“Is That a House or a Spaceship?” – Why Non-Traditional Construction Data Matters More Than Ever

Let’s face it, in property, not everything is bricks and mortar anymore.

From steel-framed houses that look like they were built in a rush during a 1950s sci-fi crisis, to concrete-clad creations that test the limits of design (and logic), the UK is full of homes that don’t quite fit the traditional mould.

These are what we affectionately call non-traditional constructions, and while they may look quirky, for lenders, they can cause serious headaches.

So, what is non-traditional construction?

Put simply, these are homes built using materials or methods that fall outside of conventional bricks, blocks, and timber frames. Think:

· PRC (Precast Reinforced Concrete) properties

· Steel-framed buildings

· Timber kits from post-war housing drives

· “Experimental” structures from the 20th century

· …or anything that looks like it might fold up and fly away if the wind changes.

These properties aren’t rare. There are hundreds of thousands across the UK. And for lenders, understanding what they are and where they are can mean the difference between a sound lending decision and a problematic one.

Why does this matter for lenders?

Lending against a non-traditional construction property without knowing it’s non-traditional is a bit like buying a used car without lifting the bonnet. You might be fine. But you might also end up with a very expensive surprise.

Risk teams need to know:

· Structural durability – Some types are more prone to defects or degradation.

· Insurance risks – Is it insurable? At what premium?

· Resaleability – Will this be hard to sell or remortgage down the line?

· Policy compliance – Are there internal rules or product restrictions?

With the FCA putting growing focus on affordability and risk transparency, and Basel 3.1 looming large, there’s never been more pressure to get ahead of construction type risk early in the lending process.

Here’s where e.surv comes in …

At e.surv, we’ve built one of the most comprehensive proprietary datasets of non-traditional construction in the UK, derived from decades of physical valuations conducted by our nationwide surveyor network and close relationships with Local Authorities.

This isn’t scraped, guesstimated, or bought in from a third party. It’s real insight, collected and verified by people who’ve stood at the front door (and sometimes scratched their heads while doing so).

Our dataset includes:

· Verified construction types

· Property-specific insight (not just postcode-level guessing)

· Nationwide coverage

· Integration into our AVM for contextual decision-making

· Cross-reference with other property risks like cladding, subsidence, and tenure

How lenders are using it

We’re already working with lenders who are embedding this dataset into:

· AVM triaging – flagging non-trad properties before they enter the lending workflow

· Back-book analysis – understanding current exposure

· Portfolio acquisition decisions – smarter institutional buying

· Pre-valuation risk filtering – saving time and cost by knowing when not to proceed

Non-traditional construction isn’t niche. It’s everywhere. And the risk it carries isn’t theoretical, it’s very real. The good news is, with the right data (and the right partner), it’s entirely manageable.

If you want to know more or see how our non-traditional dataset could fit into your lending process, let’s have a chat, be it on Teams or over a coffee, email me at [email protected].

Blog by: Michael Booth, Head of Data Sales