Southend-based bridging broker Bridgemore Capital entered the BTL market in November 2025 with the launch of its new division, Bridgemore Mortgages.
Speaking to BTL Insider, Chris Britto (pictured above, left) and Joe Eden (right), the directors and co-founders of Bridgemore, discussed how they were seeing the BTL market drawing a younger crowd, and how the firm planned to maintain its niche.
Before moving into BTL, the Bridgemore brand focused exclusively on bridging and development finance, aiming to avoid a ‘Jack of all trades’ approach to the specialist market.
However, with this approach the directors found they were unable to provide a fully rounded service in their own way, even when partnering with other firms. They realised they were probably losing introducers who were expecting them to be able to provide a more comprehensive offering.
When the timing was right for Jack Cope, head of mortgages at Bridgemore, to join the business and lead its BTL advisory services, it meant the company could expand its offering while allowing Chris and Joe to maintain their focus on bridging and development.
“With the launch of that, it just means we can still guide and navigate that world, but we haven't got to be in the driving seat of writing the business, which would have been detrimental to Bridgemore Capital,” said Joe.
“We've now got two specialist divisions that only do what they do,” explained Chris. “So, Jack and [his] side will only do the exits, the BTL, and regulated bridging, whereas we can continue to do what we do.”
While Jack alone is heading up the brand’s BTL advisory, the team does not intend to keep Bridgemore Mortgages as a one-man band for too long. As with Bridgemore Capital, where they are aiming to onboard up to four new people in the near future, Bridgemore Mortgages plans to add another three to the team in the next 12 months, potentially doubling the entire operation by the end of the year.
Chris and Joe said their expertise had given Bridgemore Mortgages a distinct edge in the HMO sector, arguing that their experience in areas such as acquisitions enabled the firm to better understand and respond to the specific demands of the market.
BTR is another area of focus for Bridgemore’s new BTL division. Having navigated the structuring of such deals in the past, the firm will now be able to execute on the exit strategy and therefore provide holistic solutions for the asset type.
The move into BTL follows increased regulations and developments such as the Renters’ Rights Act. The pair highlighted they had seen BTL-sector veteran landlords selling off, paving way for new blood.
Joe commented: “A lot of old-school landlords are really frustrated with [the new regulations] and starting to exit the market. But, at the same time, there's a huge new wave of [the younger] generation coming into this space.
“We work with a lot of property trainers and mentors who help people learn how to get into this space. I feel like the age of people coming in and wanting to be a landlord and wanting to build a portfolio is getting younger.”
Although they were noticing the departure of long-standing BTL investors amid mounting pressures on landlords, Joe remained confident the market was a place of opportunity.
“We've heard about the old-school landlords cashing in on their on their time – they’ve been in it long enough and they're coming out. But I definitely don't think there's a lack of opportunity – there’s a lot of new guys coming through.”
