Off-site build mortgages
If you are inspired to design and build an energy-efficient off-site or modular build with one of our supported suppliers, our off-site build mortgage range has been designed with you in mind.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
Trusted since 1981
Pioneers in providing energy-efficient renovation mortgages
Experts in specialist mortgages
We’ve lent to over 4,500 unique properties and projects
Flexible decision making
We take a case-by-case approach to every project
Discounts for energy-efficiency
Our C-Change discounts reward you for creating an energy-efficient home
Advanced stage payments
We offer upfront stage payments to cover the cost of the off-site build
Supported suppliers
We'll consider mortgages on our supported suppliers builds
We are experts in providing mortgages for unique off-site build projects which are of unusual construction types. Off-site construction (sometimes referred to as Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) or modular) is becoming a more popular choice of build and has many advantages over traditional self-build projects.
We don’t have a ‘tick box’ approach to assessing projects – in many instances, we’ll welcome projects that standard lenders may not accept.
If you’re planning to build an energy-efficient off-site construction property through one of our supported suppliers, we’re here to help.
At Ecology, we’re not put off by the construction type; we’ll support many types of construction techniques. If we can see your build will be energy efficient using sustainable and locally sourced materials through one of our suppliers, we’ll consider lending.
This mortgage is only available where you are purchasing your build through one of our supported suppliers. Please see ‘Our suppliers’ section for further details.
Our mortgages are available throughout the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
We’ll lend money to help buy the land and pay for the build.
We offer two types of mortgages within our mortgage range. Details of interest rates and charges can be found in the ‘Our mortgages’ section.
Off-site Build Mortgage – we’ll release up to 80% of the purchase price or value of the property and subsequently, the money required for the build. As you continue with your build, flexible staged payments of up to 80% of your increased build value will be released – this will help you keep tabs on your budget and planning.
Off-site Build Mortgage (Advanced Payments) – We’ll release up to 80% of the purchase price or value of the property and subsequently, up to 80% of the final value of the property to help you cover your build costs.
We recognise that some customers experience cashflow issues when suppliers require high, upfront payments to pay for their property being built in a factory off-site with the property later mobilised on your land. With our innovative advanced payment mortgage, when your build manufacturer requires payment for the kit deposit, manufacturing, construction and delivery, this mortgage will provide payments up to 80% of the cost value. This ensures you have adequate cashflow to cover the cost of your build.
This type of mortgage may be suitable if you have limited deposit remaining after you have purchased the land and covered some of the infrastructure costs to the land.
We’re committed to always giving you the best service that we can, with over 94% of Ecology borrowers rating us as very good or excellent.
You can speak directly to our dedicated team of specialist mortgage advisers who are experts in conversion mortgage finance. We consider every project on a case-by-case basis and have extensive experience in non-standard properties and ecologically sound building practices.
The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) has laid down detailed rules about the service we must offer on regulated residential mortgages. Under these rules, we will provide you with advice and a recommendation on which of the Society’s products is most suitable for you, based on your needs, preferences and affordability.
Our suppliers
We’ve carefully selected partners who share our values and standards and are all leaders in manufacturing modular homes. We’re pleased to team up with each and make our off-site build mortgages exclusively available on the homes they build.
Agile Homes
Designs and delivers high quality, low-carbon, affordable homes for anyone in housing need.
Dan-Wood
One of Europe’s leading custom-build manufacturers with a proud heritage in sustainable, eco-friendly design and build.
Coldwells Build
Modern, prefabricated Passivhaus homes.
HebHomes
Architect Designed Kit Homes.
nHouse
Offers self-builders and Custom Build buyers a range of contemporary, spacious and eco-friendly timber-framed homes.
R.House
Sustainable Turnkey Homes. Made on Skye.
SIP Build UK
SIP Build UK design, manufacture, supply and install high-performance, energy-efficient SIP and Timber frame Structures.
SIPS@Clays
SIPS@Clays stylishly design, precision engineer and expertly install high performance, energy efficient Structural Insulated Panel (SIPs) homes throughout the UK.
Off-site build mortgage
- Energy efficiency is rewarded through our sustainable homes C-Change discounts from 0.50% to 1.50%.
- Ability to overpay by up to 10% per annum over the first 2 years. Any amount above 10% will incur an early repayment charge.
