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P2P Lending

view our range of PEER-TO-PEER accounts

See how much you could earn

P2P accounts

Why compare peer-to-peer lending with MoneySuperMarket?

  • It’s quick and easy

    See all options at a glance with key features and an easy-to-follow format

  • View our peer-to-peer lending accounts

    Choose accounts from our range of P2P platforms

  • Start investing today

    Once you’ve decided, click through and set up your account 

What is peer-to-peer lending?

Peer-to-peer lending enables individual investors to lend to other individuals or small businesses - cutting out the need for banks to be involved.

The aim is that those who are willing to lend could get higher returns on their investment, and borrowers could get lower cost loans than they would if they borrowed through a bank.

As an investor, you can often choose your rate of return based on the length of time you want to invest your money and the level of risk you’re prepared to take.

What are the different types of peer-to-peer lending?

The type of peer-to-peer lending (P2P) you choose will in part depend on the type of borrower you are prepared to lend to...

  • Lending to an individual

    While you lend through a P2P platform, the borrowers are individuals who will be assessed first and then granted unsecured loans based on their credit score.

  • Lending to small businesses

    Your loan will be used to help small businesses. There may be additional security should a firm default, such as personal guarantees from the directors.

  • Lending against a property

    You could lend to fund development projects. In this instance your money will be secured against the property, offering some degree of security. 

What are the pros and cons of peer-to-peer lending as an investment?

There are lots of considerations to weigh up when thinking about peer-to-peer lending as an investment. These include…

  • Advantages

    • Potential to make greater returns than other types of investment

    • Loans can be secured, so you have some recourse should a borrower default

    • Some P2P platforms have provision funds should borrowers run into trouble

  • Disadvantages

    • Peer-to-peer lending is an investment and all your initial capital is at risk

    • There may be charges if you need to get your money back quickly

    • Returns can be lower than expected if the loan is paid back early

How do I choose the best peer-to-peer lending option for me?

Before making a decision on peer-to-peer lending as an investment, these are some of the factors to consider:

  • How long do you want to invest for?

    How long do you want to tie-up your money? Think about when you’re looking to receive a return

  • How much do you want to invest?

    Most P2P platforms will have a minimum and maximum investment amount, so check the terms and conditions are suitable for you 

  • What risk are you prepared to take?

    Peer-to-peer lending can be risky for investors. Make sure you understand the risks and are comfortable before proceeding

  • What is the credit rating of the borrower(s)?

     The higher the credit rating, often the more reliable the borrower. Some platforms have a high threshold for creditworthiness

  • How regular are the interest payments?

    You may receive interest monthly or less frequently. Find out whether the platform pays it directly or if it will be reinvested

  • What are the fees and restrictions?

    Check what restrictions and charges you might face for withdrawing your money early, for example, and if there are management costs or platform fees

Compare peer-to-peer lending with MoneySuperMarket

You can easily see peer-to-peer lending options with MoneySuperMarket. 

  • It doesn’t take long

    We’ll show you a list of potential P2P investment platforms including more details about how they work.

  • Check the fine details

    See who you’ll be lending to, how often interest is paid, fees and charges, and how your money will be protected. 

  • Get ready to invest

    Once you have made your decision, you can click through to your chosen provider to find out more and start investing today.

If the peer-to-peer lending platform goes best it doesn’t automatically mean you’ll lose your investment. The loan is between you and the borrower, so whether an individual or firm, they will still owe you the debt. As part of the platform’s wind-down the loans are likely to be picked up by a third-party (potentially another P2P platform) who would be in a position to give you recourse. However, this may not always run smoothly, and you may get back less than you had loaned out.

While both peer-to-peer lending and crowdfunding involve you giving money to an individual or company, the difference is that peer-to-peer lending is a loan that should be repaid. Crowdfunding does not usually need to be paid back.

It’s often wise to spread your investments because this helps spread the risk. Often peer-to-peer lending is seen as being at the higher end of the risk spectrum. But this could also lead to potentially much higher rewards. For this reason some investors use it as part of their overall investment portfolio.

You may have to pay tax on your returns, but some peer-to-peer investments can now be included tax-free within an ISA. This type of ISA is known as an innovative finance ISA and you can invest up to £20,000 in ISAs, either in stocks and shares, cash, or peer-to-peer loans, or you can invest in a combination of these.

Auto investing is where you invest through a digital platform that uses algorithms and variables such as age, income, goals, and risk tolerance to pick a mixture of suitable investments for you. Money is often invested at regular intervals in a pre-set strategy. 

 

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