Conversion Mortgages > Buying a barn for conversion.
How to buy a barn for conversion?
Buying a barn to convert into a home is, of course, very different from buying a standard house. Barns are sold and financed differently, and they come with various challenges. So we’re here to guide you through every step of buying a barn for conversion in the UK.
Finding a suitable barn for conversion
The first challenge is finding a barn that’s actually viable for conversion. Many look promising but have legal or structural restrictions that make them unsuitable. Start your search with:
Specialist rural estate agents.
Property auctions (these often list barns with planning consent or conversion potential).
Land agents or private sellers
Online portals, with filters for “barns for conversion” or “development opportunity.”
When assessing properties, look for:
Sound structure: Ideally, one that can be converted, not rebuilt.
Good access and services: Proximity to water, power, and roads.
Planning potential: Does it already have approval, or qualify under Class Q?
Location value: Rural charm is excellent, but accessibility adds resale value.
If a barn seems cheap, there’s often a reason. Check for flood risk, rights of way, or agricultural ties before you fall in love with the setting.
Checking if a barn can be converted.
Before you buy, confirm that the barn can be legally converted into a home. In England, this is often possible under Class Q permitted development rights, which is designed to support the reuse of existing agricultural structures like barns, without requiring full planning permission. To qualify for Class Q there is a set of criteria that must be followed, including:
The building must have been in agricultural use on or before 24 July 2023. If brought into agricultural use after this date, 10 years must pass before conversion.
It must be structurally capable of conversion (not needing a full rebuild).
The site cannot be in a National Park, AONB, or conservation area.
External works must be limited to what’s reasonably necessary.
If your barn doesn’t meet these criteria, you’ll need full planning permission instead. This is common for older stone or listed buildings, as well as projects in rural Scotland and Wales.
A simple way to avoid risk is to submit a pre-application enquiry to your local planning authority before purchase. This provides early clarity and reassurance, which lenders appreciate.
Arranging structural and legal checks for your barn.
A barn conversion often looks beautiful from the outside, but the real question is what’s underneath.
One of the main hurdles you’ll need to address for a barn conversion is conducting your structural and legal checks. This will determine whether it’s suitable for conversion and how you’ll approach the project. This will likely influence your decision on whether to proceed with buying it or not.
Your structural survey is where a chartered structural engineer or RICS surveyor should assess:
The strength and stability of walls, roof, and foundations.
Damp, timber rot, or movement.
Whether it’s suitable for conversion rather than demolition.
If the barn requires major rebuilding, it may no longer qualify under Class Q, so obtaining this survey before purchase can save significant headaches later.
You should also ask your solicitor to confirm legal checks, including title boundaries and access rights; any agricultural occupancy conditions; whether the land is registered and mortgageable. A barn with unclear access or an occupancy tie can be hard to fund or resell, but these issues can often be managed with the right early advice.
Financing with a barn conversion mortgage.
Because you’re converting a non-residential building into a new home, a specialised finance product like a Barn Conversion Mortgage is usually recommended.
This type of mortgage is designed to release funds in stages as your work progresses, rather than providing all the money up front. It keeps the loan tied to the increasing value of the property and protects you from paying interest on funds you haven’t yet used. You can often borrow up to 75 to 80% of your project’s value, and many lenders allow interest-only payments during construction, switching to a standard repayment mortgage once the home is complete and certified.
At Mayflower, we specialise in tailoring these mortgages to suit the realities of your build. Your dedicated adviser will work with you to schedule payments around your contractor’s timetable, avoid funding delays, and connect you with lenders who truly understand barn conversions.
Completing the purchase and beginning conversion
With finance in place and permissions secured, you can complete the purchase and start the work.
A barn conversion typically takes 12–24 months, depending on the scale, structure, and complexity of the design. During this time, your dedicated Mayflower advisor stays with you, coordinating stage valuations, ensuring funds are released on time, and supporting your refinance once complete.
We’re here to help finance your barn conversion.
At Mayflower, we’ve guided hundreds of clients through barn conversions, self-builds, and major renovations. With over 15 years of specialist experience, we understand what lenders require, the necessary paperwork to prepare, and how to ensure your project remains funded smoothly from the initial survey to final sign-off.
✔ Expert mortgage advice for conversion projects
✔ Access to exclusive lenders who understand non-standard properties.
✔ Quick, confident decisions that keep your build on schedule.
✔ A dedicated adviser supporting you through planning, VAT reclaim, and refinancing.
✔ Access to our Self Build Saver Solution, designed to save you thousands over the life of your project.
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Best Self Build Mortgage Advisory Firm
Design and Build Awards 2025
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Best Specialist Broker
Finalist at the 2025 Mortgage Strategy Awards
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Best Specialist Broker
Finalist at the 2025 Financial Reporter Awards
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NaCSBA Gold member
National Custom & Self Build Association
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NACFB Member
National Association of Commercial Finance Brokers
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AMI Member
Association of Mortgage Intermediaries
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STA
Structural Timber Association Member
Ready to finance your barn conversion?
Barn conversions are rarely straightforward, and high street lenders often won’t fund them, so working with a specialist mortgage partner makes a significant difference.
At Mayflower Mortgage, we understand the planning, cash flow, and timing challenges these builds involve, and we’ve built strong relationships with lenders who do too. Our goal is to make complex projects feel simple so you can focus on creating a home you love.