Criteria guide

Construction types

We typically lend on properties of standard construction which is defined as built of stone, concrete block and/or brick with either solid or cavity walls that consist of an inner and outer skin. The outer skin will usually be of stone, brick or block. The roof will be of slate, tile, thatch or felt.

We may consider properties constructed using nonconventional methods but will be entirely guided by the valuer’s comments and confirmation of the property being suitable security for mortgage purposes.

Generally acceptable construction types include:

  • Solid walls of brick or stone
  • Cavity outer walls of brick, stone or block rendered within inner walls of brick, stone or block
  • Timber framed property with outer walls of brick or stone built 1970 or after
  • Timber framed property with rendered outer walls of brick or stone built 1970 or after
  • Craft techniques (e.g.Cob) and period timber framed dwellings built prior to 1900
  • Roof of slate, tile, thatch or felt; glass roofing may be acceptable where part of an extension
  • Laing Easiform post-1945
  • Wimpey No-Fines
  • PRC dwellings, repaired under a scheme originally licensed by PRC Homes Ltd, where all properties in the same structural block are repaired to the same standard. N.B. All documentation must be contemporaneous with the repair works.
  • LPS houses, flats and maisonettes (no more than 2 stories in height), subject to a satisfactory report from a structural engineer.
  • ICF is acceptable if adherent to the 2 conditions specified by UK Finance, namely, they must have valid third party product certification and ICF manufacturers must belong to and abide by the requirements of the ICFA.
  • Steel framed built after 2000 (flats or houses)
  • Modern Concrete framed flats
  • Brick and Block Crosswall

Unacceptable types of construction include:

  • Properties listed under the Housing Defects Act, unless repaired under the PRC Homes Ltd guarantee scheme, including the subject property and all adjoining properties in the structural block
  • Reinforced forms of poured or shuttered concrete construction including Easiform construction, but excluding Laing Easiform from 1945 onwards and No Fines construction, which are acceptable construction types
  • Metal clad properties
  • BISF
  • Steel framed construction built prior to 2000
  • Large panel system (LPS) built concrete construction flats and maisonettes (houses, flats and maisonettes of not more than 2-storey in height are acceptable subject to a satisfactory report from a structural engineer)
  • Timber/metal framed buildings where the cavity between frame & cladding has been filled with an insulation material post construction
  • Pre-1965 softwood timber construction unless of high standard and in a location where there is proven, sustainable demand
  • Buildings containing High Alumina Cement Concrete (HACC)
  • Walls containing Mundic in Devon/Cornwall built between 1900 & 1960 unless a suitable specialist test of the concrete returns a Grade A rating
  • Cranwell Construction
  • Scotswood Pine Style
  • Reema Construction (Both Reema Conclad and Reema Hollow Panel)
  • Woolaway houses
  • Concrete Crosswall