Sell a non-standard construction house fast — for cash.
PRC, Airey, Cornish Unit, Woolaway, Wimpey No-Fines, BISF steel frame or timber frame. We buy with our own funds and trusted funding partners, so no lender has to approve the construction. Written offer in 24 hours, no fees, completion in 7 to 21 days.
Why these houses get stuck on the open market
Most buyers need a mortgage, and most mortgage lenders have strict rules on construction type. When the buyer's surveyor writes "non-standard construction" on the valuation, the lender either declines, asks for a structural engineer's report, or insists on a PRC repair certificate. Repairing an unrepaired PRC house typically means replacing the concrete structure with masonry — a five-figure job most sellers cannot fund before moving.
The result is the same story we hear again and again: an offer accepted, a survey booked, and the sale collapsing weeks later. A cash buyer removes the lender from the decision completely.
Construction types we buy
Precast reinforced concrete (PRC)
Airey, Cornish Unit (Type 1 and 2), Woolaway, Reema, Unity, Wates, Orlit, Parkinson and Smith houses. Built in large numbers for councils after the war, many designated defective in the 1980s. Unrepaired examples are rarely mortgageable.
In-situ concrete
Wimpey No-Fines, Laing Easiform and similar poured concrete houses. Not designated defective, but lenders vary widely and a surveyor's note on cracking or render can stall a sale.
Steel-framed
BISF, Howard, Trusteel and other steel-frame systems. Lenders worry about corrosion to the frame, and often want a structural engineer's report before lending.
Timber-framed and system-built
Older timber-frame and prefabricated system homes, including some 1960s and 1970s estates. Condensation, decay and missing documentation are the usual survey flags.
Where we see them most
- • South Wales Valleys and ex-council estates around Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, Caerphilly and Rhondda Cynon Taf
- • Post-war estates in Birmingham, the Black Country, Coventry and Stoke-on-Trent
- • Leeds, Sheffield, Bradford and the wider Yorkshire coalfield towns
- • Greater Manchester, Merseyside and the North East
- • Devon, Cornwall and the West Country, where Cornish Units and Woolaway houses are common
We are a national cash buyer covering England and Wales. We don't have local offices — everything is handled by our team remotely, with independent surveyors and solicitors where needed.
How a cash sale works
- Send us the address and, if you know it, the construction type.
- We come back with a written cash figure, usually within 24 hours.
- If you accept, we instruct solicitors. No mortgage valuation, no repair certificate needed.
- Complete on a date that suits you — often 7 to 21 days.
Quick answers — selling a non-standard construction house
- Can you get a mortgage on a non-standard construction house?
- Sometimes, but options are limited. Most mainstream lenders decline unrepaired PRC houses designated defective, and many apply extra conditions to steel-framed, no-fines or timber-framed homes. That restricts the buyer pool and is why these homes often sell to cash buyers.
- What is a PRC repair certificate?
- A certificate confirming a precast reinforced concrete house has been repaired under an approved scheme (historically PRC Homes Ltd licensed schemes), usually by replacing the concrete structure with masonry. Repaired houses with the certificate are mortgageable with many lenders; unrepaired ones generally are not.
- Who buys non-standard construction houses?
- Mainly cash buyers: landlords, investors and direct property buying companies. Because the buyer does not rely on a mortgage valuation, the construction type is priced in rather than becoming a reason the sale collapses.
Frequently asked questions
Do you buy PRC houses without a repair certificate?
Yes. Most precast reinforced concrete (PRC) houses — Airey, Cornish Unit, Woolaway, Reema, Unity, Wates and similar — were designated defective under the Housing Defects legislation in the 1980s. Without a certified repair scheme, most high-street lenders will not lend on them. We buy with our own funds and trusted funding partners, so no lender has to approve the construction type.
What about Wimpey No-Fines or Laing Easiform?
We buy those too. In-situ poured concrete houses are not designated defective, but many lenders still decline them or ask for a structural engineer's report, especially where cracking, cavity wall ties or render problems show up in a survey. A cash sale removes that hurdle.
Do you buy BISF steel-framed or timber-framed houses?
Yes. British Iron and Steel Federation (BISF) houses, Howard houses and other steel-framed types, as well as older timber-framed and system-built homes, are all properties we buy. Corrosion to the frame or a missing engineer's report is not a reason for us to walk away.
My sale fell through after the buyer's mortgage survey. Can you help?
This is the most common reason non-standard owners contact us. The surveyor notes the construction type, the lender declines or retains funds, and the chain collapses. Send us the address and the construction type if you know it, and we will give you a written cash figure without needing a mortgage valuation.
I don't know what construction my house is. Does that matter?
No. Tell us the address, roughly when it was built and, if possible, whether it was originally a council house. We can usually identify the type ourselves. Many owners only find out at survey stage.
How much less is a non-standard house worth?
It depends on the type, whether it has been repaired, and the local market. An unrepaired PRC house usually trades well below an equivalent brick house because the buyer pool is cash-only. We will give you a clear written figure rather than a vague range, and you are under no obligation to accept it.
How quickly can you complete?
Typically 7 to 21 days from accepting a written offer, because there is no mortgage valuation, no chain and no lender underwriting the construction type.
Lender said no? Send us the address.
Written cash offer within 24 hours. Free, and no obligation.
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