Finance question
Do I need to own the premises to finance a fit-out?
No. You do not need to own the building to finance a fit-out. The finance is secured by the fit-out and equipment, not the property, so leaseholders qualify, up to $500,000 and often low-doc or no-doc.
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The short answer
The fit-out is the security, not the building
A common myth is that fit-out finance needs you to own the premises. It does not. The lender takes security in the fit-out and equipment you are installing, so a leased shop, cafe, clinic or office can be fitted out on finance just as easily as an owned one, because the security lives in the build, not in the freehold.
That is what makes it work for tenants. Most business owners lease their space, and the fit-out is often their biggest single spend before they even open. Financing it up to $500,000 lets that cost be repaid over a term while the business trades, rather than paid in cash before the doors open and any revenue comes in.
Ventas is a broker across 40+ lenders, and appetite for leasehold fit-outs varies by lender, which is exactly where a broker earns its place. We match your lease, your trade and your paperwork to the lender most likely to fund it, often low-doc, inside 24 to 48 hours, subject to lender assessment. There is no upfront fee to you; the lender pays us on settlement.
Do you qualify?
What a leasehold fit-out deal usually needs.
A lease, not a title
A signed lease is enough; ownership is not required.
A fit-out scope
Quotes for the build and equipment being installed.
An active ABN
Sole traders and companies both qualify.
Low-doc friendly
Many deals settle without full financials.
Why ownership does not matter
Security sits in the fit-out
The lender holds the equipment and build, not your landlord's title.
Built for tenants
Most fit-out finance is written for businesses that lease.
Fast and low-doc
Many leasehold deals clear in 24 to 48 hours without full financials.
A real example
A tenant signs a five-year lease on a retail unit and needs $60,000 to fit it out. With no property to their name, the fit-out itself secures the finance, approved low-doc inside 48 hours and repaid over the term. The landlord was not involved, as the security sat in the build being installed. Illustrative only.
Common questions
Frequently asked questions
Can I finance a fit-out on a leased space?
Yes. The fit-out and equipment secure the loan, so leaseholders qualify without owning the building.
Does my landlord need to be involved?
Generally no. The finance is against the fit-out you install, not the property title.
How much can a leasehold fit-out be?
Fit-out finance runs up to $500,000, secured by the build and equipment, subject to lender assessment.
Do I need financials?
Often no. Many leasehold fit-out deals run low-doc or no-doc.