Asset refinance
Refinance existing HP or lease facilities, or raise against unencumbered plant, machinery and vehicles to put capital back into the business.
- Range
- By asset equity
- Term
- Agreed to the asset
- Family
- asset
- Search
- Full market, one file
At a glance
- Existing facilities
- Unencumbered assets
- Capital release
- Market search
How it works
- 1Existing HP or lease facilities can be refinanced, or unencumbered assets raised against.
- 2The new facility pays out the old one (if any) and releases surplus capital into the business.
- 3Terms are agreed to remaining useful life and current market value.
Who it’s for
- Businesses with equity in plant, vehicles or equipment
- Companies that want to simplify several asset agreements into one
Good to know
A settlement figure from the current funder is needed if the asset is already on finance.
One application with QED searches the full market. That saves you running the same file around several lenders, and it avoids multiple credit searches on the business and directors. A hard search is only placed when you proceed with a chosen lender.
Hire purchase vs finance lease vs sale & leaseback
Tax treatment depends on the agreement and current HMRC rules — confirm with your accountant. Comparison drawn from qedfinance.com/assetfinance.
What it is
Hire purchase
Buy the asset in instalments. Title transfers when you exercise the option.
Finance lease
Use the asset without buying it. Funder owns it; you pay rentals.
Sale & leaseback
Funder buys kit you already own and finances it back on HP or lease.
End of term
Hire purchase
Purchase option — you take title
Finance lease
Secondary rental, sell and keep a share of proceeds, or return
Sale & leaseback
Same options as the HP or lease you took back on
VAT (typical)
Hire purchase
Paid with the deposit and with each instalment; reclaim on the capital cost (current rules)
Finance lease
Claimed on the rentals
Sale & leaseback
Follows HP or lease treatment
Tax (typical)
Hire purchase
You are treated as owner — capital allowances often available. Interest may offset profits.
Finance lease
Rentals usually offset against pre-tax profits. No title in the HP sense.
Sale & leaseback
Ask your accountant — it is a sale then a hire/lease back.
Best when
Hire purchase
You want to own the asset and claim allowances
Finance lease
You want use without ownership and a lower initial outlay
Sale & leaseback
You need cash from unencumbered plant, vehicles or machinery
Documents QED will ask for
Same list as the attach-files section on the website application. Tick what you have when you apply; email the rest.
- Last published accounts (full accounts, not abbreviated)
- Latest management accounts if year-end is stale
- Last 3 months’ business bank statements
- Supplier quote, invoice or pro-forma for the asset
- Proof of ownership / V5 / serial numbers (sale & leaseback or refinance)
- Settlement figure if the asset is already on finance
FAQ
Drawn from qedfinance.com and the way the UK market actually underwrites these facilities.
Can I refinance at a better rate?
Sometimes — if the asset has held value and your credit has improved. Sometimes the point is cash release rather than rate.
Is this the same as sale & leaseback?
Sale & leaseback is one form of refinance. You can also refinance an existing HP or lease facility — the new line pays out the old one and can release surplus equity.
Why refinance if the rate is not cheaper?
Often the point is cash release or simplifying several agreements into one, not a rate cut. If credit and residual value have improved, a better rate can come too.
New or used assets?
Both. Hire purchase, leasing, sale & leaseback and refinance can all be arranged against new or used plant, machinery and vehicles, subject to age and residual value.
Can repayments follow seasonality?
Yes. Many funders will structure rentals around seasonal cash flow rather than a flat monthly profile.
Does a low credit score rule me out?
It can limit options with some houses, which is why a broker search matters. QED matches the file to lenders whose criteria fit.
Prefer a number first?
Model an illustrative structure, email yourself a copy, then apply if it looks right.
Open the calculatorQED is a broker, not a lender. A low credit score can limit options with some houses; a search with us does not place a hard search on the business or directors until you proceed with a chosen lender.