£3m within 5-weeks to Secure In-Demand Office Space for Newly Merged Firm

The Situation

Success created urgency. Following their merger, the firm faced an immediate need for more office space. The combined business was growing, the team was expanding, and delay wasn't an option.

The firm identified a suitable office block in central London that would become the flagship headquarters for the newly merged firm. It was the right property, at the right time, for the right business. But they faced a challenge. In order to complete, they needed £3 million, and they needed it in five weeks in order to ward off competition from other interested parties.

For most commercial lenders, a transaction of this scale within such a short timeline would not be within their scope or capabilities. The firm needed a lender who understood that momentum, once lost, is difficult to recover. In stepped West One.

The Solution

We received the enquiry in the second week of October. Terms were issued within an hour and a full application was submitted just two days later. The target completion date left just five weeks to navigate valuation, credit assessment, legal work, and funds release, a timeline that many commercial lenders would struggle to meet, particularly for a transaction of this scale and complexity.

From the moment the broker approached West One Commercial, the focus was on speed without compromising on quality or diligence. The sales team set clear expectations from the outset: every touchpoint would be handled within 24 hours, and the process would be structured to eliminate unnecessary delays.

Legal work was instructed early, running in parallel with the valuation process rather than waiting for it to complete, which measurable cut the reduced the overall time to completion. As soon as the valuation report was received, it was reviewed and approved the same day, meaning that underwriting could start on structuring an offer immediately.

Throughout the process, communication between the broker, the client's solicitors, and West One's internal teams was prioritised. Any queries raised by solicitors were addressed promptly, and the credit committee moved quickly to provide final approval. The facility completed at £3 million, with and LTV of 65%, arranged over a 10-year interest-only term at a rate of 7.94%. Completion was achieved within the deadline.

The Benefit

By delivering the commercial mortgage in just five weeks from enquiry to completion, West One enabled the law firm to secure their new premises without disrupting operations after their merger. The speed and certainty of execution meant the business could proceed with confidence, enabling them to set up the office and allow staff to move into the new workspace.

The determination of the legal and valuation teams who worked in tandem, combined with same or next day decision-making at every stage, ensured that no time was lost to administrative delays. This allowed the firm to focus on integrating their operations with speed rather than managing a protracted financing process.