Prefabricated and modular homes are gaining more and more popularity, and no wonder. They are quick to build, comfortable to live in and energy efficient and environmentally friendly. But how are these houses regulated by legislation and why is it often a problem to finance them with a mortgage? Find out in our article.
Manufactured and modular homes are a type of home that is built off-site in a controlled factory environment and then transported to the final site for assembly. There is little difference between the two types. The main difference is that modular homes are manufactured and transported as whole modules (i.e. as a cube containing the ceiling, floor and walls) and are installed in their entirety on the foundation. Prefabricated houses are then manufactured in smaller structural sections and the joining of these components takes place on site.
The main features of prefabricated and modular houses include:
We provide a complete package of legal services related to real estate sales and purchases, including reservation contracts and escrow services. We will also help you with all tax and land registry issues. Our work is fast and accurate, ensuring a worry-free transaction. You’re also welcome to pay after services are provided.
Prefabricated or modular houses differ from traditional brick houses mainly in the way they are built and the materials used. These are the main differences:
As already mentioned, prefabricated houses are mainly built in a factory, with the actual construction on site (joining the parts together) taking only a few days. The only conventional construction work is the laying of the foundation slab, which usually takes place while the house is being constructed in the factory. From placing the order to the finished modular or prefabricated turnkey house, it usually takes 3-6 months.
Conventional brick houses represent a somewhat more demanding process. The rough construction with roofing must be completed before winter to allow for frost. Work then resumes when temperatures rise. In addition, the entire house is built on site, which can make construction very difficult. The main obstacles are bad weather and a shortage of craftsmen, which can prolong the process considerably. The total construction time is therefore around 10 months.
Tip: House construction is most often dealt with on the basis of a works contract. Let our lawyers review or draw up a construction contract. We’ll make sure that the creation and delivery of the work is legally free of any ambiguities, unreasonable risks and hidden pitfalls.
For prefabricated and modular houses, the main material is wood. This means that they are much less environmentally demanding to build than conventional houses because wood is a renewable and natural material. Thanks to the use of wood, prefabricated houses also have thinner walls, which means that there is less difference between the built-up area and the living space.
Prefabricated and conventional turnkey houses are not that different in price. Modular or prefabricated houses are usually cheaper, but these are only minimal differences. However, there are also situations where brick houses can be cheaper. An example would be a prefabricated log cabin made of thick pieces of wood.
In terms of running costs, the differences are more pronounced. In fact, prefabricated and modular houses are highly energy efficient thanks to modern technology. The heating costs of a prefabricated house, for example, are on average 30% lower than for a conventional brick house. On the other hand, masonry houses have the advantage of being able to ‘soak up’ heat better and thus retain heat for longer.
Legislation does not define modular or prefabricated houses, so building authorities have relative freedom in their decision-making. If your prefabricated house is less than 25 m2 and you do not plan to connect it to the utilities, then you do not need to get planning permission (as is the case with conventional houses up to 25 m2). You will, however, need planning consent.
If your house is over 25 m2 then the building authority will view it as either a conventional building or a product that fulfils the function of a building. In the former case, you will face the same obligations as for a conventional building. You must therefore obtain a building permit or notification. You will therefore have to submit all the necessary information, data and consents.
Tip: For more information on the building application, see our earlier article.
If the modular or prefabricated house will be considered as a product fulfilling the function of a building, you will also need a building permit or notification. In addition, you will need to provide the building authority with documents from the manufacturer to prove that the house meets the requirements for housing. The house must therefore meet the requirements for structural, thermal insulation and fire protection properties.
Size restrictions
As can be seen, the construction of modular or prefabricated houses is not restricted by our legislation. However, you would run into a problem if you wanted to build an apartment building or other large building in this way. The height of such houses is limited by Czech legislation to 12 metres, i.e. four storeys. However, it can be assumed that with the growing need for ecological construction and the spread of wooden buildings across Europe, this rule will change over time. Many other European countries do not have such a restriction. As a result, the first high-rise buildings made of wood are being built in Scandinavia and Germany, for example.
These types of houses do not have a long tradition in our country and are often considered unreliable by banks (especially in terms of their durability). This is why some banks may give you a mortgage for a prefabricated or modular house on worse terms than for a conventional building. Another cause of mortgage problems is the specifics of the construction.
Tip: When building a house, you may encounter problems in the form of incomplete delivery or a reluctance to claim for defects. These problems can often lead to court. If you are planning to file a lawsuit, contact us. We will assess your chances of success in court and propose a solution that will lead to the desired outcome.
Brick houses are built gradually and over a longer period of time. At the beginning, an estimate of the price of the house is made , and you get an advance from the bank based on this estimate. Once you have exhausted the advance, you provide the bank with invoices for the work done or an estimate of the current condition by a professional. You will then receive further advances for further building work. Of course, as we already know, this is not how it works with prefabricated and modular homes.
Even before the actual manufacturing process begins, the price of the house is estimated. The most common practice is then for the bank to pay the contractor directly on the basis of theworks contract. However, not all banks offer this option. Generally, you will have a better chance if you choose one of the building companies that are part of the Prefabricated Housing Contractors Association. These have special financing programmes with banks.
If you have trouble getting a conventional mortgage for a prefabricated house, there are other options:
A pre-mortgage loan is not secured on the property. It is usually valid for one year and once it expires, you need to refinance it into a conventional mortgage secured by the property. So you get a certain amount of money from the bank for which you have a prefabricated house built. When it is completed, the loan is then converted into a conventional mortgage with a mortgage on the house.
Tip: Are you planning to buy a house or land? We will provide you with a complete contractual and legal service related to the purchase of real estate. We will handle it within 48 hours, flawlessly and professionally.
If you own any other property, or if you own the land where you plan to build your house, you can pledge that too. Alternatively, you can also mortgage someone else’s property with their consent. Once your prefabricated or modular home is finished, you can transfer the lien to it.
Manufactured and modular homes are a modern alternative to traditional brick homes. Their factory-built construction, modular design and energy efficiency mean faster and greener construction. Although the legislation does not have precise laws for these types of houses, the building authorities already know how to work with them and therefore there is no problem with their construction. If you are planning to finance them with a mortgage, you have to take into account that the whole process will be a bit more complicated than it is with conventional brick houses. However, if you want an energy-efficient, environmentally friendly house that you can live in as soon as possible, it is worth choosing a modular or prefabricated house.
We provide a complete package of legal services related to real estate sales and purchases, including reservation contracts and escrow services. We will also help you with all tax and land registry issues. Our work is fast and accurate, ensuring a worry-free transaction. You’re also welcome to pay after services are provided.
Ondřej is the attorney who came up with the idea of providing legal services online. He's been earning his living through legal services for more than 10 years. He especially likes to help clients who may have given up hope in solving their legal issues at work, for example with real estate transfers or copyright licenses.
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