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 self-builds, renovations and retrofits. We consider every project on a case-by-case basis and have extensive experience in non-standard properties, energy efficiency improvements 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.
We’ll lend to support the purchase of the plot and the costs of your self-build project.
Outline planning permission needs to be in place to apply for the mortgage and detailed planning needs to be granted before any mortgage funds are released.
Normally, we’ll release up to 80% of the plot purchase price or value of the property if you already own the land and subsequently, the money required to cover the build costs. As you continue with your build, staged payments of up to 80% of your increased property value as the build progresses will be released – this will help you keep tabs on your budget and planning.
This type of mortgage may be suitable if you are able to make a 20% deposit for your plot and further funds to commence the early stages of the build. We normally recommend 20% of your total build budget as a good starting point to begin your self-build project.
Once your self-build is complete and you achieve the appropriate energy certificate, we can lower your interest rate through our C-Change discounts.
If you’re planning to build an energy-efficient, self-build property, we’re here to help.
At Ecology, we’re not put off by the construction type; we’ll support many types of construction techniques including those using non-standard materials and modern methods of construction. If we can see your self-build will be energy efficient using sustainable and where possible, locally sourced materials, we’ll consider lending.
We’ll lend on:
- Timber frame and timber clad
- Non-traditional such as straw bale, rammed earth, cob
- Modern Methods of construction built off-site
- Structurally insulated panels
- Insulated concrete forms
- Builds that contain renewables such as photovoltaics, solar thermal, heat pumps, etc.
Our mortgages are available in the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
We’ll lend money to support the purchase of the plot and the costs of your conversion project if you are aiming for an energy performance of anywhere from an EPC B (SAP rating 85+) to EnerPHit standard.
Outline planning permission, including Class Q, or listed building consent needs to be in place to apply for the mortgage, and detailed planning needs to be granted before any mortgage funds are released.
We’ll release up to 80% of the plot purchase price or value of the property if you already own the land and subsequently, the money required to cover the build costs. As your conversion progresses, staged payments of up to 80% of your increased property value will be released in arrears – this will help you keep tabs on your budget and planning.
This type of mortgage may be suitable if you are able to make a 20% deposit for your plot and further funds to commence the early stages of the conversion. We normally recommend you begin your project with 20% of your total build budget.
Once your conversion is complete and you achieve the appropriate energy certificate, we can lower your interest rate through our C-Change discounts.
Our conversion mortgage product is on a Standard Variable Rate and our discounts are applied from the date we receive evidence that the conversion works have been completed and the energy rating required has been achieved.
At Ecology, we are not put off by non-standard projects; if we can see your conversion will result in a sustainable energy efficient home and, where possible, use locally sourced materials, we’ll consider lending.
We’ll look at:
- Derelict barns, cow sheds
- Redundant garages
- Windmills
- Water towers
- Churches and chapels
- Oast Houses
- Redundant pubs (public houses).
Our mortgages are available throughout the UK (England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland).
