Estimating house age

SarahB89

We're FTB and are in the process of purchasing a house that I initially thought was 1930s because that's what everything else on the street is, even though the style doesn't quite match. The estate agent said it was probably 1950s, hence this is what I've told the lenders, used for insurance quotes, etc.

We've just had our homebuyer survey back, and they've estimated it as a 1935 build.

How much does it matter if we're 15-20 years off? We're still awaiting a valuation survey from the lenders, so presumably they will make their own estimate at that stage? Will Land Registry give us more info in the title deeds etc?

davidmcn

It really doesn't matter. You can do some more research if you really want a more accurate date - old maps, local archives etc. Titles may give clues.

FreeBear

Land Registry might have copies of the original conveyancing documents, although I'm not sure what they keep on file when doing a first registration. You may be lucky in that the vendors still have paper copies.

Failing that, old copies of Ordinance Survey maps can be found on line - This will narrow the date down to within 10 years. Aerial photographs can also be useful.

If you are lucky, you might find a piece of timber with a date on it left behind when the house was built - I found an offcut under the floorboards signed and dated by the guys fitting the floors. I know my floors were originally laid back in 1928

Doozergirl

It makes no difference to anything. You can adjust your insurance quotes, but they'd not have penalised you for being a few years out if you didn't.

Clutterfree

I don’t think it matters that much, but you could see if it appears on the 1939 register if the street name hasn’t changed since then.

eddddy

SarahB89 wrote: »

We've just had our homebuyer survey back, and they've estimated it as a 1935 build.

If you have a written survey from a professional surveyor that says that, in their opinion, the property was built in 1935, you would be completely safe putting that date on your insurance application.


Although, you can do more research if you want, and if you find more compelling evidence of another date, then you can use that instead.

Cakeguts

There are some streets not far from where I live that have a mixture of dates although they all look the same but someone who lived through the war knew that some were replacements for those that had got bombed. What you might be looking at is a replacement for a house that was destroyed during the war which is why it doesn't quite match. So it could be 1950s.

lincroft1710

Many 1930s house designs were still being built in the 1950s. Can you post a photo or sales particulars as one of us on here may be able to give an idea of its age.