The Meaning Of ‘Structural Or Major’
Introduction
Understanding the meaning and extent of ‘structural or major’ is an important element for determining the value and price of our home. Here I discuss and break down its meaning.
What is ‘structural or major’?
‘Structural or major’ concerns the core or structure of a property.
‘Structural or major’ is based on the wording set out in the UK government’s website, which I cover in more detail below.
Why is it important to understand the meaning of ‘structural or major’?
Understanding the meaning of ‘structural or major’ helps to understand whether the presentation of one’s home or any improvements made to it can contribute to the value or influence the asking price.
After all, any seller would take a great deal of interest in understanding the value of their own home, including where that value lies, and also understanding the extent to which any improvements made have an impact on that value and the asking price. Understandably, any seller will want a return on their investment if they’ve made improvements to their home - naturally feeling that the amount of money (as well as time and effort) that they’ve spent ought to influence the asking price.
Typically, presentation or improvements that are structural or major can have an impact on a property’s value and asking price. Conversely, presentation or improvements that are non-structural or non-major typically have no such impact, with exceptions of course.
I have covered the exceptions relating to presentation and improvements in more detail elsewhere in this guide - click the links to jump to those sections.
Examples of ‘structural or major’ presentation and improvements
As an example, the number of bedrooms or bathrooms would certainly be a core or structural aspect of a property.
From a presentation perspective, a five bedroom property would be different to a four bedroom property on a structural or major level.
From an improvement perspective, turning a four bedroom property into a five bedroom property would be an improvement on a structural or major level. In other words, the improvements would change the core or structure of the property.
Extensions, conversions and renovations would be regarded as structural or major improvements.
For clarification, I refer to ‘improvements’ to include any changes, additions or enhancements etc.
Examples of ‘non-structural or non-major’ presentation and improvements
‘Non-structural or non-major’ do not concern nor impact the core or structure of a property.
As an example; from a presentation perspective, a bespoke designer kitchen would be different to a normal kitchen, but not on a structural or major level.
And from an improvement perspective, turning a normal kitchen into a bespoke designer kitchen would be an improvement, but not on a structural or major level. In other words, the improvements would not change the core or structure of the property.
Refurbishments and redecorations would not be regarded as structural or major improvements. They would be regarded as non-structural or non-major improvements.
How to determine whether improvements to our home are ‘structural or major’?
The best option would be to arrange for an inspection with a surveyor who can give you the most accurate assessment. But if you are simply curious without wanting to arrange for an inspection, then the gov.uk website might be helpful.
The government’s website holds a database of residential addresses based in the UK, which includes an improvement indicator for each address. The improvement indicator shows whether a residential property has had ‘major structural changes’ carried out to require its council tax band to be assessed if it were to be sold.
EXAMPLE OF A UK RESIDENTIAL ADDRESS ON THE GOVERNMENT’S DATABASE WITH IMPROVEMENT INDICATOR ‘YES’
The council would only add ‘yes’ next to the improvement indicator if ‘major structural changes have been made to a property’. The council does not ‘consider redecorating to be a major change’.
Therefore, if the council has added ‘yes’ to the improvement indicator of an address, this means that they deem the changes made to the property as sufficiently major.
Although this piece of information alone does not offer absolute certainty that the improvements made to one’s home will indeed contribute to its value or influence the asking price, it can nevertheless offer a useful clue that can be factored in when determining the value and asking price.
Click the links to visit the UK government’s website to read more about the improvement indicator and to find the improvement indicator of your home/address.
Getting in touch with me
If you would like to discuss any of the above points with me further, or if you need help or have any questions in general, click here to get in touch with me.
Come join me in the next section, where I discuss and break down the foundation of price.