Non-standard construction mortgage: How to get one
Buying a timber framed or concrete house, or a home with a thatched roof? Find out how non-standard construction affects your mortgage.
Last updated on
Jul 8, 2025 14:09
If your place isn’t a standard property, some lenders might not be willing to offer you a mortgage. That’s because non-standard properties can cost more to maintain and can be harder to sell. But if you know where to look, it’s possible to find a mortgage deal on a non-standard home.
If a property's made from something other than bricks and mortar with a tiled roof, it’s typically classed as non-standard construction.
Non-standard properties can include those with single-skin brick walls or steel frames, and concrete prefab homes. But lenders don’t all view “non-standard” the same way, and there are specialist lenders for unusual properties.
Property types include:
Mortgage lenders worry about not just the structural integrity of your home but also the cost of insuring it and its resale value and ease of selling (in the event that they have to repossess it).
They can view non-standard buildings as more costly to insure and maintain (meaning you have less money to repay your mortgage), as well as trickier to sell.
Yes, you can. But it’s less straightforward so it makes sense to use a broker like Habito who can search for specialists as well as standard lenders who might be willing to offer a mortgage on a construction such as a timber-frame or concrete house.
The following can also help you when applying for a non-standard or non-traditional construction mortgage:
These are often found in older properties. No cavity means less natural insulation and more risk of damp. But you can insulate – internally or externally – and still get a mortgage.
A non-standard construction mortgage can be more costly and need a bigger deposit, and the lender’s checks on what you can afford may also be more strict, because of the higher costs of maintaining the property. But chatting with a broker can put you in the best position to find the right deal.
References:
Being green has never been so easy
Learn about all the different types of mortgages.
Habito specialises in helping you get the best mortgage or remortgage, all online, for free