Mortgage for two houses on one title with a corridor connecting properties with 16 acres

Case Study: Mortgage on two houses on one title with 16 acres

Trinity Financial helped three applicants secure a mortgage on a stunning rural property made up of two houses on one title, connected by a corridor, after the application was initially declined by a large bank.

The country residence had previously sold for around £1.5 million and included a substantial main house, a separate cottage-style annexe, approximately 16 acres of private gardens and grounds, garaging and additional outbuildings.

The property was ideal for the clients, but its unusual layout made the mortgage application much more complex than a standard residential purchase.

Why was the mortgage difficult?

The main issue was that the property effectively consisted of two separate houses held under one legal title.

The main residence had four bedrooms, while the connected cottage also had four bedrooms. Although the two parts were linked by a corridor, the lender initially had concerns about whether the property fitted its normal residential mortgage criteria.

Properties with two dwellings on one title can be more difficult to mortgage because lenders may worry about:

• Whether the property could be split in future

• Whether one part could be independently let

• Whether the layout affects resale value

• Whether the valuer regards it as one residential property or two

• Whether the property falls outside standard mortgage policy

In this case, the unusual property layout was the key reason the mortgage was initially declined.

Three applicants and an existing mortgage to port

There was another layer of complexity because the clients required three applicants on the mortgage.

One of the applicants, the father, already had a mortgage with the bank being used for the new property. That existing mortgage was being ported across to the new home.

Porting can sometimes help borrowers keep an existing mortgage deal, but it does not mean a new application will automatically be approved. The lender still needs to assess the new property, affordability and the applicants' overall circumstances.

Trinity appealed the lender's decision

After the bank initially declined the application, Trinity Financial did not simply accept the decision. Our broker reviewed the case and used an established contact at the lender to explain the property in more detail.

The case was then taken through an appeal process, with particular focus on the way the two houses were connected and how the clients intended to use the property. Following further discussion and review, the large bank agreed to proceed with the mortgage.

Why lender contacts matter on unusual property mortgages

Complex property cases are often not simply about finding the cheapest mortgage rate. The first challenge can be finding a lender prepared to accept the property at all.

Trinity Financial's brokers have built up contacts with banks, building societies and specialist lenders that can help when clients are buying or remortgaging unusual homes.

These can include:

• Two houses on one title

• Houses with annexes

• Country estates

• Rural homes with substantial acreage

• Properties with 10, 15 or more acres

• Homes with cottages or guest accommodation

• Houses with barns, stables and outbuildings

• Listed and period properties

• High-value rural properties

• Homes with unusual layouts

In this case, having a direct contact at the bank helped Trinity get the application reconsidered after the initial decline.

The property

The detached country residence offered:

• Four bedrooms in the main house

• Four bedrooms in the connected cottage

• Characterful period features

• Around 16 acres of gardens and grounds

• Countryside views

• Garaging and outbuildings

• Ample off-road parking

• Separate accommodation suitable for family or guest use

The property offered the clients the rural home they wanted, but its scale and configuration meant lender selection was particularly important.

Can you get a mortgage on two houses on one title?

Yes, but these cases can be more difficult than a mortgage on a standard house.

Some banks will decline properties with two dwellings on one title, while others may consider them if the buildings are clearly connected and form one residential property.

Lenders may also look closely at how each part of the property is used and whether there is any commercial or rental element.

A mortgage broker with experience in unusual property cases can often speak to lenders before, or during, the application process to establish whether the property is likely to be acceptable.

Case study outcome

Trinity Financial successfully helped the clients secure their mortgage on a £1.5 million rural country residence with two houses on one title and 16 acres of land.

The application had initially been declined, but our broker appealed the decision and worked with a contact at the large bank to get the case approved.

The result allowed the clients to move into their dream rural property while also porting the father's existing mortgage with the same lender.

For borrowers buying or remortgaging a property with two houses on one title, a substantial annexe, large acreage or unusual outbuildings, speaking to an experienced mortgage broker can be particularly valuable.

Trinity Financial's expert mortgage brokers can approach banks, building societies, specialist lenders and private banks to find out which lenders are most likely to accept unusual or complex properties.

Call Trinity Financial on 020 7016 0790 to secure a fixed or tracker rate mortgage, book a consultation, or use our appointment calendar

The information contained within was correct at the time of publication but is subject to change. It is for general information purposes and is not advice.

Your mortgage is secured on your property. Your property may be repossessed if you do not keep up repayments on your mortgage.