How to Tell if a House is Non-Standard Construction

Miranda Sussman

If you are considering a fast house sale or are on the lookout for a new home to buy, it pays to have as much information to hand as possible. From having a valid EPC to understanding the local house prices, there is a wealth of information you should have to help facilitate your sale and keep you on your quest to find a new home.

One thing you perhaps haven’t thought of is whether the construction of your house could hinder your sale. Most homes in the UK are what is known as “standard construction” but some are defined as “non-standard construction,” and it is these that can often prove more difficult to sell on the traditional market.  

For both sellers and buyers, a property of non-standard construction can prove to be a little bit of a headache. All is not lost though, if there have been problems selling on the traditional market, specialist buyers like Gaffsy can help. We buy any home, whether it is non-standard or standard construction. In this edition of our blog, we look at the properties of a non-standard construction home so you can identify whether the one you are selling or the one you plan to buy has been built this way.

What is a non-standard construction house?

A non-standard construction house is a property that has been built without using the more traditional house-building materials. If your property does not have brick or stone walls or a roof not constructed of slate or tile, it’s a house of non-standard construction.

Buildings with glass walls, corrugated iron roofs and the all-time classic prefabricated house are all examples of what we class as a house of non-standard construction.

By all appearances though, your house may indeed look like it’s been constructed with the more common materials, but a closer look will prove otherwise. If you are unsure, consult our list below to see what materials are commonly used when a house is non-standard construction.

How to tell if your roof is of non-standard construction

As we mentioned above, a roof not constructed of slate, will not constitute a non-standard construction, but appearances can sometimes be deceiving, and what you think could be something a little more traditional may not be. Materials used in building of a non-standard construction roof would include:

• Asphalt
• Asbestos
• Steel
• Corrugated iron
• Shingles
• Thatches
• Fibreglass
• Plastic
• Glass

If you are unsure of what material has been used to construct your roof, you should approach a construction expert who will be able to pass on their knowledge. This will be key should you look to sell on the more traditional market.

How can you tell if the frame or walls of your house are non-standard construction?

This is probably the largest identifier of your home being made of a non-standard construction. With the walls covering such a large space, and easier to see up close than the roof, it makes identifying the materials easier. However, even if you are aware that your home is built to a non-standard construction, you may not know what was used. And this is again, key when it comes to selling, as some interested parties may have doubts about particular materials.

Common non-standard construction walls and frames are built from:

• Glass
• Concrete
• Wood
• Steel-frame
• Flint stone walls
• Wattle and daub construction
• Prefab concrete

Wattle and daub, and prefab, are perhaps two of the most well-known and can still be seen in some places.

Are houses of non-standard construction long lasting?

Yes, they are, but not as long-lasting as those built with the traditional bricks and mortar methods. This can make them harder to sell, harder to insure and harder to get a mortgage on.

Why are non-standard construction houses harder to insure?

A house not built through a tried and tested method is more likely to alert insurers to a potential risk. Add in that the specialist materials are likely to require the work of specific engineers and suddenly, you have something insurers may have reservations over. With problems likely to cost more to rectify, the insurer will make sure they are protected by offering higher costing premiums. This can make it harder to sell when a buyer realises insurance isn’t as affordable as it was at their previous home.

Why are houses of non-standard construction harder to get a mortgage for?

The lender, just like the insurer, wants to protect their money and offering a mortgage on a property that may not last as long, poses more expensive repairs and has a harder-to-predict future value, is not always alluring to them. For the lender, the investment is more volatile, and that delivers a little too much risk. They may alleviate that risk by asking for a higher deposit or charging more for their services. However, some specialist lenders are willing to lend against such homes.

Why does it take longer to sell a non-standard construction house?

With buyers finding it harder to get a mortgage and insurance, the pool of people able to buy the property is suddenly reduced.  Lenders and buyers may find it hard to assess the true value of the home. Especially when materials not often used in house construction are present. Even if the house is relatively new, there is naturally a little trepidation from those looking to buy as they need to weigh up the additional costs that can be associated with repairs and upkeep, as well as the more expensive mortgage and insurance.

Furthermore, a seller will hope to recoup their costs and get the best possible price for the house. If it was built from costly materials this could be reflected in the price and put it out of reach of homebuyers who would be able to afford the equivalent property built traditionally.

How can you sell a house that is non-standard construction?

You can go via the traditional route, but you should be prepared to wait longer than the six months it commonly takes for a property to sell on the regular market.  As we mentioned above, insuring, cost and mortgage availability can all slow the process.

You could also look at what can be changed. In some cases, only one part of your home may be non-standard construction. The roof for example, could be replaced with one of a more traditional construction. Unfortunately, this is not a quick fix and will cost substantial sums. An alternative could be to look to a cash house buyer like Gaffsy. The condition, type and location of the home make no difference, and our expert property buyers will gladly make a free, no-obligation, cash offer on your non-standard construction house. If you have found it hard to sell before, speak to Gaffsy, the experts in selling an unsellable house.