Loanpad

Loanpad is a UK peer-to-peer lending platform that specialises in property-backed loans. The business was founded in 2015 and is incorporated as Loanpad Limited. It is directly authorised by the FCA under Firm Reference Number 741576, with permissions to operate as a peer-to-peer lending platform and an ISA manager (granted 5 May 2018).

So what? FCA authorisation and the stated permissions mean Loanpad is subject to UK regulatory rules for P2P platforms and IFISAs, including wind-down planning and client-money safeguarding requirements. FCA authorisation is not the same as FSCS protection — investors bear capital risk.

The platform matches investors with short-term, property-secured loans for development, bridging and business funding. Loanpad administers and services the loans on behalf of investors and publishes loan-level and portfolio information for review. Some loans are originated with or co-funded by lending partners; investor exposure is typically structured so investors are not the first-loss party, with exposure limited relative to total security value.

Interest is paid daily into the Loanpad account and can be reinvested. Access terms vary by product — a daily-access (Classic) product and a 60-day notice (Premium) product are offered.

So what? Loan structure and property charges are core to the platform's risk profile. Secured lending can reduce — but not remove — the risk of capital loss, and "daily interest" does not guarantee daily liquidity.

Principal retail products are Classic and Premium accounts; both can be held inside an Innovative Finance ISA (IFISA). Published headline target rates are 4.8% for Classic (daily access) and 5.8% for Premium (60-day notice), paid daily into the Loanpad cash account. The Premium account may charge an early access fee of up to 0.5% if funds are withdrawn before the notice period in some circumstances.

Loanpad states there is no platform-imposed minimum for account opening and that IFISA contributions can start from £0.01; some pages reference £10 as a practical minimum, and ISA transfers carry a £500 minimum in some guidance documents.

Performance and defaults: Loanpad publishes Outcomes Statements showing realised losses and recoveries — historically a low level of realised capital losses, with specific defaults flagged and recoveries reported. These are historical/portfolio-level outcomes and do not predict future returns.

So what? Published rates are target and variable. Historical outcomes provide context but are not a guarantee — investors should review the published Outcomes Statements and risk disclosures before committing capital.

Loanpad is aimed at UK retail investors seeking exposure to secured P2P lending backed by property and who are comfortable that investments are not covered by the FSCS, that interest rates are variable, and that even "daily access" is subject to normal market conditions and portfolio liquidity.

The platform may suit investors seeking higher income than instant-access cash accounts and willing to accept higher risk and potential illiquidity.

So what? IFISA status concerns tax treatment, not capital protection — suitability rests on tolerance for credit and liquidity risk.

Strengths. Direct FCA authorisation (FRN 741576) with ISA-manager permissions and the resulting regulatory obligations (wind-down planning, governance). Focus on property-secured lending with junior co-funder structures intended to limit first-loss exposure. Published loan-level information and Outcomes Statements aid due diligence; daily interest accrual makes performance visible.

Risks. No FSCS protection on investments — investors bear credit and recovery risk. Liquidity is not guaranteed: daily access is conditional on market conditions and pool liquidity, and in stressed conditions access may be limited or delayed. Property valuations can fall and security realisations can take time and incur costs. Some categorical claims (e.g. "zero capital losses" or precise 2026 AUM figures) are not independently verifiable and should be treated cautiously.

1) Clone firms. The FCA has warned about clone sites impersonating Loanpad (e.g. "Loanpad-In"). Verify identity via Loanpad Limited (FRN 741576) and the FCA Register before transferring funds.

2) Target vs realised returns. Headline rates are target and variable, not guarantees — third-party marketing copy sometimes obscures this.

3) Unverified claims. Statements about exact 2026 AUM or categorical "no investor has ever lost capital" claims are not independently corroborated in the source material; treat them as unverified until supported by audited statements.

4) Liquidity caveats. "Daily access" on Classic and 60-day notice on Premium are both subject to normal market conditions — neither guarantees withdrawal on demand.