Types of Secured Loans Available

What types of loans are available?

Secured Loans fall into two camps, regulated and unregulated. Regulated secured loans offer customers maximum protection from bad practice. This includes strict rules and an automatic right to use the Financial Ombudsman Service. The property offered as security is the main factor in determining whether a loan is regulated or not. Loans secured on residential homes are normally regulated. Loans secured on property other than homes (for example, buy to let or commercial buildings) are normally unregulated.

Loan Types

Capital and Repayment

Each repayment pays back some capital (amount borrowed) and interest. This means the amount outstanding reduces gradually over time until it is settled in full at the end of the term (providing all repayments were made on time).

Interest Only

Some lenders offer interest only loans. As the name suggests repayments cover purely interest so the capital (amount borrowed) is not reducing at all. The balance of the loan will be the same at the end of the term as it was at the start. An “exit route” approved by the lender is needed. This is a source of money enough to settle the loan in full by no later than the end of the agreed term. For example an endowment policy or sale of a house.

There are also different ways in which a lender can apply their interest rates:

Standard Variable Rate (SVR)

A standard variable rate means the rate is set by the lender and can change throughout the duration of the loan. Though a lender will aim to be competitive in the market you are still by and large in their hands and the rate can go up or down at any time.

Base Rate Tracker

Similar to a Standard Variable Rate the interest rate is set at a margin above the Bank of England’s base rate. For example if the base rate was 1% and the lender was offering base rate plus 2.5% the rate charged would be 3.5% (1% + 2.5%) . If the base rate went up to 2% the rate charged would become 4.5% (2% + 2.5%). It would always be the same % above the base rate.  An advantage of this type of loan is the rate only goes up when the Bank of England’s base rate goes up. In recent years the base rate has been low and hasn’t fluctuated greatly.

Fixed Rate Loans

Interest is fixed for a specified period of time. For example, for the first 1 to 5 years. The advantage of this type of loan is that it gives the customer a guaranteed monthly payment that will not change during the fixed rate period. At the end of the fixed rate period the loan normally switches to the lenders standard variable rate.

Capped Rate Loans

Capped rate loans have a maximum above which they can not go. For example a loan capped at 5% could be no more than 5% even if the lenders standard variable rate were higher. The advantage of this type of loan is that they give the customer some certainty and protection from rising interest rates.

Discounted Rate

Lenders offer discounted rates to entice customers to apply. They discount (reduce) the normal rate applicable in an attempt to look more attractive. For example if the standard variable rate was 5% and the lender was offering a 2% discount the rate charged would be 3%. The discounts apply for a set period only which is made clear at the start, normally 1 or 2 years.

How to apply for a secured loan

Most secured loans are applied for through intermediaries / advisers like Promise Money. They tend to have access to a wide range of products. This maximises the options they have to recommend a loan which suits the customer’s needs.

To talk to one of our advisors, simply fill in the quote form below or call 01902 585020.