NEED TO KNOW PLOT BUYER’S CHECKLIST

Think you might have indentified a viable site for your self build project? Our quick-fire plot buyer’s checklist will help you decide:

Am I ready to act quickly? It’s important to have your funds and/or borrowing lined up and legal representation ready to go so that your offer looks enticing to the vendor (if you’re buying at auction, this is essential).

Is planning permission in place? The outline or full consent shouldn’t be about to expire, as this could put your dream home project in jeopardy. Any conditions attached to the permission must be acceptable to you.

Are there any fees? Double check whether you will be liable for a Section 106 charge or any other financial contributions to the council as a condition of the planning permission. These could increase your project costs markedly, and may need to be accounted for in your offer.

Am I getting all the land? Ensure the plot area that’s for sale is exactly the same as that indicated on the current planning permission – otherwise you could run into trouble with ransom strips and other issues.

Can I change the consent? The majority of self-builders will want to tweak the design to some degree, so think about whether you want to revise the existing planning permission and if these amendments are realistic.

Are there any other obstacles? Check whether the plot has a right of access to the public highway and ascertain if any legal issues, such as restrictive covenants (binding conditions written into a property’s deeds), might bring extra costs or prevent you building.

For more advice log on to www.self-build.co.uk/plot-checklist