Industry Insight Episode 5
In case you missed our earlier episodes, you can get up to speed by clicking the following episodes:
- “Industry Insight | Multigenerational Living Is On an Extraordinary Rise | 2020“
- “Industry Insight Episode 2 | Challenges in the Mortgage Industry: An Amazing Read“
- “Industry Insight Episode 3 | Uncovering the Potential of Annexes as Holiday Lets“
- Industry Insight Episode 4 | Making the Dream Achievable | A Blissful Ending
With COVID-19 restrictions being part of everyday life, thousands of employees have remained working from home. During the first lockdown back in March, many of us were operating from a corner of the living room, the kitchen table or the spare bedroom. However, as restrictions have continued, home working has become increasingly sophisticated.
Building a ‘summer house’ separate from the main residence is becoming popular, with more people looking to create a dedicated workspace at home. So, what opportunities does this create for mortgage intermediaries?
Industry Insight Episode 5 | Growth in homeworking
Official figures show exclusive remote working hit a high of 38% in mid-June*, though the statistics were only collected from the middle of May, so missed out on nearly two months of lockdown and could have been higher. As uncertain times continue, employees are now facing further months of working from home as the pandemic grows again in intensity.
Industry Insight Episode 5 | Home offices – part of the new normal
A poll from the Home Builders Federation has stated that 40% of people say that they would now prioritise space for a home office if they were searching for a new home. The figures are no surprise as employees look to make their home working environment as user-friendly and comfortable as possible.
Pandemic restrictions may continue for some time to come, so working from home could be the enforced way of working and the preferred option for those who have now sampled the benefits.
Industry Insight Episode 5 | How have we adapted?
In articles like this, I often give a case study example – perhaps from a Harpenden Building Society customer or someone in our community. I didn’t have to go far this time as Jean Errington, one of our Business Development Managers, and I have first-hand experience creating our own dedicated ‘office space’ following the lockdown.
We’ve both decided to create a ‘Summer House’ at the end of our gardens. Not only do they provide extended leisure space for entertaining and the like, but they also provide that valuable ‘Home Office’ so much appreciated during these COVID-19 times. It’s a good option if extending the main residence is impossible. | Industry Insight Episode 5
Industry Insight Episode 5 | Summer house options
Summer houses start from a base price of approximately £2000 and can easily rise to 5 figures plus. Like any development project, the cost depends on the building spec you go for. If cash isn’t available to fund it, a mortgage option provided by a specialist lender like Harpenden Building Society can help facilitate the build. As a society, we fund the larger scale, extensive summer house developments costing more than £75K.
Jean opted for a summer house measuring 8 feet x 8 feet, guided by the plot size available to her. Not only has it given her family extra leisure space, but it has also given her the opportunity to work from home completely uninterrupted. 
Jean explains: “I’ve mainly used the summer house as an office so far, but we are searching for some armchairs and further additions that would fit in so we can use it as our relaxation space too.
The construction took half a day by the fitting team. My husband is practical and had laid the base, so all they had to do was assemble it, as it arrived in kit form. He has also connected the electricity, and we have a Wi-Fi booster to give us a signal at this end of the garden, which is approx. 80 feet from the back of the house.”
“The size and type of summer house I have installed does not require planning permission, but it’s important to check when considering your option. The sky is the limit with these structures when it comes to fitting them out and how much people are willing to spend on them!“
My summer house is rectangular and again designed to use the best garden space. This new structure has brought many benefits during these lockdowns and will continue to do so when this happens. During the day, I work here, and then in the evening, the kids, or we all as a family, use it to relax. I anticipate the children (2 x 16-year-olds) taking it over more in the evenings in the future!
The concrete base took a day to set, the ‘summer house’ 2 days to construct and a further 2 days to paint. In less than a week, everything was installed. We didn’t have to move to gain extra space or cope with the mess and inconvenience of a building site in the house. | Industry Insight Episode 5
Industry Insight Episode 5 | Top tips
Through my own experience, I have some tips to pass on. Firstly, ensure you finance the project most efficiently. At Harpenden, we’d be pleased to speak with brokers and their customers about the lending options which would work best for those considering a major construction.
We look into each application personally to ensure all aspects are considered in detail. Customers are increasingly coming to us with a complex financial profile with multiple income streams, for instance.
The algorithm of a high-street lender may reject an application due to this type of complexity. Still, we look into the situation more personally; we manually assess every application. This type of additional scrutiny makes it possible to say ‘yes’ in certain circumstances when the algorithm of a high street lender can’t.
Secondly, I would also recommend researching the market; many cabin suppliers cater to all budgets. Look at the delivery timetables carefully and the suppliers’ promise to deliver within a given period. High demand for summer houses during these COVID-19 times can mean delays.
Some suppliers offer complete services in preparing the groundwork and erecting the structure itself, so if you don’t feel able, or time is an issue, then build in the extra cost of the services within your budget. These tips are the ones that immediately spring to mind.
My experience has been good – acquiring a summer house has been a cost-effective option to quickly and easily gain valuable, additional living space.
Industry Insight Episode 5 | The Opportunity
Based on our experience, enquiries about financing summer house builds and garden offices will continue to rise. We’ll be pleased to speak to brokers looking to provide financing options for customers exploring this new ‘home working’ opportunity.
*Office for National Statistics
Credit: Craig Middleton, Mortgage Sales and Distribution Manager, Harpenden Building Society | Industry Insight Episode 5
We come to the end of our publication on “Industry Insight Episode 5 | Discover An Extraordinary Option for ‘Year Round’ Homeworking.” Until next time, stay Connect!