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Risk Summary

Estimated reading time: 2 min

Due to the potential for losses, the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) considers this investment to be high risk.

What are the key risks?

1. You could lose the money you invest

Many peer-to-peer (P2P) loans are made to borrowers who can’t borrow money from traditional lenders such as banks. These borrowers have a higher risk of not paying you back.

Advertised rates of return aren’t guaranteed. If a borrower doesn’t pay you back as agreed, you could earn less money than expected. A higher advertised rate of return means a higher risk of losing your money.

These investments can be held in an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). An IFISA does not reduce the risk of the investment or protect you from losses, so you can still lose all your money. It only means that any potential gains from your investment will be tax free.

2. You are unlikely to get your money back quickly

Some P2P loans last for several years. You should be prepared to wait for your money to be returned even if the borrower repays on time.

Some platforms may give you the opportunity to sell your investment early through a ‘secondary market’, but there is no guarantee you will be able to find someone willing to buy.

Even if your agreement is advertised as affording early access to your money, you will only get your money early if someone else wants to buy your loan(s). If no one wants to buy, it could take longer to get your money back.

3. Don’t put all your eggs in one basket

Putting all your money into a single business or type of investment for example, is risky. Spreading your money across different investments makes you less dependent on any one to do well.

A good rule of thumb is not to invest more than 10% of your money in high-risk investments.

4. The P2P platform could fail

If the platform fails, it may be impossible for you to collect money on your loan. It could take years to get your money back, or you may not get it back at all. Even if the platform has plans in place to prevent this, they may not work in a disorderly failure.

5. You are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong

The Financial Services Compensation Scheme (FSCS), in relation to claims against failed regulated firms, does not cover investments in P2P loans. You may be able to claim if you received regulated advice to invest in P2P, and the adviser has since failed. Try the FSCS investment protection checker here.

Protection from the Financial Ombudsman Service (FOS) does not cover poor investment performance. If you have a complaint against an FCA-regulated platform, FOS may be able to consider it. Learn more about FOS protection here.

If you are interested in learning more about how to protect yourself, visit the FCA’s website here. For further information about peer-to-peer lending (loan-based crowdfunding), visit the FCA’s website here.

Proudly supporting developers

News Case Studies 05 Feb 2024

Funding projects across the UK

Northern Ireland was the fastest growing UK region in terms of property market in 2023. Prices there rose by 4.5% last year. Across the UK, two of the top 20 regions with the highest house price growth were in Northern Ireland: Derry and Strabane saw prices increase by 7.8%, while prices rose by 6.3% in Newry Mourne and Down.

At Blend, we are deeply committed to supporting property developers in Northern Ireland, as well as across all UK regions. But our commitment to Northern Ireland in particular goes back a long way, back to when we were one of the few lenders in the region. Over the years, we are very proud to have supported experienced property developers build quality housing the region so urgently needs. The schemes we have funded sit at both ends of the scale. From high-end schemes such as the development of a luxury 6-bedroom house near Belfast, to schemes ideal for first-time buyers such as the development of 4 townhouses and 11 apartments in Holywood, County Down.

Please see below some of the projects we have recently funded in Northern Ireland.

Residential development of 4 townhouses and 11 apartments in Holywood, County Down.

Development of a luxury 6-bedroom house in the outskirts of Hillsborough, a stone's throw away from Lisburn Golf Club near Belfast.

Residential scheme comprising 2 detached houses in Holywood, County Down.

Residential development comprising 6 houses in Derrycrin, County Tyrone.

At Blend, we focus on what’s most important to developers – swift, transparent, reliable and expertise-based decisions giving developers we work with an edge in closing deals. So, whatever you're up to this year, we are here to support you with your development schemes.

Whether you've heard of us but we’ve never spoken with you and you’re exploring your options, or whether you’re feeling positive that now is the right time to proceed with a project and want to ensure you have the capital to opportunistically do this, feel free to get in touch and we’ll see if we can help.

Blend is a specialist development finance lender that works with experienced mid-sized property developers in the UK.

For more information, please visit www.blendnetwork.com or email us at enquiries@blendnetwork.com

BLEND Loan Network Limited is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Reg No: 913456).

BLEND Loan Network Limited is registered in England and Wales. Registered office: Evelyn House, 142 New Cavendish Street, London W1W 6YF.

Don’t Invest unless you’re prepared to lose money. This is a high-risk investment. You may not be able to access your money easily and are unlikely to be protected if something goes wrong. Take 2 mins to learn more.