BuildLoan is not a mortgage lender. They are the UK’s leading expert and specialist intermediary for people who want to build, renovate, or convert their own home.
They act as the vital link between you, your mortgage broker, and a panel of specialist lenders, providing exclusive mortgage products that are specifically designed for major building projects. If you're planning a self-build, you'll almost certainly come across them.
If you wish to compare the alternatives to getting finance through BuildLoan, you can use our free mortgage-sourcing tool below to compare the latest rates from across the market for free.
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Who are BuildLoan?
Think of BuildLoan as the master architect of self-build finance. For over 20 years, they have worked with lenders to design unique mortgage products that solve the biggest problem for self-builders: cash flow.
Traditional mortgages are not suitable for building projects because they release all the money in one go. BuildLoan’s products, which are only available via mortgage brokers, release funds in stages throughout the build. Their exclusive deals offer features you can't get anywhere else, making them an essential partner for most self-build projects in the UK.
What makes BuildLoan's products different?
BuildLoan’s entire proposition is built around two features that solve the cash flow headache.
1. Advance Stage Payments
This is their biggest selling point. Most stage-payment mortgages pay you in arrears (after each stage is complete), meaning you have to find the money to pay your builders first.
BuildLoan’s exclusive products offer advance stage payments. This means you get the money before each stage of the build begins. This can be an advantage, as it means you can pay for materials and labour upfront without needing a massive personal savings pot to float the build.
2. Cost-Based Lending
Most lenders will only lend you a percentage of the property's current value at each stage. This can be a problem early on when you own a cheap plot of land but have huge building costs.
BuildLoan’s products can lend based on the total project costs. This means you can borrow more money at the start of the project when you need it most, helping you get the build off the ground.
What types of projects do they finance?
BuildLoan has a solution for almost any kind of major home-building project:
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Self-Build: Building a new home from scratch, whether you manage it yourself or hire a main contractor.
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Custom-Build: Building a home on a serviced plot with a developer providing a bespoke design and build service.
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Renovation & Conversion: Taking a rundown property and transforming it, or converting a non-residential building (like a barn or a pub) into a home.
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Knockdown and Rebuild: Demolishing an existing property to build a new one in its place.
Compare today's best mortgage rates
We work with 90+ UK mortgage lenders, including BuildLoan. You can use our service to compare mortgage rates from across the market to find the right deal.
Our mortgage sourcing tool is FREE and will show you the latest deals from BuildLoan and others so you can make an informed decision about which to choose.
Click the button below to get started comparing the entire market for free.
Pros and Cons of using BuildLoan
Pros:
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Solves Cash Flow: Advance stage payments are a genuine game-changer for self-builders.
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Borrow More: Cost-based lending means you can borrow against your project costs, not just the current land value.
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Unrivalled Expertise: They are the undisputed experts in self-build finance.
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Access to Exclusive Deals: They offer products from a panel of lenders that you simply cannot get anywhere else.
Cons:
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Broker-Only: You cannot go directly to BuildLoan. You must use a mortgage broker, which is a required step in the process.
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Specialist Only: Their products and expertise are only for major building projects, not for buying a standard, ready-to-move-in house.
How to get a BuildLoan mortgage
This is a crucial point. You cannot apply to BuildLoan directly.
Their products are only accessible through a registered mortgage intermediary (a broker). The process works like this:
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You find a mortgage broker with experience in self-build projects.
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The broker assesses your project and finances.
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The broker works with BuildLoan to package your application and find the most suitable exclusive product from their panel of lenders.
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BuildLoan provides project support and liaises with valuers and the lender to ensure your funds are released at the right time.
Get started here to book a free, no-obligation chat with a broker who has a deep working relationship with BuildLoan and specialises in self-build mortgages.