Question 1

What does the From price include?

Accepted Answer

The From price covers the full manufactured dwelling — structure, insulation, internal fit-out, kitchen, bathroom, glazing, and mechanical systems (MVHR, heat pump). It also includes architectural drawings, planning documentation, delivery, installation, and the ten-year structural warranty. It does not include foundations, VAT, or connections to mains services.

Question 2

What is not included in the From price?

Accepted Answer

Foundations (typically €4,000–€12,000, depending on site conditions and soil type), VAT (13.5% in the Republic of Ireland; 20% in Northern Ireland), and connections to mains water, drainage, and electricity. These are quoted separately after the site survey, because they vary significantly by address. We will not ask you to sign a contract before you have the full number.

Question 3

What payment schedule do you use?

Accepted Answer

A deposit of 10% secures the place in the build programme and triggers the site survey. A further 40% is due when manufacture begins. The remaining 50% is due on delivery and installation. No payment is requested before the contract is signed and the specification is fixed.

Question 4

Do prices change between quotation and contract?

Accepted Answer

No. We issue a fixed-price specification with the draft contract. The price does not change unless you change the specification. We carry the material cost risk between quotation and contract — we will not ask you to pay a variation for a change you did not request.

Question 5

Do I need planning permission for a garden dwelling?

Accepted Answer

It depends on the size, use, and your site conditions. The Studio (24 m²) is typically permitted under SI 600/2001 Class 1 in the Republic of Ireland and under the 2015 Permitted Development Order in Northern Ireland — no planning application required. The Residence (60 m²) requires full planning permission. The Linked Annex (32 m²) falls between, depending on how it is configured and connected. We confirm the route that applies to your site at the site survey stage.

Question 6

What if my site does not meet the Class 1 conditions?

Accepted Answer

We assess this at the site survey and tell you plainly what routes are available. In some cases, a minor site adjustment (moving the siting position, reducing the footprint) brings the project back into an exempted route. In others, a full planning application is the correct route. We manage either. We will not tell you something is permitted if we are not confident it is.

Question 7

How long does a full planning application take?

Accepted Answer

In the Republic of Ireland, a Section 34 application has a statutory determination period of eight weeks, though twelve weeks is typical in practice. An appeal to An Bord Pleanála adds a further four to six months. In Northern Ireland, householder applications are typically determined within eight to twelve weeks. We factor the planning timeline into the overall project schedule from the outset.

Question 8

Does Hortéa handle the planning application?

Accepted Answer

Yes. Our planning consultant prepares and submits the application, manages the local authority correspondence, and signs off every submission before it goes in. You retain the right to review and approve the application before submission. The cost of planning management is included in the build price.

Question 9

How long does the full build take?

Accepted Answer

From first consultation to handover: 9 weeks for The Studio, 12 weeks for The Linked Annex, and 18 weeks for The Residence. These timelines assume an exempted planning route. Where a full planning application is required, add the consent period (typically 12 weeks in ROI, 8–12 weeks in NI). We give you a specific programme at the contract stage, not a range.

Question 10

Can I visit the manufacturing facility?

Accepted Answer

Yes. We send weekly photographic updates during manufacture, and we welcome site visits at agreed points in the programme. We will arrange this with our manufacturing partner directly.

Question 11

What happens on installation day?

Accepted Answer

Installation is typically two to four days on site. We install the foundation, crane the structure into position, connect services, and complete the fit-out. Our team handles the full process. You are not required to be on site, but many buyers prefer to be. We hand over with a full documentation pack: drawings, certificates, warranty cards, and an aftercare schedule.

Question 12

What is included at handover?

Accepted Answer

Architectural drawings (as-built), planning certificates and compliance documentation, building control completion certificate, MVHR commissioning report, heat pump warranty registration, appliance manuals, ten-year structural warranty certificate, and the first year of the aftercare programme.

Question 13

What warranty does Hortéa provide?

Accepted Answer

Ten years structural warranty covering the frame, envelope, and roof. Five years on mechanical services (MVHR, heat pump, plumbing). Lifetime aftercare programme: we remain your contact for any question about the building, indefinitely.

Question 14

What does the aftercare programme include?

Accepted Answer

An annual service visit to inspect the MVHR system, service the heat pump, check the external cladding, and review seals and drainage. A written condition report after each visit. Direct phone access to our technical team for any question between visits. We want to know if something is not performing correctly before you do.

Question 15

What if something goes wrong in the first year?

Accepted Answer

We return. No questions, no charge. The first twelve months post-handover operate under a full defects liability period — if anything is not performing to specification, we fix it at our cost. This is not unusual in the construction industry; what is unusual is that we say it plainly in the contract.

Question 16

Can I get a mortgage or loan for a Hortéa dwelling?

Accepted Answer

Habitable garden dwellings are a relatively new product category and lender policy varies. Some buyers use equity release on the main dwelling. Others use personal loans or construction loans. We can provide a full specification pack to support any finance application. We do not offer finance directly, and we do not recommend specific lenders.

Question 17

Does planning permission add value to my property?

Accepted Answer

A fully-permitted habitable garden dwelling typically adds measurable value to a property — the addition of a legal separate living space is a strong valuation driver in both ROI and NI markets. We can provide the documentation a valuer needs. We are not valuers and cannot give a specific figure.

Common questions.

Pricing

Planning

Process

Aftercare

Finance