1930s council houses

stator

Does anyone have knowledge of the ugly 1930s council houses they built in droves in Plymouth?
Examples:
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34239951.html
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-51095735.html?premiumA=true
http://www.rightmove.co.uk/property-for-sale/property-34148757.html


Not sure how they're constructed but the local HA has started slapping External Solid Wall insulation on the outside of the ones they own so not the usual cavity walls you would expect from that period.

Anyone live in one? Are they comfortable? Maintenance problems?

Thanks

carguy143

Lots of houses from that time didn't appear to have a cavity.

Mrs_Imp

They tend to have good room sizes and big gardens. Just look at the kitchen sizes! Now find a new build and compare the room and garden sizes.

Pixie5740

Are the walls possibly constructed out of concrete? I know many of the council built properties near me have concrete walls.

stator

carguy143 wrote: »

Lots of houses from that time didn't appear to have a cavity.

Most privately built houses from 1930 have cavity walls

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

They tend to have good room sizes and big gardens. Just look at the kitchen sizes! Now find a new build and compare the room and garden sizes.

Completely agree. The new builds are just matchboxes with no gardens.

stator

Pixie5740 wrote: »

Are the walls possibly constructed out of concrete? I know many of the council built properties near me have concrete walls.

Yes, they might be Laing Easi-form or similar. Just found this awesome old video from the time:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3Gr6P-TNojU

Not sure how well they have lasted though and what they are like to live in now

Out,_Vile_Jelly

I live in a house built on a London estate in the early 30s that looks similar to those pictured. It has cavity walls with insulation though- the house is much warmer than the Victorian conversion flat I rented. It's a 2 bed, but with a decent kitchen and bathroom and lots of storage. Feels much less poky than a modern 4 bed/3 bath I visited recently and has a lovely front and back garden. Local roofer who cleaned the gutters and checked the chimney flashings says they're generally solid little houses. Some houses built at that time were constructed with hoop iron which poses problems, so you need to get a surveyor to confirm whether it's present.

The other thing about the estate is how much green space there is; swathes of mature trees lining all the roads and lots of parks and greens. Apparently some roads were designed around existing trees. They certainly don't bother with that anymore.

carguy143

Mrs_Imp wrote: »

They tend to have good room sizes and big gardens. Just look at the kitchen sizes! Now find a new build and compare the room and garden sizes.

This is so true. I've just bought this.
https://www.your-move.co.uk/property/house-for-sale-eskbank-wn8-sale-id-528141475/search

Total area around 950sq feet.


Meanwhile around the corner.
http://zo.op.la/pgjLfs via @Zoopla

Total area around half.

hohum

There are similar homes in Leeds, mostly council properties. They could be what is apparently called PRC construction which is different to the poured concrete type. Basically they are frames, with concrete panels on the outside. The walls inside are finished with plasterboard. There is no cavity insulation. The only way to insulate them is to remove all the panels and rebuild the external walls in brick. As you might imagine, it's expensive. I wouldn't buy one that hasn't had the work done because a) cold or high energy bills b) can be difficult to get lending on. You can tell the privately owned homes in some places because they are the ones which haven't had the work done.

stator

hohum wrote: »

There are similar homes in Leeds, mostly council properties. They could be what is apparently called PRC construction which is different to the poured concrete type. Basically they are frames, with concrete panels on the outside. The walls inside are finished with plasterboard. There is no cavity insulation. The only way to insulate them is to remove all the panels and rebuild the external walls in brick. As you might imagine, it's expensive. I wouldn't buy one that hasn't had the work done because a) cold or high energy bills b) can be difficult to get lending on. You can tell the privately owned homes in some places because they are the ones which haven't had the work done.

Yes I know what you mean. These houses I'm looking at don't seem to need 'fixing' but the HA has been refurbishing them with external insulation. You can spot the ones that are privately owned because it hasn't been done. For example here:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.387608,-4.114075,3a,75y,126.95h,89.46t/data=!3m6!1e1!3m4!1sWexBjx3m7vuDjMaGiXGpsg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656
The ones that had been done do look quite smart, despite the odd recessed windows

Here The one that hasn't been done is for sale:
https://www.google.co.uk/maps/@50.387465,-4.114749,3a,75y,305.19h,84.67t/data=!3m7!1e1!3m5!1sW-_sm9lFzqxXs2DoG4bo6w!2e0!5s20120801T000000!7i13312!8i6656

carefullycautious

Why have you started another thread when you have already been told what type of housing it is?


Also all you need to do is ask the local authority and they will tell you