Modern DIY timber frame houses can meet Building Regulation and Caravan Act demands.

Image: Urban Marque 

Whether you call them static caravans, mobile homes, lodges or granny annexes, self-build house kits can be a great way to have an affordable DIY house solution. But what do you need to know before taking the plunge?

The ins and outs of building regs

Images: Urban Marque 

One of the major obstacles of static caravans or mobile homes is negotiating the labyrinth of building regulations. The legal minefield is not for the faint-hearted, and many projects have foundered on exactly this.

Happily, companies such as Urban Marque take the headache out of this process by supplying timber framed house kits that can meet all of the requirements for the UK Caravan Act and Building Regulations. Their experts in planning law can guide you through the boxes and help you put ticks in all of them with the minimum of difficulty.

What are the benefits of a timber-frame self-build?

Images: Urban Marque 

Timber-framed builds have numerous benefits over masonry builds, the main one being around speed. While a masonry build must be erected on site, a timber-framed build can be designed and manufactured off-site, then dropped in situ.

This has a knock-on effect on costs, as lead times are reduced, and production costs decrease. The adaptability of timber is another boon, as you can buy an affordable off-the-peg home, or specify your own bespoke elements to get the building you want. Urban Marque are happy to work with you and your own choice of architect or builder – all structural calculations and design drawings are supplied for easy assembly – or you can choose to use their own expert erecting services.

Are they good value?

Images: Urban Marque 

Use the right supplier – one who will be in sync with you throughout the whole process – and DIY house kits are the perfect way to get a great self-build on a budget. With no planning required, you won’t be entering into an open-ended project but one that will have you relaxing in your dream luxury mobile home in no time at all.

Bare bones kits are available from £11,800 delivered, and are zero rated for VAT, meaning the price you see is the price you pay.

To discover more, visit the Urban Marque website or email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Got a sketch of your ideal selfbuild? Send it in for a quick quote, quoting GD/BB.