"By combining our teams’ decades of industry experience with the latest technology, we at Offa are on a mission to bring Islamic finance into the 21st century"
- Naseer Ahmed - Offa
Offa has introduced a new Sharia-compliant bridge-to-let finance product, aiming to simplify and accelerate access to property finance in the Islamic market. The Birmingham-based fintech says the offering combines its fast bridging service with its digital buy-to-let (BTL) finance, enabling property investors to access funds more quickly than traditional options.
The firm, which pioneered Islamic-compliant bridging finance in the UK, described the launch as part of its broader strategy to modernise Islamic property finance by removing traditional paper-heavy processes in favour of tech-led solutions.
“Speed is the crucial factor in real estate,” said Sagheer Malik, group chief commercial officer and managing director of retail finance at Offa. “Our ultra-quick bridge-to-let service is the first of its kind in this sector, allowing both Muslims and non-Muslims to save huge amounts of money, unlocking equity and providing wealth for their families. We are now offering faith-based finance products that not only outperform those of our competitors in Islamic finance but also those in conventional finance.”
Typically, securing bridge and BTL finance involves separate applications that can take several months. Offa’s new model combines both processes, offering a faster turnaround that, subject to credit assessment and risk criteria, could see deals completed within weeks. This approach supports buyers seeking to acquire and improve undervalued properties while avoiding duplication of costs and delays.
The firm is charging a flat £495 bridge-to-let fee, replacing separate application fees for bridging and BTL finance. Customers also benefit from a 0.5% discount on BTL arrangement fees. The bridge product comes with no minimum term, offering flexibility, and borrowers can use personal income to supplement rental shortfalls, commonly known as top-slicing, when qualifying for BTL finance.
“By combining our teams’ decades of industry experience with the latest technology, we at Offa are on a mission to bring Islamic finance into the 21st century,” explained Naseer Ahmed, managing director of bridge finance at Offa. “Leaving behind the onerous paperwork and cumbersome systems that many customers have typically had to suffer in the past.”
