Is it OK to buy a 75-years old house

dizziblonde

My mum's house is a 300 year old previously coaching inn... the only bit of the house they have any bother with is the 1960s extension!

For what it's worth - we've just had a survey done on a 1930s house we're buying - the only big thing that came back was that the roof's got another 10 years in it max if we do some interim remedial work. A minor bit of a warning that some of the pointing's going to need looking at at some point as well - but for a house that age, very little came up as needing attention.

mrcol1000

I agree with all the above. We just brought a 1920's house and there was little needed doing to it. If its been standing all this long then it will probably last a lot longer. I have always lived in pretty old houses. The worse place I lived in was a convetered 19th centrury mill. Although it was a lovely place on the outside and had a lot of character inside the flats had been converted very recently and not to a great standard. The walls were very thing and you could hear conversations at night. Lots of people in new builds or newly converted buildings complain the same. Also at least after 80 years any problems when it was built should have been sorted or come to light. Not like these people who buy brand new houses and find a whole host of problems due to builders short cuts.

ILW

There is a high probability that people have died in the house and it is haunted.

Bennifred

dipcho2002 wrote: »

Please help me out. I am a first time buyer and have been looking for houses. I have found one house which is semi detached, 4-bed house with a big garden. I'm happy with everything but it was bulit in 1935. My queries are:
1. What will happen with my house when it will be 100 years old or more older?
2. Will other people be interested in buying it in 25 years time?
3. Do I need to do capital repair after a specific period of time? (any legal requirments ?)
4. Will I receive any financial help from the Government if demolision needed?

Thank you in advance.

Oh bless!

Leory

dipcho2002 wrote: »

Please help me out. I am a first time buyer and have been looking for houses. I have found one house which is semi detached, 4-bed house with a big garden. I'm happy with everything but it was bulit in 1935. My queries are:
1. What will happen with my house when it will be 100 years old or more older?
2. Will other people be interested in buying it in 25 years time?
3. Do I need to do capital repair after a specific period of time? (any legal requirments ?)
4. Will I receive any financial help from the Government if demolision needed?

Thank you in advance.

1. The government will be waiting outside with the wrecking ball.

2. only 100 year old people who want some nostalgia

3. no repairs will be needed (see point 1)

4. you will receive a certificate of last ownership, and a brick as a souvineer. a victorian brick

LisaPapakis

Calm down people! In other parts of the world, a 75-year-old house is a very old house indeed.

OP, no it's no problem about buying an old house. There are no laws that say that it has to be demolished at 100 years. If you proceed to buy it, get a full structural survey done and that will tell you if there's anything wrong it. On leasehold properties, the leases tend to expire after 99 years, but if it's a house then it's probably freehold, in which case that doesn't apply. Your solicitor will check all these details.

House prices in Uk tend to go up, rather than down. The only thing which will significantly affect the value of the house, is whether it is structurally sound or not, which your survey will help you establish. Good luck!

Doozergirl

ILW wrote: »

There is a high probability that people have died in the house and it is haunted.

Ok... :rotfl:

sooz

Sooler wrote: »

How would you ever sell it

You don't.

Either burn it & claim on insurance for a newbuild replacement. Insurance companies love that and are totally fine with it. They only like to insure new houses too.

Or knock it down & sell the plot, & the bricks, to brick collectors.

:rotfl:

honey9

I much prefer older properties, they have more character, are usually better built (my brother's house - about 120 years old - has 18-inch thick external walls!), higher ceilings and bigger rooms. I've seen newbuilds where you wouldn't have got much more than a smallish telly, 2-seater sofa, bookcase and coffee table into the living room - you are unlikely to get such tiny rooms in old houses, although the bathrooms are often small.

I grew up in a house built in 1906 and my parents never had to get anything serious done to it. My current flat (rented and in great condition) is in a house of a similar age and we're buying a maisonette built in 1900 which according to the survey has nothing really wrong except for a potential leak situation in the conservatory (built 2005!). I'd go for an older place any time. You do have to pay more for the survey (I wouldn't advise just getting a valuation - get a full structural survey) but I think they're just sounder and also nicer to live in!

I've only ever lived in one place built after 1960 and being ex-council it was built to a very good standard and had plenty of space; from what I've seen of 'private' newbuilds they seem so small and often don't have a lot of outside space, at least in cities.

sonastin

LisaPapakis wrote: »

if it's a house then it's probably freehold

Not necessarily - depends where it is. In some parts of the country leasehold houses are common. However the lease on a leasehold house usually runs for 999 years, so there is probably 924 years left on it. I don't think the OP needs to worry about the lease expiring!