The Intermediary – August 2025 - Flipbook - Page 55
SPECIALIST FINANCE
Opinion
Against Fraud
fraud prevention insight traditionally
reserved for major banks and
financial institutions. And because
this platform is underpinned by the
National SIRA system and built with
full compliance to GDPR and UK data
protection standards, members can
collaborate with total confidence that
data is being handled securely and
appropriately.
The system will be rolled out over
the coming months and is designed to
support, not replace, lenders’ existing
fraud tools and due diligence practices,
by removing the silos that oen exist
between lenders and enabling faster,
smarter decisions based on shared
experience.
Quite simply, it’s about giving our
members the ability to act on red
flags before a case reaches formal
underwriting, reducing exposure and
increasing protection across the board.
Big mission
This reflects the BDLA’s wider mission
to support responsible, ethical and
transparent lending. Fraud prevention
isn’t just about safeguarding lenders
– it’s about protecting the integrity
of the market and ensuring a level
playing field for all.
With our membership approaching
100 lenders and associates, the
strength of our collective voice has
never been more evident. This is
collaboration in action: practical,
focused, and built around the realworld challenges our members face
every day.
The need for such a system could
not be clearer. As the bridging market
expands – approaching £13bn in loan
books at the beginning of 2025 – it
brings with it greater visibility, greater
complexity, and unfortunately,
greater risk.
Fraud is not just a regulatory
concern or a technical issue; it is
a strategic challenge that requires
industry-wide alignment. We cannot
afford to tackle it alone. And we
shouldn’t have to.
As we look ahead, the outlook
for bridging and development
finance remains incredibly
strong. Demand continues to
grow, particularly in areas such as
refurbishment, conversions, and
development funding.
Institutional appetite for shortterm lending is rising. But with that
opportunity comes responsibility.
If we want to maintain trust and
Fraud prevention
[is] about protecting the
integrity of the market
and ensuring a level
playing field for all”
continue to grow sustainably, we
must demonstrate that we are
taking fraud seriously – and acting
proactively. The launch of our early
warning fraud platform is a landmark
moment. It gives lenders a vital new
tool in the fight against financial
crime and reinforces the BDLA’s role
at the forefront of positive industry
change. For existing members,
it’s a new layer of protection and a
tangible example of the benefits that
collaboration brings.
For those who are not yet part of the
BDLA, it is perhaps a timely reminder
of what we can achieve when we
stand together. In an environment
where fraudsters only need to succeed
once, this initiative ensures we are
ready, together, to stop them before
they do. ●
