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Original poster

Parents giving me a site but can't afford to build

63 replies

Propertyworries · 15/04/2022 11:17

Nc due to detail. Please don't flame because I know I'm lucky.

So. I am in my late 20s, single, no children. Income 29k, savings 18k.

My parents have a farm with:

A modern bungalow (their home)
Run-down farmhouse,
Several old cottages (2 with roof on)
Building site with founds in.

Run-down farmhouse is where I live with sibling.
It's soaking wet due to being solid stone walls directly on clay with no founds or damp course. Think mice, slugs everywhere, devil's coach horse beetles, crows in roofspace, mould, freezing cold.
The whole thing needs gutted.

We live here for free as it is too bad to let out. Brother will inherit this house and entire farm. He wants me out in order to hang out with mates/GF here. He has no savings and likes to spend on clothes, going out etc.

I cannot buy locally as prices too crazy.
Parents are offering to give me a site but the house on it will cost min. 170k to build plus 8.5k for electric. I am afraid to do this alone, don't think I can afford it and prices are through the roof.

Thought about doing up a cottage, but unmortgageable.

It's stressing me out and I don't know what to do Sad

OP posts:
Seeline · 15/04/2022 14:18

Does the plot have planning permission? Don't do anything until you have that.

And yes a caravan would require PP unless there is actual building work implementing an actual planning permission being carried out

Beautiful3 · 15/04/2022 14:23

Agree with other posters suggesting a static caravan or a ready made home. If would be nice for you to get some space of your own.

chesirecat99 · 15/04/2022 14:31

When you say you can't afford it, is it the monthly repayments you can't afford or is it just that you aren't eligible for a big enough mortgage? Could your parents act as guarantors for a mortgage if you could afford the repayments?

Land is a huge cost so on the face of it it looks like a good investment, assuming the house will be worth much more than the building costs. Would the house have an AOC/agricultural tie in though?

Cafog · 15/04/2022 14:34

If you've a site with founds already in that's a brilliant start. Parents will have to sign all over legally before you'll get a mortgage.

The caravan idea is great if you can. Follow a lady on insta in your position onewomanbuild, did it all on her own.

IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 15/04/2022 14:50

does the site actually have planning?
If you don't work in the business it can be very hard to get

IDontHaveAnOutingHobby · 15/04/2022 14:52

Plus will what you build have an agricultural residency on it- if so probably unmortageable without a very large deposit (and you generally need 50% deposit to self build as they dont lend until the foundations are in)

Original poster
Propertyworries · 15/04/2022 15:10

Thanks all for your good advice. Yes full PP in place, I might scale down the build as too large. They are signing over the deeds so I can apply for a self-build mortgage.

I think you are right re the poster who mentioned inertia- it's the fear of jumping in that's really holding me back.

Realistically my family are in construction trade and I know they would help out in a pinch. I want to keep it modest and would be happy with basic kitchen/2nd hand bathroom suite. The other good thing is that I already have mown furnituree and my car is almost paid off Smile

OP posts:
Original poster
Propertyworries · 15/04/2022 15:12

Re. Agricultural ties- my parents live in the official Agricultural dwelling. The new house would be separate.

OP posts:
Original poster
Propertyworries · 15/04/2022 15:13

From what I've seen I would be eligible for a mortgage of around 140k plus deposit, bring me to around 158k. Not sure if that cam be used to put the electric connection in though.

OP posts:
FrydayFish · 15/04/2022 15:51

Can you talk to your parents and explain the shortfall and see if they would give or lend you the difference.
After all they are leaving the farm to your brother so you're probably getting less than him overall.

FrydayFish · 15/04/2022 15:52

ps, is he getting the farm simply because he's the one that has testicles?

Original poster
Propertyworries · 15/04/2022 16:33

Yes fryday that is the case. I've made my peace with it.

OP posts:
Elderflower2016 · 15/04/2022 19:41

I’m from a farming family so I get the complexities! Long term I think I’d prefer a site than a damp farmhouse. When yours is eventually done yours will be needing less heating and will be a fab long term option. I’ve also heard of volunteers wanting to learn from the trades coming and helping on builds - either from local colleges or students travelling - that could keep costs down in return for food!! Go for it!

ZoyaTheDestroyer · 15/04/2022 21:17

Why is your brother inheriting everything?

Farming inheritance is incredibly patrilineal. Young Farmers’ events are full of second and third sons looking for only daughters to marry.

