Non Standard Construction - Steel Frame

shrimp17

Hello everyone, first time posting on here and a bit of a long winded one so please bare with me!

We're in the early stages of looking to move house and have got a viewing booked to see a 2 bed semi (I think it's possibly a chalet bungalow but is advertised as 2 bed semi). There is a note on the advert that the house has a steel frame which is common for the area but to contact your lender for advice.

After reading through some other forums, alarm bells are starting to ring and I'm wondering it it may be more hassle than it is worth. From what I can see, it may be difficult to get a mortgage and insurance (which will cost a fortune if I'm able to find it in the first place).

We would be buying this property with a view to build an extension in a few years time to turn it in to a 3 bed. Would this even be possible with a steel frame? The attached property has extended over the garage turning theirs into a 3 bed but again, I'm wondering if it could turn out to be a bit of a nightmare.

Has anyone got any experience in this area that could give some advice?

Any comments/advice appreciated! Many thanks in advance.

Chandler85

If steel frame is common for an area then lenders will know about it and the area and some might lend but a lot will. Near here you can't get a mortgage on concrete houses easily as they are exceptions to the rule, 20 miles away concrete houses are everywhere and mortgages are got easily because surveyors etc know the house type etc and any known issues already.

I've never known insurance be expensive because of it, not will it stop extensions.

You might have to carry out more expensive surveys at the request of the lender to see that the frame is still in good condition which the vendor might not like.

shrimp17

Thank you for your help! I was fully ready to cancel the viewing but it sounds like it is still worth considering.

There is no onward chain and judging by the very dated decor, I am assuming that it is possibly the family selling the property due to a loss or relative having moved into a home, so hopefully should not cause any issues search-wise.

As I said, very early stages of looking but like to be prepared, I've never come across non-standard construction before.

AdrianC

Steel frame's becoming increasingly common for newbuilds.

It might be "non-standard", but it's not defective, and that's where the problems lie.

shrimp17

Thanks AdrianC.. do you think we run the risk of it becoming defective in future? I've read they were only meant to last for 10 years but have obviously survived much longer.

AdrianC

shrimp17 wrote: »

Thanks AdrianC.. do you think we run the risk of it becoming defective in future? I've read they were only meant to last for 10 years but have obviously survived much longer.

Nobody can say for sure, but very unlikely.

"Defective" in this context means one of several types defined in law many, many years ago - https://www.bisfhouse.com/defective-housing-act-and-prc-certification-explained/ - and refers to some of the various prefabs lobbed up after the war.

steelframedhouse

I posted this as my first post on MSE! No issues with insurance then or since...

My Dad bought a steel framed house last year, on the survey it was described as a post-war truss steel house. As soon as I found out it was a steel framed house I tried to dissuade my Dad from buying it as I was worried about the same sort of things I had read on the internet as you but as my Dad pointed out skyscrapers are built with steel frames with no issues! A steel framed house is not classed as a defective build type under the housing act (as some other types of construction are) but just a non-traditional build.

My concerns were him not be able to insure it, this turned out to be an unfounded worry as he insured it with a high street name with no issues and a comparable premium to his last house. My Dad happened to be a cash buyer as he had already sold his old home but the house wasn't advertised as a cash only sale.

The survey advised that potential problem area could be:


The steels are tied vertically and horizontally and the vertically stanchions are bolted to the foundations. This is the joint that has caused most problems in this type of house, as it can become damp and the steel joint rusts.


The survey said it was basically a solid and sound property for it's age.

shrimp17

That's good to know, thank you! The house pretty much ticks all the boxes (until we see it anyway!) so it's great that it doesn't seem to be a big deal.