- Borrow up to 80% of the property’s value on a repayment basis, or up to 65% interest-only (or part repayment and part interest-only).
- All self-build projects must show they will achieve a minimum SAP rating of 88.
Representative example
This is an illustration of a typical mortgage and its total cost. It looks at a mortgage of £204,700, paid over 25 years on a variable rate of 6.29%. This mortgage would need 1 monthly payment of £1,921.69 and 298 monthly payments of £1,357.28 to pay off. The total amount paid would be £408,011.13. This includes the loan amount (£204,700), interest (£201,691.13), a mortgage application fee (£995) and a valuation fee (£625). This illustration assumes the cost of the property is £350,000.
The overall cost for comparison is 6.6% APRC representative.
APRC (Overall Percentage Rate of Change) shows you, as a percentage, the annual cost of a secured loan or mortgage. It brings together all charges (such as fees and other costs), calculated as if you kept your secured loan or mortgage for the full term without changing it.
Eligibility
- We’ll lend based on a full affordability assessment.
- Borrowers must be aged 18 or over. This mortgage is only available to UK residents.
- A maximum mortgage term of 30 years is available (subject to eligibility).
- Mortgages are available on a repayment, interest-only or part (repayment) and part (interest-only) basis, subject to eligibility.
- If your project requires planning permission this will need to be in place before we lend any mortgage funds.
Fees and charges
- An early repayment charge may be payable if you repay all or part of your mortgage within the first two years.
- A non-refundable mortgage application fee of £995 is payable in addition to a mortgage valuation fee.
- Read our full list of fees and charges for more information.
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Off-site build mortgage (advanced payment)
- Energy efficiency is rewarded through our sustainable homes C-Change discounts from 0.50% to 1.50%.
- Ability to overpay by up to 10% per annum over the first 3 years. Any amount above 10% will incur an early repayment charge.
- Borrow up to 80% of the property’s value on a repayment basis, or up to 65% interest-only (or part repayment and part interest-only).
- All self-build projects must show they will achieve a minimum SAP rating of 88.
Representative example
This is an illustration of a typical mortgage and its total cost. It looks at a mortgage of £204,700, paid over 25 years on a variable rate of 6.79%. This mortgage would need 1 monthly payment of £2,030.56 and 298 monthly payments of £1,421.28 to pay off. The total amount paid would be £427,192.00. This includes the loan amount (£204,700), interest (£220,872.00), a mortgage application fee (£995) and a valuation fee (£625). This illustration assumes the cost of the property is £350,000.
The overall cost for comparison is 7.1% APRC representative.
APRC (Overall Percentage Rate of Change) shows you, as a percentage, the annual cost of a secured loan or mortgage. It brings together all charges (such as fees and other costs), calculated as if you kept your secured loan or mortgage for the full term without changing it.
Eligibility
- We’ll lend based on a full affordability assessment.
- Borrowers must be aged 18 or over. This mortgage is only available to UK residents.
- A maximum mortgage term of 30 years is available (subject to eligibility).
- Mortgages are available on a repayment, interest-only or part (repayment) and part (interest-only) basis, subject to eligibility.
- If your project requires planning permission or listed building consent, this will need to be in place before we lend any mortgage funds.
Fees and charges
- An early repayment charge may be payable if you repay all or part of your mortgage within the first three years.
- A non-refundable mortgage application fee of £995 is payable in addition to a mortgage valuation fee.
- Read our full list of fees and charges for more information.
Heat Pump Cashback
Thinking about undertaking an energy efficient significant renovation project where you are upgrading the heating system to the property? If you are planning to install an air or ground source heat pump, then you could be eligible for a £500 or £1000 cashback with your new mortgage at Ecology.
detailed info
We offer a cashback for eligible residential mortgage applications for projects including installation of a heat pump. If you qualify, you can claim:
- £500 for when you install an air source heat pump
- £1,000 cashback for when you install a ground source heat pump
To be eligible:
- Make sure that your installer is MCS accredited
- This offer applies to our self-build, renovation, conversion and shared ownership mortgages.
- Your property must have loft and cavity wall insulation
How to obtain the cashback
The process is simple and part of the mortgage process.
- When speaking to your appointed mortgage broker or one of our mortgage advisors, they will check your eligibility for the cashback.
