To upgrade housing in Manor Lords, select the burgage plot and meet every requirement shown for its next level. The plot panel is the best guide to what that specific home still needs; requirements cover food, commodities and amenities. You must also have the construction resources—and, for some levels, regional wealth—needed to pay for the upgrade.
Upgrade a burgage plot
- Select the plot: Click the burgage plot you want to improve and review its requirement indicators.
- Meet the listed needs: Supply the required variety of food and commodities, and provide access to the amenities shown. Requirements can include fuel, garments, footwear, church access, beverage and water access. The exact shortfall shown on the selected plot is more useful than a checklist copied from an older guide.
- Gather the upgrade cost: Have the materials and regional wealth for the next level available. The official wiki lists these costs:
| Upgrade | Construction cost |
|---|---|
| Level 1 to Level 2 | 2 timber and 6 planks |
| Level 2 to Level 3 | 25 regional wealth, 3 timber, 12 planks and 4 rooftiles |
| Level 3 to Level 4 | 50 regional wealth, 2 timber, 10 planks and 4 rooftiles |
These are plot-upgrade costs, separate from the goods and amenity requirements that must be satisfied. The official burgage plot wiki groups those requirements by plot level, but warns that its Early Access information may be incomplete. Use the in-game indicators as the final check for your current save.
If a burgage plot will not upgrade
Check the plot you selected
Requirements can differ by level. Inspect the exact home you want to upgrade instead of assuming it has the same missing need as another plot. The panel identifies unmet requirements, including whether the issue is goods variety or access to an amenity.
Separate requirements from payment
A plot can still be blocked if you have met its household needs but lack the next-level construction cost. Check both the requirement indicators and your supplies of timber, planks, rooftiles and regional wealth, as applicable.
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Use current requirements, not an old blanket checklist
Manor Lords is in Early Access, and mechanics have changed. For example, version 0.8.065–0.8.090 main-branch notes say Ale is no longer consumed by level 1 families; an older guide that treats Ale as a universal requirement can mislead. Check the current plot panel and version context. The Major Update #7 patch notes document versioned changes.
Level upgrades, extra living space and backyard extensions are different
| Action | What it does | Key consideration |
|---|---|---|
| Level upgrade | Raises the burgage plot to the next housing level when its requirements are met. | Requires the listed goods and amenities, plus the next-level construction cost. |
| Living-space expansion | Adds another living space to a sufficiently wide plot. | Costs 2 timber according to the official wiki; it is not a level upgrade. |
| Backyard extension | Adds a production or other function where the plot has enough rear space. | Tier 2 extensions make residents artisans, removing them from the general worker pool; once built, they cannot be removed. |
Patch 0.8.059 changed Expansion so it adds one living space regardless of plot level. It also moved Baker and Cobbler extensions to plot level 3. These changes are recorded in the 0.8.059 beta notes. If your goal is simply to house another family, check whether expansion is available rather than upgrading the plot level.
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Why older Manor Lords housing guides may disagree
Older guides often describe three burgage levels. The official wiki history records the addition of level 4 in version 0.8.104, dated September 21, 2026. That update makes older level lists and costs incomplete. Patch 0.8.059 also changed expansion behavior and extension unlocks, while later main-branch notes changed the Ale rule for level 1 families. When an older checklist conflicts with what the current plot panel shows, follow the panel for the save you are playing.
A player discussion titled “I can’t get my Burgage Plots to level 2!” captures a common question, but the way to diagnose it is the same: inspect that plot’s unmet requirements and verify the separate upgrade cost.
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