The Intermediary – November 2025 - Flipbook - Page 50
RESIDENTIAL
Opinion
Building with
confidence
I
f programmes like ‘Grand
Designs’ have taught us
anything, it’s that building
your own home can be as
perilous as it is rewarding.
We’ve all seen those moments
when projects stall, budgets vanish,
and homes sit open to the elements
over winter. But while it makes great
television, it doesn’t have to be reality.
Behind every successful self-build is
a strong working partnership between
borrower, broker, lender and builder.
When those relationships work in
harmony, the experience will be
proactive, predictable and rooted in
cashflow confidence rather than crisis.
during the expensive early phases like
demolition and groundworks.
In general, self-build cases need
to be closely monitored through
monthly build reviews and check-ins,
allowing any emerging issues, from
cost inflation to delays, to be addressed
before they escalate.
CHRIS BLEWITT
is head of intermediary
distribution at Darlington
Building Society
Small but steady
Self and custom build remains a
niche but resilient part of the housing
market. Latest Government figures
show that between October 2023
and October 2024, the number of
individuals registered for a self-build
plot rose by 2%, with 64,851 people
now on local registers.
Demand is steady, but supply is
tightening. The number of planning
permissions for serviced plots fell by
18% in the same period, a reminder
that while enthusiasm is growing,
the availability of suitable land is not
keeping pace. That makes access to
the right finance and guidance more
important than ever.
Finance that supports
It’s important to work with a self-build
lender that has designed its processes
to reduce stress, not add to it. For
example, at Darlington we work in
partnership with BuildLoan, the
specialist advice arm of Buildstore,
and we have developed our cost-based,
advance stage payment model to
ensure funds are released before each
build stage.
This way, we don’t have to wait
for valuations. It’s a small but vital
distinction that helps borrowers stay
ahead of cashflow shocks, particularly
48
The Intermediary | November 2025
Enthusiasm for self-build is growing, but the availability of suitable land is not keeping up
If extra funding is needed, a further
advance may need to be arranged midbuild, with interest-only payments
during construction to keep costs
manageable.
Continuity of oversight is also
key. Which is why, at Darlington,
we ensure that every self-build case
is handled by senior underwriters
who stay with the application from
start to finish. This helps to ensure
speed, consistency, and a genuine
understanding of each project.
borrower’s post-completion position.
We listen to broker feedback and
have specific service level agreements
(SLAs) for self-build cases, which
recognise the time-sensitive nature of
each stage.
For clients, this translates into
reassurance and real results. One
Darlington client and self-builder
said: “As someone working overseas,
Darlington was one of the few lenders
willing to help. They understood my
global income.”
Collaboration that evolves
Service that anticipates
Understanding the position of
everyone in the finance team is also
important. For example, we hold
monthly operational huddles to keep
communication open, while brokers
have direct access to underwriters for
complex queries.
For us, this close alignment of all
finance parties has led to meaningful
improvements. Our online portal
also now supports self-build cases
with foreign currency income and
affordability assessments reflect the
In 2024, Darlington completed
our biggest year with specialist
intermediary BuildLoan for more than
a decade, and we expect to match that
success in 2025, despite the context of
a shrinking market.
True partnership means
anticipating issues, not just reacting
to them. With the right lender and
broker by their side, self-builders can
navigate uncertainty with confidence,
building lasting trust and a home at
the same time. ●
