Self Build Mortgage Finance
Building your own home isn’t financed the way buying an existing one is. Rather than a lump sum released on completion, the money comes out in stages as the build progresses – land purchase, foundations, wall plate, roof, first fix, second fix, completion – with each drawdown typically checked against the previous stage before it’s released.
For expats, that adds a genuine practical challenge on top: managing a UK building project and a series of staged drawdowns while living overseas. We’ve arranged self build finance for expat clients since 2008, understanding both the mortgage mechanics and the logistics of running a project remotely.
How staged drawdowns typically work
- Land purchase, if you don’t already own the plot
- Foundations and groundworks
- Wall plate stage, once the walls are up to roof height
- Wind and watertight – roof on, windows and doors in
- First and second fix, then final completion
Each stage is typically inspected before the next tranche is released, which protects the lender but also means delays in one stage push back access to the next. If your project is specifically an HMO conversion or new-build rather than a standard home, our HMO Design & Build Finance page covers that structure instead.
What we help arrange
Finance covering both the land and the construction costs where needed, structured around your actual build schedule, then a straightforward refinance onto a standard mortgage once the property is complete and valued as a finished home rather than a project.
Our fees
£295 application fee, 1% completion fee on the eventual standard mortgage.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I finance both the land and the build costs together?
Often yes, depending on the lender and whether you already own the plot.
How do I manage staged drawdowns while living overseas?
We’ll help coordinate this with the lender and your project manager or main contractor, so inspections and drawdowns can proceed without you needing to be physically present.
What happens if my build runs over budget?
Worth building contingency into your original costings – if you do need additional funds, we’d discuss options with the lender at that point.
Do I need planning permission before applying for finance?
Yes, typically full planning permission needs to be in place before a lender will agree self build finance.
How long does the whole process take?
Highly dependent on your build itself, but budget for the finance and refinance process to run alongside a project of at least several months to a year or more.
Get in touch with your build plans and timeline, and we’ll talk through how the staged finance would work for your project.