TurquoiseSwirl · 16/04/2022 10:14

If they are signing it over to you, check that if your brother or family fall out, you still have an access road to the main road etc and aren’t stuck as an island plot of land and can’t sell it etc. if you meet someone and want to move you need to be able to sell it.

Or even move for a job opportunity etc. maybe that’s why you’re unsure if you think you’re stuck there til you die?

But getting a good building plan to build a tiny house now that you can extend when have the funds/needs sounds like a great idea

SucculentLeopard · 16/04/2022 12:36

In a farming family I know, they have found it much cheaper for the parents to take out a loan against the whole plot of land to finance building work for the children, as the interest rates are much cheaper because of loan to value ratios. Parents then loan to children who pay back at rate of loan to bank. Obviously this would be a messy situation but family farm finances are so complicated anyway it’s an option!

EatTheToast · 16/04/2022 12:42

What sort of house have you priced up for? Could you look at building a tiny but lovely 1 bed bungalow, kind of annex style? Small open plan kitchen living area, bedroom and ensuite?

Didyousaysomethingdarling · 16/04/2022 12:57

@Seeline

Does the plot have planning permission? Don't do anything until you have that.

And yes a caravan would require PP unless there is actual building work implementing an actual planning permission being carried out

If the caravan or mobile home are sited within the boundary of the brother's cottage or parent's house, I don't think it does need planning permission, as it isn't a permanent fixture and is lived by a family member. Google Caravan Act

Planning Law for 'Mobile Homes' and 'Caravans' in Gardens – Legal References
Readers may ask where is the actual law written that says a caravan or mobile home can be sited and used in a garden? There are Legal references regarding the use of caravans in gardens but there is in fact no direct Law preventing a caravan being kept in someone’s garden.

A caravan sited in a garden is regarded as ‘chattel’ this is an article of movable personal property. There is no permitted development right for caravans in gardens, just as there is none for garden furniture or a car. All are considered articles of movable personal property. Caravans are not buildings.

The question is not, where is the planning law that allows the use of caravans in gardens? But rather how is the use of a caravan kept outside of planning control? The answer; the structure must conform to the definition of a caravan, the location must be the actual garden and the caravan must be used in association with the house, it cannot be an independent dwelling.

Daenerys77 · 16/04/2022 13:19

Will you be able to sell the house when you want to move on/get a job in another part of the country/start a family? Will your parents be OK with someone else living in the house or will it cause a falling-out?

Seeline · 16/04/2022 18:15

@Didyousaysomethingdarling

That is incorrect. The siting of a caravan or mobile home requires PP as it constitutes a change of use if land, which under the Planning Acts constitutes development.

Such development is only lawful without full PP as permitted development if it is required for accommodation ancillary to another authorised development being implemented.

Didyousaysomethingdarling · 16/04/2022 19:01

@ allSeeline
Yes that's what I said, as long as it's either ancillary to her brother's cottage or parents home and within the curtilage of either of their homes. I thought the plot was part of the farm? The split could be registered with the land registry in the future once a dwelling is built, in the meantime for cheapness, comfort and independence, QuotePropertyworries could live in a caravan.

Threetulips · 16/04/2022 19:07

Why not get some pods and rent them out in the summer months so you can make money off your plot? That way you can save more for a deposit later.

Seeline · 16/04/2022 20:39

@Didyousaysomethingdarling

@ allSeeline Yes that's what I said, as long as it's either ancillary to her brother's cottage or parents home and within the curtilage of either of their homes. I thought the plot was part of the farm? The split could be registered with the land registry in the future once a dwelling is built, in the meantime for cheapness, comfort and independence, QuotePropertyworries could live in a caravan.
No - it's not that it is ancillary to a dwelling. That would require PP. It's if it's ancillary to building works that have PP. So you can use a mobile home to live in on the site if a house being built, but not just in the garden if an existing house. That would require PP for a change of use of the land from residential to the siting of a caravan.
Original poster
Propertyworries · 16/04/2022 22:02

turquoise fall outs are a possibility. It's so complicated. My dad keeps muttering about pre-nups if I ever get married, divorced and have to split assets.

I have thought about building and letting it out if I did want to move elsewhere for whatever reason. I think it would be a good investment also. I'm a good saver and I know I could make it rather lovely in the long run.

OP posts:
coodawoodashooda · 16/04/2022 22:05

@Knockoneofftheshelftowin

Google 'offsite caravans' some are like small bungalows.

Example.

That is beautiful.
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