The Seco Temporary Bungalow

The Seco house stands as a post-war system-built house type in the UK. Designed by R G Booth and manufactured by Selection Engineering Co. Ltd, these homes were constructed in 1946. They are also known as the Seco Frame, Seco Permanent House, or Uni-Seco.

The Seco house emerged in the immediate post-war period, when the UK faced a severe housing shortage and both government and private sector looked for ways to provide homes quickly and efficiently. The system-built approach was intended to reduce construction time and cost when compared with more traditional methods.

Only two were built, making them particularly uncommon within the wider range of non-traditional post-war housing.

A Seco house showing the distinctive post-war arrangement of bonded brick slips, precast panels and horizontal weatherboard associated with this non-traditional system.

Seco houses are two-storey semi-detached properties, readily identified by medium-pitch gable roofs covered with interlocking concrete tiles. The front and rear external walls are finished with bonded brick slips up to first-floor level, with precast concrete panels and horizontal weatherboard above. The gable walls are clad entirely in precast panels with horizontal weatherboard.

The substructure comprises a concrete slab thickened around the perimeter, with a damp-proof course included to limit moisture ingress. The main frame is formed from storey-height precast concrete framed units, with precast concrete panel ties, I-section floor joists, RSA cladding rails and precast concrete roof trusses. A zinc chromate primer was applied as a protective coating.

External wall construction includes precast concrete panels faced with bonded brick slips to the lower sections, with precast slabs and horizontal weatherboard above. Aluminium-faced bituminous paper and woodwool slabs were used to provide additional insulation and protection. The separating wall consists of precast framed units lined with woodwool slabs, and the internal partitions are similarly formed.

The ground floor is formed with plywood on timber battens over bituminous felt on concrete, while the first floor uses plywood on timber battens. Ceilings are formed in woodwool slabs. The roof construction incorporates timber sarking, timber battens and counter battens beneath the interlocking concrete tile covering.

One of the principal concerns with a Seco house is the long-term performance of the system-built structure. Materials used in post-war non-traditional housing can deteriorate over time, and this can present as dampness, mould, local failure of cladding elements or wider structural instability.

The precast panels and horizontal weatherboard require close attention during inspection. These elements are exposed to weathering and may be prone to cracking, warping or water ingress where maintenance has been inconsistent. This was identified in the original description as a long-term maintenance issue rather than an isolated defect.

The steel frame elements also warrant particular care. Where corrosion affects structural steel, the integrity of the house can be compromised. In practice, the risk is not simply whether steel is present, but whether moisture has been allowed to affect protected elements over time.

The roof should be checked for damage or wear to the interlocking concrete tiles and for any signs that the roof structure is no longer performing properly. Water entry at roof level can contribute to wider deterioration in timber components, internal linings and ceilings.

Internally, inspection should focus on dampness, mould and any evidence of structural movement to partitions and ceilings. These are often the points at which broader defects first become visible.

A Seco house is likely to appeal to purchasers who are comfortable assessing a rare non-traditional construction type on its actual condition rather than on appearance alone. The construction is distinctive, but practical suitability depends on how well the original structure, cladding and finishes have been maintained over time.

These properties offer an interesting example of post-war engineering and housing innovation, but they require a measured approach. A buyer should be prepared for the possibility of specialist repair work, ongoing upkeep to exposed materials, and closer scrutiny of the structure than would usually be expected with more conventional brick-and-block housing.

Modifications may also influence suitability. Reported changes include fibreboard linings overlaid with plasterboard, plasterboard ceilings at first-floor level, plasterboard and fibreboard ceilings at eaves level, and changes to separating wall construction using breeze concrete slabs, a cavity and framed units backed with plasterboard.

Mortgage and resale considerations for a Seco house are closely tied to its non-traditional construction, rarity and condition. Lenders and future buyers are likely to focus on the durability of the frame, the state of the cladding and weatherboarding, and whether there is any evidence of structural deterioration or long-standing moisture-related defects.

A clear inspection record is therefore important. Where the structure appears sound and maintenance has been consistent, the position is usually easier to assess. Where there is visible corrosion, panel deterioration, dampness or movement, further investigation may be needed before a lender or purchaser can form a clear view.

This is particularly relevant because the Defective Premises Act requires properties to be fit for habitation and free from significant defects. The Seco house was not specifically classed as defective under that act, but the risks associated with system-built homes still make detailed inspection essential.

A building survey provides an informed assessment of the visible condition and construction of a Seco house. Inspections are non-intrusive and limited to areas that are accessible at the time of inspection.

• Identify visible defects to precast panels, weatherboard and bonded brick slip finishes
• Assess signs of dampness, moisture ingress, mould growth and condensation risk
• Comment on roof coverings, roof structure, ceilings and the general condition of accessible internal and external elements
• Review visible signs of cracking, distortion, movement and deterioration to structural and non-structural components
• Highlight defects that may require repair, monitoring, maintenance or further investigation

However, there are limitations to what a survey can determine without intrusive investigation.

• Confirm the full condition of concealed steel or framed elements where these are not exposed
• Assess hidden deterioration behind finishes, linings, plasterboard overlays or weatherboard coverings
• Determine the full extent of corrosion, decay or moisture penetration within enclosed construction
• Inspect areas that are inaccessible or covered at the time of inspection

Where higher-risk indicators are identified, further specialist or intrusive investigation may be recommended.

For a thorough building survey in Greater London, an instant quotation can be obtained through the online survey calculator.