Buying a listed building? How to get a mortgage Converted barns are relatively easy to fund these days. But the more unusual the building, such as a windmill or a lighthouse, the more difficult it becomes. Saffron Building Society, which is based in Essex but happy to lend nationally, adopts a flexible approach to buyers looking to renovate old or unique properties, Mr Smith said. Harpenden Building Society is another small lender with a national reach that specialises in unusual properties. It has financed medieval houses, timber-framed and thatched properties, as well as converted chapels, barns, mills, lighthouses, a prefabricated German-made Huf Haus, and a lighthouse to be converted into a holiday home. Head of lending Richard Mason said: "We look at each case individually. The big lenders often have very set criteria, we try to be more flexible, using local valuers who understand the market and can guide us on likely demand for the property. Like most lenders, Harpenden limits the risk of supplying mortgages on quirky properties by restricting the maximum loan-to-value (LTV) to 65pc with a maximum loan amount of £1m. Its current variable rate is 4.19pc, notably higher than market-leading mortgage rates at similar LTVs. But that's the price you pay for buying something special. A spokesperson for Norwich & Peterborough building society said it is also happy to lend on character properties. We can help convert an existing building, such as a barn, windmill or chapel, restore a property that has fallen into disrepair, or build a home from scratch. Buckinghamshire Building Society also tries to be flexible, said chief executive Ivan Gould. We will lend on unusual properties up to a restricted LTV, although a lighthouse would probably be a step too far. Ecology Building Society specialises in funding buyers looking to rescue derelict or run-down properties, which it calls a form of recycling. It will lend on conversions, eco newbuilds, timber buildings, earth-sheltered dwellings, and traditional construction methods such as straw bale, thatch, rammed earth and wattle and daub. Or you might consider a self-build mortgage, available to people who want to build their own home from scratch, and often available for renovations as well. Self-build portal BuildStore.co.uk offers a range of mortgages for staged advance payments to help fund your build, mostly from smaller building societies like Bath, Hanley Economic and Melton Mowbray. Self-build mortgages also cost more. Saffron BS's self-build mortgage, for example, charges a pricey variable rate of 6.39pc with a 2pc arrangement fee. But there are no early repayment fees, which means you can remortgage to a cheaper deal once your project is finished. If you're struggling to fund your dream purchase, it may be worth speaking to an independent mortgage broker, who can research what's available across the entire market. Finding a mortgage isn't the only challenge when buying an unusual property, you also have to insure it, said Michael McGinty at Swinton Specialist Home. This is a niche market which means your premium should be more expensive than on a standard household policy. Your insurer may demand a survey, to check all renovation work has been carried out professionally. If you're buying a thatched cottage, it may want to know when the thatch was last checked, and what measures you have taken to prevent fire. Some insurers may cover listed properties, but the older it is, the narrower your choice. You should check you can get affordable insurance before you commit to buying that special property, Mr McGinty said.