Prefabricated Houses from WW2

chickmeistergeneral

Hi Everyone

I wounder if you can help?

I have found a really nice house, that has a good location, a fantastic interior, and more than enough bedrooms. It is everything my partner and I need.

It is currently on the market for £100,000. I have just discovered, by reasearch that it is a prefabricated house, built after WW2 and only meant as temp accomodation. There is quite a few on the road, at least 40 as the road is quite a few miles long.

My family think i should forget about this house, but as i dont know that much about prefabricated houses, im not sure what i should do.

Are these houses any good? As it is quite old (older than prefab houses discussed previously on this forum) It does have a distinctive metal sheet around the top of the house, as they all do, but has been painted and blends in, although you know distinctly it is prefabricated.

Thanks
:rotfl:

homer_j_3

I can tell you from a mortgage point a view, it will narrow your lenders down as they see it as a structure that is not as solid as a normally constructed property.

With regards to the structure being temporary, it has lasted this long so providing the survey brings in no major problems then you will be able to get a mortgage.

I guess if the property is one you want to have and its right for you then why not go for it.

If you want to have a bit more info on the kind of structure try googling "no fines" type construction then this might give you a bit more info.

BobProperty

homer_j - I haven't googled no-fines but I think no-fines came into use in the 60's for council house building. This is a post-war prefab. It is possibly concrete panels not "no-fines". They can be OK houses but mortgage co's don't like them much due to their intended short lifespan and construction. The main thing I've heard that owners don't like is the lack of insulation. HTH If I get the chance I'll have a google!

chickmeistergeneral

Thanks guys

I think i might give this a miss then. Me and my partner are looking to buy something which we can sell if we choose to in 5-6 years time, and i think this might be hard to sell on, and possibly why the house has been decorated and presented in the manner which it has (its like something out of a magazine).

Also me and my partner are after a 100% mortgage, this has limited us to certain banks and building societies, so limiting us again, wouldnt be so good. We have had a few niggley problems getting the argreement in principle, as my partner is in the armed forces, and couldnt prove his address.

Thanks very much for answering. For me the search for the perfect house goes on yet again......

Cheers

NervousYetFeisty

Prefabs (late/post WWII) go for a lot of money around here, as they're perfect for families. So somebody must be lending on them.

I think the exterior walls can be rebuilt/rendered in some way - making them sturdier and better insulated. Don't quote me on that though - all I'm saying is don't write them off without doing your research first.

looby75

NervousYetFeisty wrote:

I think the exterior walls can be rebuilt/rendered in some way - making them sturdier and better insulated. Don't quote me on that though - all I'm saying is don't write them off without doing your research first.

I live in a village that has/had LOADS of these prefab houses, in fact I used to live in one. Up until about 5 years ago they were all owned by the council, and noone could buy them as no one would offer mortgages on them. Then as part of the councils housing stock modernisation scheme they were insulated, rendered and pebbledashed and had new roofs put on (as well as double glazing etc) now they are classed as a normal house mortgage wise and lots of them have been sold to the tenants.

Money_Bunny_4

I live in a prefab house and have no problem with it.

We bought it very cheaply 5 yrs ago and although it will never be worth the same amount as the equivalent brick house it has still trebled in value since we moved in.

The house isn't any colder than a brick house but previous posters are right that it is hard to get mortgages as the house is always deemed as substandard in most mortgage companies eyes. Our house was valued late last year and is technically worth more if knocked down. The plot of land it stands on is worth approx £11,000 more than the house.

To be honest we bought it because it was cheap and needed no work, and wouldn't change a thing. Some prefab houses have had the exterior walls skimmed with brick work to make them more attractive.

There could be a possibility that the vendor will be willing to lower the asking price to get a sale - don't write the house off, it could be perfect. If we ever decide to move I'll rent my house out rather than sell it.

robwend

my house is a post war prefab so i was told by a surveyer, i had no trouble gettign a mortgage and i also sold in 4 weeks!!, i think you need to speak to lenders and not presume anymorexxxxx

Wickedkitten

Yup, definitely worth having a look on the mortgage front.