The Five Minute Interview with Chris Oatway, Director, LDNfinance

By Tony Sanchez 13th January 2020

LDNfinance are an independent ‘Whole of Market’ Mortgage, Specialist Finance and Protection specialist, based in London.

With a team of award winning advisers, they provide professional advice to a wide variety of clients seeking property related finance and protection.

We speak to director, Chris Oatway:

What is the best thing about being in the bridging and development finance business?

It really is a tight-knit community and I enjoy building close relationships with our clients and lenders; with most becoming our friends whom we do multiple deals with.

What keeps you focused?

My family are my rock and support me every day.

What qualities do you look for in your employees or colleagues?

Drive and determination to succeed. You have to love what you do to really excel in the job, and we seek like-minded passionate people to surround ourselves with.

Are you an optimist or a pessimist?

A realistic optimist. In any given moment there are always possible choices and actions we can take to create the best outcome.

We are looking forward to the mini boom in 2020 and are already feeling increasing levels of confidence in the market which will continue to grow the property finance industry over the next year.

What did you want to be as a child?

My dad interviewed me when I was 8 years old with his first video camera and asked me a series of questions.

The grainy video still does the rounds in my family every now and then, with me stating I wanted to be a doctor or a race car driver.

What will be the greatest challenge facing the bridging and development finance industry in the coming months?

There needs to be large scale changes to the planning system to unlock land, enabling developers to hit the ever-increasing high levels of demand for housing.

Areas need to be targeted all over the UK where large scale projects and placemaking is suitable, and a cross party agreement put in place with a long-term housing plan will be key.

Who or what makes you laugh?

I hate to say it but my business partner, Anthony Rose, is very quick with his puns. I try not to laugh but can’t help it!

Do you dread Monday mornings?

The opposite! I love Monday mornings as they are typically the busiest and most productive day of the week for me.

In some ways Mondays are the start of my 5 day weekend. My wife and I have 3 kids and a dog who are all very demanding over the weekend, with my primary role being a glorified taxi driver to football, rugby, cricket matches and acting classes.

If you could change one thing about yourself, what would it be?

I’ve never been able to participate in Movember due to my lack of potential moustache growth. I may attempt it this year but focus on growing some bushy lamp chops instead.

With whom would you most like to have dinner?

Marty Mcfly would have some great stories to tell and maybe I could get my hands on the 2000 – 2050 almanac.