The Reema Repair Scheme and PRC Certification
The approved repair scheme for Reema Hollow Panel houses involves the application of a brick skin to the external walls, providing a new weather-resistant outer leaf while reinforcing the overall structural performance. The original hollow panels remain in place as part of the structure but are enclosed and protected by the new brick skin. When completed to the approved standard, a PRC certificate is issued, providing a 30-year structural warranty on the repaired property.
The PRC certificate for Reema houses, as with other designated types, is the key document that unlocks access to the specialist mortgage market. Lenders who will consider certified Reema properties rely on the certificate to confirm that the structural concerns associated with the original designation have been adequately addressed. Without this certificate — or where the certificate has been lost or has expired — the lender options revert to those applicable to an unrepaired designated PRC property, which are extremely limited.
The cost of a Reema repair scheme varies depending on the size of the property and regional labour costs, but typically ranges from £20,000 to £40,000. Where the repair has already been carried out by a previous owner, the PRC certificate should form part of the property's title documentation and should have been transferred on any subsequent sale. If you purchased the property without receiving a copy of the PRC certificate, your conveyancing solicitor should be contacted in the first instance to determine whether it was obtained.
Lenders Who Will Consider Certified Reema Properties
A certified Reema property — one with a valid PRC certificate following the approved repair — is acceptable to a range of specialist mortgage lenders and some building societies. While mainstream high street banks will generally still decline, the specialist lender market for certified PRC properties includes a number of well-established providers who are familiar with the Reema type and its repair scheme. Interest rates on these products are generally comparable to standard non-standard construction remortgage rates.
Lenders considering certified Reema properties will typically lend up to 75-80% of the surveyed value. In addition to the PRC certificate, they will usually require a full structural survey from a surveyor experienced in PRC and Reema construction, and their own valuer will visit the property to confirm it is acceptable security. The condition of the brick skin repair is important — any evidence of poor workmanship or subsequent deterioration in the repair will concern both the surveyor and the lender.
Because lender criteria for certified Reema properties change from time to time, and because the number of active lenders in this space is limited, working with a specialist broker who has current market knowledge is the most efficient approach. Approaching lenders directly — particularly mainstream lenders who are unlikely to accept the property — risks unnecessary credit footprints and delays.
