Sell House with Non-Standard Construction

Selling a house with non-standard construction can be more challenging than selling a typical brick-built property. Most buyers rely on a mortgage and, based on House Buyer Bureau’s experience working with UK property sales, many lenders are cautious about homes built using unusual materials or construction methods due to perceived risks around valuation, resale and insurance.

The good news is that non-standard doesn’t necessarily mean undesirable – many of these properties are perfectly sound and have been standing for decades.

In this guide, House Buyer Bureau explains what counts as non-standard construction, why it can affect a sale, and the most effective ways to sell quickly and reliably.

What is non-standard construction?

Standard construction in housing refers to traditional brick or stone walls, with a tiled or slate roof – this is what most buyers and mortgage lenders expect. Having a house built from non-standard construction just means that the property was built using materials or methods that fall outside the norm.

Common examples include timber frame, steel frame, concrete, prefabricated or thatched properties. There are industry estimates that between 700,000 and 1.5 million homes fall into one of these categories.

This doesn’t automatically mean the house is of poor quality or unsafe. Many non-standard homes were built for practical reasons – whether that’s for speed, cost or the materials available at the time, and some have stood the test of time very well.

The challenge is that they can be harder to mortgage, insure or value in the same way as a standard property, which cuts down the number of buyers you might have if you’re selling a house with non-standard construction.

Key points of selling a non-standard construction house

Non-standard homes can be harder to mortgage and insure
This reduces the number of potential buyers
Sales often take longer and are more likely to fall-through
Renovations don’t always guarantee an easier re-sale
Cash buyers like House Buyer Bureau can offer a faster, more certain sale route

Types of non-standard construction houses in the UK

Some of the more common examples of non-standard construction include:

Timber frame homes
Steel frame houses
Concrete-built properties
Homes with a thatched roof
Prefabricated (prefab) panels

A lot of these property types were built when there was a need for fast construction, particularly after the Second World War. Others were designed as an alternative to traditional brick construction and can still be found in good condition today.

How to tell if your house was built with non-standard construction

You can usually identify the construction type by checking:

the title deeds and legal documents,
survey documents or homebuyer report
an older mortgage valuation
Planning or renovation documents (if the property has been altered over the years)

If you can’t find these documents, or aren’t sure how to interpret them, a qualified surveyor can usually identify the construction method during a survey.

They’ll look for signs like unusual wall thickness, non-standard external finishes, or even an age and style that doesn’t match traditional brick-built homes.

Why are non-standard construction homes harder to sell?

In our experience of helping thousands of UK homeowners, we’ve found the main challenges are:

Mortgage restrictions
Many lenders are cautious or unwilling to lend on certain construction types which reduces the buyer pool (given most buyers rely on a mortgage to buy).
Insurance concerns
Some insurers will charge a higher premium, or even refuse cover, for unusual properties.
Valuation issues
Surveyors can find these properties trickier to value and may be more conservative than with ‘normal’ brick-built properties. This can then affect the amount a prospective buyer will offer, or lender will lend.
Buyer perception
Buyers may worry about long term durability or re-sale potential – even when the property is in good condition.

Pros and cons of non-standard construction homes

Pros

Often more affordable than standard homes
Offer unique character and design
Structurally sound when maintained properly

Cons

Harder to mortgage
More limited buyer demand
Potential insurance complications
Longer selling times

What’s the cost of converting a non-standard construction house?

In some cases, improvements can be made to make a property more appealing, but in our experience, a full conversion is rarely straightforward:

Minor upgrades (e.g. replacing a roof) are possible
Structural changes are usually very expensive
Full conversion to standard construction is usually impractical

The cost of converting a non-standard construction house depends heavily on the type of property and the work involved. And, in some cases, there’s no realistic way to “convert” the structure into standard construction – for example, a timber-framed house would essentially need to be torn down and rebuilt with brick. In others, repairs or improvements may help address the concerns that put off lenders and buyers.

If the house has a roof covering or wall system that insurers or lenders dislike, replacing or upgrading those elements is more feasible, but they can still be very expensive. Costs can quickly move from a few thousand pounds to tens of thousands.

