What type of construction is this house?

jac_789

We have recently viewed what we now know is a steel framed concrete built house. This is all the information we have. The estate agent doesn't seem to have any more information. I am trying to find out what type of construction the building is as i'm aware this makes a difference in terms of mortgage, but i'm unable to find anything similar.

Here is a link to the property: rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44349885.html

Does anyone know which type of construction this house is?

Also, if anybody can shed any light on concrete built houses it would be much appreciated. I know they can pose problems when it comes to finding a mortgage, but it doesn't seem to be impossible. I suppose ultimately i'm worried that we will come to sell in 10-15 years time and be told our house is worth nothing.


Thanks.

gardner1

jac_789 wrote: »

We have recently viewed what we now know is a steel framed concrete built house. This is all the information we have. The estate agent doesn't seem to have any more information. I am trying to find out what type of construction the building is as i'm aware this makes a difference in terms of mortgage, but i'm unable to find anything similar.

Here is a link to the property: rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-44349885.html

Does anyone know which type of construction this house is?

Also, if anybody can shed any light on concrete built houses it would be much appreciated. I know they can pose problems when it comes to finding a mortgage, but it doesn't seem to be impossible. I suppose ultimately i'm worried that we will come to sell in 10-15 years time and be told our house is worth nothing.


Thanks.

where in the description does it mention steel frame / concrete looks like a normal brick built house to me

jac_789

gardner1 wrote: »

where in the description does it mention steel frame / concrete looks like a normal brick built house to me

Hi Gardner,

I got wind of a previous offer turning sour as their surveyor would not give the all clear for the mortgage due to the house being of steel frame construction. When I asked the agent they confirmed that was true. Further digging around on the internet I've found it would be concrete and steel, but that is all I know

xylophone

looks like a normal brick built house to me

Brick skin?

http://www.peterbarry.co.uk/blog/houses-of-non-traditional-construction-common-property-defects-6/

Davesnave

It's definitely not of 'normal' construction. The windows, face mounted with virtually no reveal, suggests that there is a brick skin which they are fixed to and then 'something else.' The interior window reveals are also too narrow to be cavity wall construction.

Despite this, the EPC states cavity wall construction, proving how useless the assessor was.

The roof is of too low a pitch to be conventionally tiled too.

There are many variations on non-trad. You could try a Google image search and you might ID the type.

Some non-trads, like Wimpey no fines, are mortgageable, others not.

jac_789

Davesnave wrote: »

It's definitely not of 'normal' construction. The windows, face mounted with virtually no reveal, suggests that there is a brick skin which they are fixed to and then 'something else.' The interior window reveals are also too narrow to be cavity wall construction.

Despite this, the EPC states cavity wall construction, proving how useless the assessor was.

The roof is of too low a pitch to be conventionally tiled too.

There are many variations on non-trad. You could try a Google image search and you might ID the type.

Some non-trads, like Wimpey no fines, are mortgageable, others not.

Hi Davesnave,

I've googled every type of non traditional housing I have come across on the internet and none of them resemble this. I've tried asking on community groups for the local area and nobody seems to know. I've even tried simply googling "non standard construction house" and trawled through images but still can't find anything! I'm at a loss!

Davesnave

Is it worth so much more than it was less than 2 years ago when it last sold?



Best way to find out about these houses is to ring a few doorbells. You might be told to go forth and multiply, but most people can spot a genuine enquiry and someone will know something for sure.

JP08

I think it's one of these : http://www.scconstructionandbuild.co.uk/parkinson-frame-prc-house-repairs.html

Remember seeing one (the one in the link ? not sure.) on Homes under the Hammer. Had to follow a link through the House Price Crash forum (so now feel like I need a bath) to get to that link.

Episode was quite impressive. Basically they took down all the external skin walls, leaving the roof sitting on the framework, did the repairs then built a new skin !

D00gie72

When it comes to non-standard construction properties there is a "defective" list that mortgage companies refer to decide weather they will lend or not. They all have their own criteria. We bought a property of Wollaway construction a few years ago. As our property was a bungalow and of relatively recent construction (1973) we were able to get a normal mortgage from a high st lender. We were told if the property had been a house mortgage lending would of been much more difficult. It may be that this house is causing issues simply because no one can identify the type of construction so they are assuming it is on the "defective" list.
I agree with others comments that a bit of door knocking locally might help. Also I would guess that this is an ex local authority property so the local council may be able to help you. Once you've identified the construction type you can then start phone round lenders to find out what their policy is. There are specialist brokers out there who look at loans for non-standard construction houses.

steeeb

If you end up not finding any more information from knocking around the local area, perhaps you suggest to the agent:

You make an offer of X amount - say you want it off the market and inform them of how you're going to proceed, as below - and immediately pay for a full structural survey - mention to the surveyor before booking it you need to find the type of construction of the house for mortgage purposes and make sure he's able to do it.

Then, engage a broker to find you a mortgage acceptable for that type of construction, get the mortgage offer and proceed as normal.

Perhaps reduce the offer by £500 for the agro of doing it this way rather than with a mortgage offer in place - beware there's a chance you might not be able to get a mortgage at all - in which case the seller will need to auction it or find a cash buyer anyway.

If you aren't prepared to potentially lose that money (well, stuff like this can happen for any purchase), have a low deposit or have some bad credit which might limit who you can get a mortgage off perhaps move on to a different property instead, or make a 'very cheeky' offer.

jac_789

The house is apparently Wimpey No Fines construction. It is mortgageable, but nobody really knows whether it will be in 20 years time. It worries me that if WE get a mortgage on this property now, someone else might not when we want to sell, which would leave us with a property worth nothing!