Buying Land to Build a House: What You Need to Know
Building your own home is something a lot of people genuinely want to do. Nearly 100,000 people in England have registered their interest in self-builds since 2016, but councils have only approved plots for around 63,000 of them, leaving around 36,000 people still unable to see their dream home come into being.
The thing is, buying land to build a house isn’t like a regular home purchase, as there’s more than needs to be checked and organised, and more things that can go wrong. Having an expert to guide you is certainly wise.
In this article, we take a look at all the moving parts you’ll encounter when taking this route, so you’ll have a much better idea of whether it’s right for you
Is building a house cheaper than buying?
There’s a reason why some people choose to buy land to build a house, as opposed to just buying a house in the normal way - it CAN work out cheaper. However, it doesn’t always pan out that way, as the total price you’ll pay depends on things like where the land is, what utilities are in place, and more.
Planning permission is a big thing, too, so before you even think about committing to anything, you need the full picture…not just the asking price.
The cost of the land itself is important, of course, but you’ll need to account for additional legal fees, surveys, materials, and construction costs. Forget to consider everything, and you can soon find your savings eaten up.
When you get it right, there are several benefits to be had:
- You get full control over the design and layout of your new home
- There’s an opportunity to choose the exact location you want
- You get the option to use modern, energy-efficient construction
- You have the flexibility to stage building work to suit your budget
- The value of land goes up like property prices
Whether you come out ahead financially depends on what you're trying to achieve, how long you're willing to wait, and how much risk you’re happy with.
What are the risks of buying land to build a house?
Buying land to build a house on can feel quite straightforward, but there are a handful of issues that catch people out. Knowing what they are can save time, money, and a fair amount of stress down the line.
You see, not every plot is ready to build on, and not every purchase goes without a hitch if the right checks haven't been done. Going in with your eyes open means you can plan around these things rather than getting blindsided by them.
Here are some of the potential obstacles you might encounter.
- The land may not have planning permission in place
- Essential utilities and services might be unavailable or costly to connect to
- Access roads could be restricted or need improvement
- Unexpected environmental or contamination issues could arise, e.g., flooding, soil contamination, etc.
- Local authority conditions could limit the type of property you’re able to build on your purchased land
Doing the groundwork upfront protects what you're putting in and gives you a much better chance of the whole thing going to plan.
What should I check before buying land to build a house on?
Most people buying land spend their energy on planning permission, surveys, and legal checks, and those things do matter. But there's another set of factors that don't appear on any list of ‘must-dos’ and won't delay your purchase if you ignore them. But they might come back to bite you later.
None of the things shown below is complicated, but it is a really good idea to have a discussion about them yourself or have your solicitor look at them.
Consideration | Why it matters |
|---|---|
Consideration Plot orientation & sunlight | Why it matters The direction your plot faces affects natural light, energy efficiency, and garden usability |
Consideration Neighboring developments | Why it matters Future construction nearby can affect privacy, views, and property value |
Consideration Local council policies & future plans | Why it matters Even with planning permission in place, upcoming roads, zoning changes, or infrastructure projects can affect your build |
Consideration Access to services & amenities | Why it matters Proximity to schools, shops, transport, and medical services will shape daily life and long-term satisfaction |
Consideration Financial planning for contingencies | Why it matters Unexpected costs are common; having a buffer stops the project stalling when they come up |
Run through these alongside the standard checks, and you’ll go into everything with your eyes wide open. The people who skip this step aren't actually saving time, as they're just pushing the problems further down the road.
Get Expert Help with Buying Land to Build a House
Buying land involves enough moving parts without the legal side of the process adding to the stress. So, if you’re thinking of creating your ideal home in this way, it pays to have a good solicitor on your side. The SAM Conveyancing team can work through everything with you, so nothing gets missed.
We handle the conveyancing, talk directly to lenders, local authorities, and the Land Registry, and deal with the complications before they become your problem, making the whole thing a lot less stressful.
Want to talk things through with us? Just get in touch today, and we’ll be happy to give you the guidance you’re looking for.
- Fixed, competitive legal fees with no hidden costs.
- Commercial conveyancing solicitors with specialist legal knowledge to support self-build projects.
- Completions to meet your deadlines.
- Property challenges solved.
Caragh is an excellent writer and copy editor of books, news articles and editorials. She has written extensively for SAM for a variety of conveyancing, survey, property law and mortgage-related articles.
Andrew started his career in 2000 working within conveyancing solicitor firms and grew hands-on knowledge of a wide variety of conveyancing challenges and solutions. After helping in excess of 50,000 clients in his career, he uses all this experience within his article writing for SAM, mainstream media and his self published book How to Buy a House Without Killing Anyone.
