Business Details
22 Years
experience
Trusted Agricultural Mortgage Brokers
Established in 2004, Rural & Business Specialists was founded by directors with extensive agricultural and financial expertise to address the unique challenges faced by rural businesses seeking mortgage funding. Our team combines hands-on farming experience with specialist lending knowledge, working with over 30 banks and lenders to secure tailored financing solutions for complex rural property transactions. We specialise in agricultural, equestrian, and smallholding mortgages, offering independent advice without ties to any single lender. Our proven track record includes restructuring multi-million-pound farm portfolios and securing financing for niche rural enterprises that mainstream banks cannot accommodate. With a client-first ethos, we focus on understanding the specific needs of each business to present lending proposals in the most compelling format for approval.Our consultants bring decades of combined experience in land agency, veterinary science, and agricultural finance, ensuring comprehensive support for clients across the UK. We maintain strong relationships with specialist lenders to access exclusive mortgage products unavailable on the high street. Our services extend to cash flow planning tools and business development guidance, supporting clients from initial application through to successful funding. By combining technical expertise with practical understanding of rural industries, we deliver financing solutions that align with both short-term objectives and long-term business strategies. Our commitment to excellence has been demonstrated through numerous complex case successes where conventional lenders have declined support.
Services
Agricultural Mortgages
Equestrian Mortgages
Rural Business Mortgages
Smallholding Mortgages
Land Mortgages
Details
- Year established: 2004
Highlights and features
- We work with 30+ specialist banks to access exclusive mortgage products
- Our team combines farming backgrounds with agricultural finance expertise
- Independent brokers with no ties to single lenders
- Proven success in complex cases declined by mainstream banks
- Consultants with 40+ years combined experience in rural lending
Associations and certifications
- Financial Conduct Authority (FCA)
What people say
Expertise in complex cases
Dedicated support
Successful funding solutions
Industry knowledge
Personalised service
Services
Agricultural Mortgages
Specialist mortgage solutions for agricultural businesses seeking land purchases, property development, or business restructuring. We handle complex cases involving multiple business structures and large asset portfolios. Our expertise secures funding for both established farms and new rural enterprises.
Equestrian Mortgages
Tailored financing for riding schools, livery yards, and competition facilities. We understand the unique requirements of equestrian enterprises, from indoor arenas to mixed-use properties. Our consultants have specialist knowledge of the equine industry's financial needs.
Rural Business Mortgages
Mortgage products for diversified rural businesses including vineyards, holiday accommodations, and agricultural technology ventures. We support businesses requiring financing for expansion, diversification, or operational restructuring across various rural sectors.
Smallholding Mortgages
Financing solutions for small-scale agricultural enterprises and residential smallholdings. We assist clients with planning permission challenges, mixed-use properties, and first-time purchases requiring specialist lending criteria.
Land Mortgages
Mortgage products for purchasing or developing agricultural land, including permitted development projects. We handle complex cases involving multiple parcels, development potential, and environmental considerations across various UK regions.
People
Rob Lister
Director
Chartered Surveyor with 20+ years in agricultural finance, previously at NatWest Agriculture and Farming & Agricultural Finance. Combines farming heritage with technical expertise to deliver tailored mortgage solutions.
Jim Richards
Director
Agricultural graduate with extensive banking experience, formerly with Agricultural Mortgage Corporation and Royal Bank of Scotland. Specialises in complex rural financing solutions and business restructuring.
Charlotte Douglas
Equine Consultant
Award-winning equine scientist with practical experience in equestrian business management. Provides specialist mortgage advice for riding schools, competition yards, and livery facilities across northern England and Scotland.
Russell Gambier
Consultant
45-year farming veteran specialising in dairy operations and rural business consultancy. Offers practical mortgage advice informed by decades of hands-on agricultural experience and industry connections.
Stewart Hamilton
Consultant
Rural surveyor and RICS Registered Valuer with experience at leading land agencies. Combines farm management expertise with financial knowledge to support clients across northern England and Scotland.
Questions
What types of rural mortgages do you specialise in?
We specialise in agricultural, equestrian, smallholding, and rural business mortgages, including complex cases involving multiple properties, development projects, and unusual business structures.
Can you help if we've been declined by mainstream banks?
Yes, our relationships with 30+ specialist lenders enable us to secure financing for cases declined by high-street banks, particularly for complex rural property transactions and unusual business structures.
Do you work with first-time rural property buyers?
Yes, we support first-time buyers of smallholdings, equestrian properties, and agricultural land, providing guidance through the unique challenges of rural property financing.
What areas of the UK do you cover?
We operate nationwide with consultants specialising in Kent, Yorkshire, Wales, Scotland, East Anglia, and the Midlands, ensuring local knowledge combined with national lending expertise.
How do you handle complex agricultural financing cases?
Our team combines farming expertise with financial acumen to structure compelling lending proposals, working with specialist banks to secure funding for multi-million-pound portfolios and complex business restructurings.
What support do you offer for rural business development?
We provide cash flow planning tools and business development guidance alongside mortgage financing, supporting diversification projects and expansion plans for rural enterprises.
