Self Builders

Self builders are a relatively new breed to Britain. Certainly over the past few years with fast rising house prices, there numbers have swelled. And many people now dream of building their ideal home, their imagination fired by the recent rash of DIY and property development programmes.

But self build is not the easy option. It can take years of dedication and research to find a plot of land alone. True, there are a number of internet based organisations, such as plotfinder and Selfbuild magazines, which advertise plots for sale, but these come at a price - a quarter of a million for an tenth of an acre. And then are they located in a place where you would want to live?

Bargains for the self-builder can still be found. If you are prepared to wait and trawl the auctions, properties become available that either are only worth the land they stand on or have sufficient grounds for a house and your building plot. These examples are getting rarer.

The other factor inhibiting the self-builder is the need for planning permission. There are two choices. You either shell out for a plot that has planning permission in which case be prepared to pay up to 10 times the price, or alternatively go for a plot with the good chance of getting planning permission. Then, all you have to do is play the planning game, which takes time, patience and fortitude.

If you looking for your ideal plot, then there are a number of basic things to look out for. Firstly, check that the plot is large enough for the house you wish to build. This usually isn't a problem because you can easily build a 3 to 4-bedroomed detached house on a tenth of an acre. Make sure there are no restrictions on the land that could prevent your self-build. These include tree preservation orders

(TPOs), covenants or easements or footpaths. Take care with the rights of access whether they be privately owned or via a Council owned verge or footpath. Ransom strips are small pieces of land that are kept by previous owners. They effectively mean that you may own the land but you don't have the right to cross the adjoining piece of land to get to it! Ransom strips can cost the self-builder dearly - up to the third of the original price of the land.

- James M

View Land for Sale in: