Roma Finance, the Manchester-based property finance company, has set ambitious growth targets for the next 24 months as it celebrates 15 years in business.

Established in 2008 by managing director Scott Marshall, and named after his late grandparents Rose and Max, Roma has flourished over the years going from a one-man band to a team of nearly 50 working from its head office on the edge of the City centre and another 10 ‘on the road’ working remotely around the UK managing customer and intermediary relationships across England, Scotland and Wales.

Roma’s first loan was for £75,000, and since then the loan book has grown exponentially thanks to the strength of its relationships with, among others, The Royal Bank of Scotland (now NatWest), Shawbrook Bank, Paragon Bank, The Cambridge Building Society, The British Business Bank, The Greater Manchester Combined Authority, Foresight Group and LGB Capital. Working alongside Roma, its customers have been able to create almost 10,000 new dwellings including some interesting refurbishment projects which have seen former dog kennels, hotels and retail banks transformed into stylish new homes.

With Roma’s most successful month to date recorded in May 2024 where almost 100 loan advances were made, the business has set its sights on further growth with and aggressive targets for the coming years. The aim is to double its loan book by 2026, to further increase repeat business and continue educating the industry in best practice.

Scott said: “Roma’s first loan was, in part, made by releasing equity from my own family home, so there was real pressure for it to be a success and for the loan to perform. Thankfully it did, and over the years Roma has been able to support over 5,000 independent landlords, and small and medium sized house builders to realise their property development aspirations. Most importantly though, and one of the things I am most proud of, is that in our whole 15-year history we have never lost money and our redemptions continue to be strong, despite black swan events.

“The residential property investment market is a dynamic and hugely exciting one to be involved in. We are seeing record levels of demand for new housing across the whole of the UK and we are pleased to be in a strong position to provide financial support for those working in the sector.”