Since launch in 2009, Dragonfly Property Finance has extended into second charges, medium-term buy-to-let loans and development or mezzanine finance and commercial loans.

Jonathan Samuels, CEO, Dragonfly Property Finance, (pictured) said: “To pass £500m is not just a major milestone for us but reflects the spiralling demand for short-term finance, especially among people who have never used it before.

“With mainstream lenders still deeply cautious about anything slightly out-of-the-box, people have inevitably turned to alternative finance providers to achieve their goals. There’s no reason to think the sector won’t continue to grow strongly in the years ahead.”