, the client was able to fully refinance and restructure their borrowing, increase cashflow and financial flexibility, and create headroom for the next stage of development. The asset moved from being viewed as higher risk on paper to a more stable, income producing investment that could support longer term growth plans.

Why this matters for investors

Many investors focus on rate first. Sophisticated investors focus on structure, timing, and execution. This case study demonstrates what market leading finance support looks like in practice: anticipating lender objections early, building a clear stabilisation plan, securing indicative terms in advance so funding is not reactive, and layering funding in a way that strengthens cashflow and keeps the project moving forward.

In commercial property, patience is not passive. When used properly, it is a strategy.

How Ramsay and White can help

If you are acquiring, refinancing, or repositioning a commercial asset and need a funding partner who can think beyond today’s snapshot, Ramsay and White can guide you through the process from early strategy through to completion, with clear options and a plan that matches the asset rather than forcing the asset to fit the application.