Can you get a commercial mortgage for a dental practice or GP surgery?
Yes, and healthcare premises are among the more favourably viewed assets in the commercial market. Dental practices and GP surgeries generate stable, recurring income — often partly underpinned by public funding or long-standing patient lists — which lenders like. A commercial mortgage for a surgery or practice is very achievable, and some lenders specialise in healthcare and offer keener terms than the mainstream.
That said, these are still specialist trading assets. The right lender matters, because a generalist may not understand how healthcare income and goodwill are structured.
Why do lenders like healthcare premises?
The appeal comes down to income quality:
- Stable, recurring revenue — patients return regularly, and NHS-linked income is dependable where it applies.
- Defensive sector — demand for dental and medical care is resilient across economic cycles.
- Professional operators — practitioners are typically qualified, regulated and experienced.
- Long-standing goodwill — established patient lists have real, financeable value.
This is why deposits can be lower than for other trade-related assets, sometimes 20% to 30% rather than the 40% seen in riskier sectors.
Can you finance goodwill as well as the property?
Yes. A significant part of a dental or medical practice's value is often its goodwill — the patient list and recurring income — rather than the building alone. Specialist healthcare lenders will lend against goodwill and property together, which is essential when acquiring a practice where the premises are leasehold or a small part of the overall price.
Freehold surgery versus practice acquisition
There are two common scenarios:
- Buying the freehold premises — funded like a specialist owner-occupied commercial mortgage, assessed on the practice accounts and the property value.
- Acquiring the practice as a going concern — funded on the goodwill and income, often with a smaller property element and a larger goodwill element.
Many practitioners eventually want to own their premises to build equity and control costs, and healthcare lenders support this well.
What do healthcare lenders assess?
Expect a lender to look at:
- Practice accounts and recurring income, including any NHS or public-funded element.
- The strength and size of the patient list.
- Your qualifications, registration and experience.
- The property value and, if leasehold, the lease terms.
- Affordability — income should cover the mortgage comfortably.
How do you fund a healthcare premises efficiently?
Because healthcare is specialist, being matched to a lender that understands the sector is the difference between a smooth deal and a frustrating one. Assesr builds a lender-ready credit paper from your figures in around 60 seconds and matches it to specialist commercial lenders that fund dental and medical premises. You pay a 0.5% Assesr Fee on drawdown — a quarter of the typical broker fee — and nothing until completion.
Frequently asked questions
Can I get a commercial mortgage for a dental practice or GP surgery?
Yes. Lenders view established healthcare practices favourably because of their stable, often partly public-funded income. Both the premises and the practice goodwill can be financed, and some lenders specialise in the sector with keener terms.
How much deposit do I need for a healthcare premises?
Often lower than other trading assets — sometimes 20% to 30% — because the income is stable and defensive. Strong practices with long-standing patient lists can achieve competitive terms and lower deposits.
Can I finance the goodwill of a practice as well as the property?
Yes. Specialist healthcare lenders will often lend against goodwill and property together, particularly for dental and medical practices with recurring income. This matters when the premises are leasehold or only a small part of the overall purchase price.