Can I Get a Mortgage On a Property With No Kitchen?

Hi there,

Thanks for your enquiry; we’re happy to help.

Unfortunately, many lenders will consider a house without a kitchen or bathroom unsuitable security because it is uninhabitable.

That said, every lender has its own policy on kitchen requirements, and defining what constitutes a kitchen for mortgage purposes can be subjective, but in general, the basic prerequisite is having running water, a functional sink area, and a sealed, containable space.

This may be OK if you are simply between units or the cupboards need new doors, for example.

If you want to mortgage a property without a kitchen, you don’t have to miss out on purchasing the property altogether. The specialists we work with could look at a couple of options for you.

One is buying the property outright without a mortgage (if you have the cash available), and the other is a mortgage product called bridging finance (or development finance).

This is a flexible, short-term mortgage and is often the best mortgage product if the property is classed as uninhabitable. These lenders allow you to buy the property and complete the renovations to make it habitable, so long as you have a strategy to repay the loan before the end of the term.

This is called an “exit strategy”, and acceptable plans may be to remortgage to clear the loan or sell the property when the work is done.

Bridging finance usually starts at 3 – 6 months and can be up to around 24 months, depending on your circumstances and how long you need it!

Keep in mind that the lenders may ask about your experience with property renovation or request plans from the contractors to ensure their viability.

Read our in-depth guide on uninhabitable properties.

We have written more about property development in the bridging and short-term finance section.

If you have an enquiry, get in touch, and one of the mortgage specialists we work with will contact you as soon as possible!