- The cashback value and installers accreditation requirements and how to claim will be shown in your personalised illustration and any Offer of Loan.
- The cashback is payable within 18 months of completing your mortgage (i.e. when you receive your first stage release/advance) and with the production of an MCS installer certificate.
- The cashback will be paid when we receive a completion certificate confirming that the heat pump has been installed by an approved installer. If you qualify, your cashback will be paid into the account you use to make your monthly mortgage payments.
Other important information
Please be aware that Ecology is not responsible for ensuring the quality of the work carried out and the costs provided. You should carry out your own checks to ensure the costs and the supplier is suitable. If you find that you are not happy with the work carried out, you should speak to your supplier in the first instance. If the work carried out is covered under a scheme provider (e.g. MCS) you should also contact the appropriate provider.
Our awards
NaCSBA Gold Partner - 2022
Mortgage calculator
Work out how much you could borrow and compare monthly payments for our Renovation mortgage. You’ll also be able to see how much you could save if you’re eligible for our C-Change discount.
Our mortgage calculator is for illustrative purposes only and is designed to give an indication of the amount that we may be able to lend. The actual amount that we may be able to lend will depend on a full assessment of affordability, the property value and the size of your deposit.
Your home may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage
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C-Change FAQs
As a building society with a unique mission to build a greener society, we lend on projects and properties that support our aims through their reduced impact on our environment. Making your home energy efficient is a major way you can support tackling climate change – while saving on your energy bills.
We reward borrowers whose properties are energy efficient (therefore have lower carbon emissions) with our C-Change discounts off our Variable Rate which helps them save money on their mortgage. We call our discounts ‘C-Change discounts’ simply because we’re aiming to make a ‘sea-change’ of difference to our climate with each property or project we fund.
The level of our C-Change sustainable homes or C-Change retrofit discount that applies is based on the Energy Standard rating achieved on the self-build, off-site build, renovation or conversion when the work is completed. Our C-Change energy improvements discount is based on the qualifying energy measures being installed. The discount is applied from the date we receive evidence that the work has been completed and if applicable the Energy Standard rating required has been achieved.
Mortgage FAQs
What is off-site construction?
Off-site construction is sometimes referred to as modular or Modern Methods of Construction (MMC) housing. It’s constructed off-site, normally in a factory with your property then transported to your land and constructed in a very quick, accurate and energy-efficient manner.
Is this off-site build mortgage available through all suppliers?
Our off-site build mortgage is only available when you are purchasing your build through one of our selected suppliers – please see ‘our suppliers’ section.
Which off-site build mortgage is most suitable for me?
We offer a range of mortgages to accommodate all customer types. We recognise that significant, upfront payments are required to the manufacturer to ensure the property can be funded and build off-site. We identified this as a general problem in the off-site market which is why we developed our innovative off-site build (advanced payment) mortgage.
Do I need to provide planning permission for my build?
Yes. We need at least outline planning permission to start the application process and detailed planning permission before the mortgage is released.
What information do I need to progress a mortgage application?
You’ll need to have a specific plot and build in mind which needs to be supported by detailed plans, including a breakdown of the building contract costs provided from your building manufacturer.
What deposit do I need for my build?
You need a 20% minimum deposit to buy the land and a further 15% – 20% of total build costs to start your build. The level of deposit you have available will determine which off-site build mortgage you take from our mortgage range.
Do I still need a deposit for my build if I already own the land and have planning permission?
No, you don’t always need a deposit; we can lend based on the value of your land to start the build, providing you already own the land and it’s mortgage-free. Also, if you need us to, we can help you repay any outstanding finance on the land.
How long do I have to complete the build?
Subject to planning constraints, we allow a maximum of 2 years for you to complete the self-build, although we encourage you to complete earlier to benefit from our C-Change sustainable homes discount which is applied to our Standard Variable Rate from the date we receive evidence that both the work has been completed and the Energy Standard rating required has been achieved.
Can I have interest-only during the build phase?
We offer an interest-only mortgage only when you have a qualifying repayment vehicle to support this for example an established ISA, endowment policies or Pension Plan.
Does the build property have to be my main residence?
Yes. Please bear in mind that the property can’t be a second or holiday home or classed as mobile planning.
