Castle Trust Bank has launched a dedicated bridging product designed for landlords and property investors who are refurbishing to improve energy efficiency - pricing the loan at 0.69% per month and targeting properties where works will raise the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) rating to band A, B, or C by the end of the loan term.
The product, called the EPC Uplift Bridge, arrived in May 2026, as the data shows a clear market shift. With around 2.8 million privately rented homes in England rated D or below according to government housing data, the addressable market for this type of finance is substantial.
Product Structure and Lending Criteria
The EPC Uplift Bridge is available up to 75% net day-one loan to value (LTV) - the ratio of the loan amount to the current property value - and up to 75% loan to gross development value (LTGDV), which measures the loan against the projected post-works value. Loan sizes run from £200,000 to £1m.
The maximum term is 12 months, with rolled-up interest, meaning borrowers do not make monthly payments during the loan but settle the accumulated interest at the end. The exit strategy is refinance - borrowers are expected to roll into a standard buy-to-let (BTL) mortgage once works are complete and the improved EPC rating is in place.
Works covered are non-structural in nature, with a maximum refurbishment cost of £100,000. That ceiling points to targeted upgrades - insulation, heat pumps, double glazing, solar panels - rather than full structural overhauls.
Anna Lewis, commercial director at Castle Trust Bank, said the product was designed for landlords who want to act early: "Improving the energy efficiency of rental property is becoming an increasingly important consideration for landlords and investors. While the 2030 deadline may still feel some way off, brokers have an opportunity to help their clients think ahead and identify the right moments to carry out improvements, particularly when a property is vacant or already being refurbished." (Mortgage Solutions, May 2026)
The Wider EPC Deadline Picture
The trend here is not subtle. The government has proposed that all new tenancies in England must meet a minimum EPC C rating by 2030. This would extend existing Minimum Energy Efficiency Standards (MEES) regulations - the rules that already prohibit renting properties rated F or G in England and Wales. The gap between where a large share of the rental stock currently sits and where it needs to be is considerable.
The underlying picture for landlords is a financing problem as much as a construction one. Works need to be funded during a void period or alongside a tenancy, and standard BTL mortgages are not structured for that. A bridging product with a clear energy-efficiency trigger fills an identifiable gap, and the data on the scale of below-C stock suggests demand will build rather than diminish.
For property investment strategies that include portfolio refurbishment, the timing of works matters as much as the cost. Acting while a property is vacant limits rental income disruption, which is exactly the scenario this product targets.
What This Means for Portfolio Landlords
The numbers are pointing to a lender community that has started treating EPC compliance not as a compliance footnote but as a distinct lending category. This product from Castle Trust Bank follows broader market movement towards green refurbishment finance, and the 75% LTV ceiling is competitive for the bridging market.
Landlords who run a buy-to-let stress test against a potential refurbishment deal will want to factor in the rolled-up interest. At 0.69% per month, a £400,000 loan held for the full 12 months would carry approximately £33,120 in interest before any exit costs. That is manageable if the post-works valuation justifies the LTGDV position, but the maths requires careful modelling before committing.
Before approaching a lender, it pays to get across the terminology: LTV, LTGDV, rolled-up interest, refinance exit. The negotiation and finance hub is a useful starting point. Additional resources are available via the Property Filter free resources hub.
Key Takeaways
• Castle Trust Bank's EPC Uplift Bridge is priced at 0.69% per month, with loans from £200,000 to £1m and a 12-month maximum term
• Landlords in England face a proposed 2030 deadline for all new tenancies to meet a minimum EPC C rating - the time to plan works is now, not in 2028 or 2029
• Landlords with properties below EPC C may wish to speak to a broker about whether a bridging product with a clear energy-improvement structure suits their refurbishment timeline
