In this blog I will explain how and why a properties construction type can affect its saleability and
ultimately the price achievable.
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In Stoke on Trent and across Staffordshire there are many examples of Non-standard construction
used over the years (predominantly post war when materials where scarce and demand high).
So what is Non-standard construction? Well basically it’s any building that isn’t made in the
traditional way i.e. not constructed of brick or stone and with tile or slate roof. There are many types
of properties that fall into Non-standard category; in fact the Building research establishment (BRE)
has over 500 different types listed!
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After the war when the country was rebuilding and there was a need to create housing fast at a time
when materials where scarce and traditional skilled labour was hard to find the government looked
for solution’s and that’s how so many non-standard construction methods where used built these
building methods where largely untested for longevity.
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The BRE were responsible for carrying out the condition surveys on non-standard construction
homes in the 1980s. They discovered some fundamental problems that affected several concrete
housing systems. These homes were designated “defective” under the Housing Defects Legislation.
Making these defective properties largely unmortgageable there are many other systems that
remain mortgageable although even these tend to have a smaller amount of lenders willing to lend
and therefore attract a slightly higher rate which in turn puts buyers off and has a negative effect on
both the value and the time it takes to find a buyer.
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As an example of non-standard construction in our area you may have seen:-
Wimpey No-Fines properties this is a type of non-standard construction house built from cast in-situ
concrete. “No-Fines” refers to the type of concrete mixture used, which contains no sand or other
small particles. Over 300,000 of these houses were built in the UK from the 1940s onward in
response to the post-WWII housing shortage.
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Or KenKast bungalows, these where a later edition Kenkast which previously had made concrete cast
sectional garages and sheds started producing detached and semi-detached bungalows in the 60’s.
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British steel and iron (BISF) houses can also be seen in our area these prefabs got built in large
numbers after ww2 BISF was an association of steel producers formed in 1934 and was responsible
for the national planning of steel production during the war. It later became key in the Emergency
Factory Made post-war housing programme by the Ministry of Works benefited from a guaranteed
order of 30,000 units given directly by the Government.
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There are many other types I can’t possibly mention all 500 of these (and I’m sure you don’t want
me to!) but here’s a few of the more prolific ones :-
Frameform with approximately 13,000 built the most popular type of timber framed house.

Cornish Units (approx. 30,000) built, one of the most popular types of precast concrete house.

Airey house (approx. 26,000) another popular type of precast concrete house.

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There are of course many other steel frame, timber frame, precast concrete and other types so how
will this affect you if you’re selling a non-standard house?
Well generally, lenders will not lend on “defective” homes, unless they are provided a PRC
Certificate. This confirms that structural repairs have been carried out in accordance with an
approved PRC licence.

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If your type of non-standard property is not classed as defective, you should still be able to get a
mortgage. There are some lenders willing to offer mortgages on non-standard homes, however you
may have to accept a mortgage with less favourable terms, such as a higher interest rate or deposit,
though.
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As you can appreciate with the above being said selling a non-standard home is not as straight
forward as it would be with a traditional built property.

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I’d always recommend using a quality local agent to sell your property and please do check with
them before you sign that they’ve sold this type of house before and that they will be making any
potential buyers aware of the construction type from the outset, it may seem counterintuitive to
advertise something that could be seen as a negative but doing so could save you many wasted
hours conducting viewing’s of your home and even worse potentially an agreed sale falling though.
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Here at Jeffries property buyers www.jpb.co.uk we get calls regularly from sellers who have had
sales fall through because the purchaser hadn’t taken into account the additional trouble and cost of
obtaining finance on their non-standard construction property and I’m pleased to say we have been
able to help many of those people still achieve the move they had planned by providing a fast,
definite purchase on their non-standard property, we are able to provide this service where others
can’t because we don’t need to use outside funding so no lengthy waits for surveys or banks
decisions just a quick visit from us and a cash offer usually within 24hrs.

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