It’s worth remembering that spending money on improvements doesn’t necessarily guarantee a straightforward sale. Even after repairs, some buyers and mortgage lenders may still treat the property cautiously. We’d recommend weighing up the likely value uplift against the cost of the work before you commit, and remember that selling to a cash buyer like House Buyer Bureau is the quickest and easiest way to sell a house with non-standard construction.

How to sell a house with non-standard construction

Selling a non-standard construction house on the open market is possible, but it often takes more patience – and a regular sale can easily take as long as 5 months. The main issue is that many buyers rely on a mortgage provider to finance the purchase, and many lenders can be cautious about properties that they see as higher risk. This can lead to lower offers, longer selling times or sales falling through later in the process.

Selling on the open market

The best approach is to be upfront from the start. If you have survey reports, warranties, repair records or planning documents that explain the property’s construction and condition, make them available to your solicitor and estate agent early on, as this helps give buyers more confidence.
You should plan for the sale to take longer, and accept there will be fewer potential buyers (so price realistically) to reduce the chances of a sale falling through.

Renovate before selling:

Improving the property before selling may help attract buyers, but it comes at a cost, and there’s no guarantee that it will address the buyer and lender concerns.

Sell to a cash buyer:

Selling to a specialist property buying company, like House Buyer Bureau, can be an attractive option if you need a guaranteed sale, want to avoid a long chain or just don’t want to spend months waiting for the right mortgage-backed buyer to appear.

For many owners of problem properties, this is the route that offers the least stress and the most predictable outcome.

Sell your house fast with House Buyer Bureau

If your house was built using non-standard construction, we offer a straightforward way to sell without the usual hassle. Instead of waiting for mortgage approvals, drawn-out negotiations and the risk of a sale collapsing, you can work with a buyer who understands difficult properties and is used to handling homes that may not appeal to the mainstream market.

Selling through House Buyer Bureau can help you move on quickly, with fewer delays and less uncertainty. It’s a practical option for any homeowner who wants a fair, reliable sale without having to pour more money into a house that may already be difficult to sell.

Get your free, no-obligation offer today.

Non-standard construction FAQs

Why do mortgage lenders reject non-standard properties?

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Mortgage lenders tend to be cautious because non-standard construction properties can carry a higher risk of structural issues, insurance complications or resale problems. It doesn’t mean every non-standard house is unsuitable for lending, but it does mean lenders often look at them more carefully.

Can you get a mortgage on a non-standard construction house?

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Yes, but it depends on the type of construction and the lender. Some lenders specialise in these properties, while others may refuse or impose stricter conditions.

Do non-standard construction homes sell for less?

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They can do, as limited buyer demand and lender restrictions often reduce market value compared to standard properties.

How long does it take to sell a non-standard house?

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Sales often take longer than average thanks to financing challenges. A typical sale can take longer than the 6 months that Zoopla says is the average, due to the limited pool or buyers, mortgage lender caution and surveyor challenges giving a valuation.

Are non-standard construction houses safe?

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Many non-standard construction houses are perfectly safe and can last for decades or even longer when they’ve been properly maintained. The important thing is the condition of the property, not just the construction type. A well-kept non-standard home may be in far better shape than a poorly maintained traditional house.

Which lenders accept non-standard construction properties?

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Some specialist lenders will consider them, but criteria vary widely depending on the materials and condition. You may be best speaking to a mortgage broker to get a better idea of lenders and product availability.

Is it worth renovating before selling?

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Not always – improvements can be expensive and don’t necessarily guarantee a smoother sale. You should always compare the costs against any potential value gain.

Chris

Chris has worked in property all his career, first as a successful estate agent before spotting a gap in the market for buying property directly from people looking for a simple, quick sale.

He has a passion for property and as an experienced valuer, has looked at well over 50,000 properties so far at HBB. He has extensive experience in property buying and regularly comments in the press on property matters, trends and promotes ways to simplify and speed up the selling process.

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