At Ecology, we’ve always believed that it’s important for people to have the opportunity to own their own home. That’s why we’re delighted to provide mortgages for people looking to purchase a Discounted Market Sale Home.

A Discounted Market Sale Home (DMSH) is a property that can be purchased at a discounted price. This means a lower deposit will be required to fund the purchase and you’ll pay less on your mortgage than you’d usually do. Terms and conditions apply.

Let’s say a property’s full market value is £250,000, but it’s offered at a 30% discount. You’d pay £175,000, and we could lend you up to 95% (£166,250) of the discounted figure of £175,000. Your mortgage would be based on that discounted price.

To speak to our friendly mortgage advisors, you’ll need to provide your financial details to obtain a decision in principle. When you’re ready to fully apply, you’ll need to have a specific property in mind. When you’re ready to apply for the mortgage, we’ll ask you for:

• Income & expenditure documents
• A copy of the Energy Performance Certificate (EPC) for the property
• A copy of the build warranty or building certificate (if applicable)
• A copy of your discounted market sale agreement (sometimes known as a section 106 agreement)

Eligibility varies by scheme, but you typically must:

• Be a first-time buyer (or not currently own a property)
• Live or work in the local area
• Meet income or affordability criteria
• Intend to live in the property (not rent it out)

Check with your local authority or housing provider for exact criteria.

A DMS property is a home sold at a discount from the full market value, usually between 20% and 50%, to help eligible buyers afford homeownership. The discount is typically offered by a local authority or housing provider and stays with the property, even when you sell it later.

The property must have a minimum EPC rating of C or higher to be eligible for this product. If the property is a new build and not yet fully completed, please provide a copy of the predicted energy assessment.

An EPC (Energy Performance Certificate) rating is a measurement of the energy efficiency of a building. It is typically required when selling or renting a property in many countries, including the UK. The rating is based on factors such as insulation, heating systems, and the overall energy use of the property.

The rating scale typically ranges from A (very efficient) to G (inefficient), with A being the best and G being the worst. A higher EPC rating indicates that the property is more energy-efficient, which can mean lower energy bills and a smaller environmental impact.

If the property was built in the last 10 years, the property must have an acceptable build warranty or a Professional Consultant’s Certificate, for any property constructed more than 10 years ago, this is not required.

You will need a minimum deposit for a purchase of 5% or for a re-mortgage a minimum of 5% of equity remaining in the property.

For a purchase you can borrow up to 95% of the purchase price or valuation (whichever is lower), for a re-mortgage we can cover any secured lending on the property or any works to be spent on improving the property.

The mortgage has no early repayment charge so has flexibility to make overpayment off the mortgage at any point.

You’ll need a solicitor to:

• Review the resale restrictions
• Register the discount covenant (if applicable)
• Explain any Section 106 agreements or planning conditions

They’ll also make sure the mortgage and title are handled correctly.

Yes. Please bear in mind that we don’t offer mortgages for second homes, holiday homes or homes classed as mobile planning.

The mortgage is available for non-standard construction types (e.g. timber frame and clad) providing it complies with our ecological requirements, buildings insurance can be obtained, and the valuer confirms the condition and marketability of the property are satisfactory.