Lender Comparison
Masthaven vs Central Trust Limited
Masthaven and Central Trust are the two mid-market specialist lenders on our panel with overlapping clean credit appetite. They are direct competitors for typical UK secured loan cases between £10,000 and £250,000 — borrowers choose between Masthaven's Optimal Zero rate leadership and Central Trust's plan variety up to 90% LTV.
At a glance
| Masthaven | Central Trust Limited | |
|---|---|---|
| Min loan | £3,000 (Optimal 1) / £10,000 (Optimal Zero) | £10,000 (Plan 2/5) / £20,000 (Plan 1) |
| Max loan | £250,000 standard (£150,000 on HLTV variant) | £250,000 (Plan 1) / £150,000 (Plan 2) / £50,000 (Plan 5) |
| Max term | 30 years | 25 years |
| Max LTV | 85% combined (HLTV variant); 80% combined (standard Optimal Zero / Optimal 1) | 90% combined (Plan 5 only) |
| Credit tier | Clean credit (Optimal Zero) through minor adverse (Optimal 1) | Clean (Plans 1 and 5) and minor adverse (Plan 2) |
| Rate structure | 2-year and 5-year fixed, then variable revert | 2-year and 5-year fixed, then variable revert |
| Arrangement fee | £695–£1,495 tiered by loan size — one of the most granular fee ladders on the UK panel | £499–£999 tiered (Plan 2) / £999 flat (Plan 1) / £499–£999 tiered (Plan 5) |
| Completion | Typically 2–4 weeks | Typically 2–4 weeks |
| Property eligibility | Standard UK residential property with current first charge mortgage. Most construction types accepted including ex-local authority. Combined LTV capped at 80% on standard Optimal Zero / Optimal 1 products or 85% on the HLTV variant. A property valuation is required. | Standard UK residential property. Combined LTV capped at 75% (Plan 1), 80% (Plan 2), or 90% (Plan 5). Plan 5 is the only product offering 90% LTV in the UK secured loan market. |
Which should you pick?
Pick Masthaven for low-LTV competitive rates
Masthaven's Optimal Zero product leads on rate for clean credit at sub-80% LTV — 5-year fix from 7.61% APR. Best for typical clean credit borrowers with a comfortable equity position who want a competitive 5-year fix from a streamlined specialist lender.
Read full Masthaven profile →Pick Central Trust for higher LTV cases up to 90%
Central Trust's Plan 5 extends to 90% combined LTV for clean credit cases up to £50,000 — useful when the borrower has limited equity but a clean credit record. Their Plan 2 also accepts minor adverse credit up to 80% LTV. Best for high-LTV cases that Masthaven's 80% cap would exclude.
Read full Central Trust Limited profile →Pros and cons
Masthaven
Pros
- • Granular tiered fee structure — genuinely competitive on smaller loans where flat-fee lenders penalise
- • Both clean-credit and minor-adverse products with consistent service
- • Up to 85% combined LTV via HLTV product for minor-adverse cases
- • Low minimum loan of £3,000 on Optimal 1 — accessible for smaller consolidation
- • Both 2-year and 5-year fixed products — genuine choice of rate stability window
- • Established UK specialist with predictable underwriting process
- • Clean-credit Optimal Zero at 7.61% APR is competitive in the 65-80% LTV range
Cons
- • Maximum loan £250,000 — limits scope on larger consolidation cases (Selina, Pepper, UTB go to £500,000)
- • Adverse credit appetite limited to 'minor' tier — not for recent CCJs, defaults, or discharged bankruptcy
- • Headline rates not the lowest at sub-65% LTV — Selina wins that segment
- • HLTV variant capped at £150,000, below the standard product £250,000
Central Trust Limited
Pros
- • Highest LTV clean-credit product on the panel (Plan 5 to 90%)
- • Flat £999 fee on Plan 1 — competitive at higher loan sizes vs percentage-based fees
- • Long UK market tenure — established broker relationships, predictable underwriting
- • Broad product range covers clean credit (Plan 1, 5) and minor adverse (Plan 2)
- • Numbered Plan structure gives clarity on tier fit before submission
- • Tiered fee on Plan 2 and Plan 5 (£499-£999) suits smaller loans
- • Both 2-year and 5-year fixed products available
Cons
- • Maximum loan £250,000 (Plan 1) — caps below specialist large-loan lenders
- • Plan 5 (90% LTV) capped at £50,000 — smaller than most other Central Trust products
- • Plan 5 rate priced at the higher end of the market — reflects high-LTV exposure
- • Doesn't accept moderate or heavy adverse credit — no products for recent CCJs or defaults
- • Maximum term 25 years — shorter than 30-year cap most competitors offer
Frequently asked questions
What's the difference between Masthaven and Central Trust secured loans?
Masthaven leads on competitive rates for clean credit at sub-80% LTV — Optimal Zero 5-year fix from 7.61% APR. Central Trust offers a wider plan range including Plan 5 up to 90% combined LTV for clean credit cases up to £50,000, with Plan 2 accepting minor adverse credit up to 80% LTV. Masthaven wins on rate; Central Trust wins on LTV flexibility.
Is Masthaven cheaper than Central Trust?
Yes — on clean credit cases at sub-80% LTV, Masthaven's Optimal Zero from 7.61% APR is more competitive than Central Trust's Plan 1 from 9.01% APR. The Central Trust plans become more relevant when the case sits above 80% LTV or in the minor adverse credit tier where Masthaven's appetite is more limited.
Should I pick Masthaven or Central Trust for a secured loan?
Pick Masthaven if you have clean credit at a comfortable LTV (sub-80%) and want the most competitive rate on a standard 5-year fix. Pick Central Trust if you need a higher LTV (up to 90%) for a smaller clean credit loan, or if the case has minor adverse credit where their Plan 2 product specifically caters.
Get quotes from both lenders
Our advisers quote Masthaven and Central Trust Limited side by side against your specific criteria — loan size, LTV, property type, credit profile.