Whether you need to know for insurance purposes, are looking to purchase a property or are just curious, if you’re wondering ‘how do I find out how old my house is?’ we’re here to help.
It can be tricky finding out the age of your home or one you’re planning to buy. However, if you know where to look you can find out fairly easily.
In this article, we’ll help you answer the question ‘how old is my house?’ explaining the various ways you can find out and where this information may be useful.
Read on to find out more…
Why would I need to know the age of my house?
There are several reasons why discovering the age of your house can provide you with valuable insights. Whether it’s for financial reasons or just pure curiosity, let’s take a look at some of the main reasons why it’s worth discovering your home’s age.
Insurance purposes: It is likely that insurance companies will take the age of your house into account when determining coverage options and various premiums. Older homes may have different risks associated with them, such as outdated wiring or plumbing systems, which could impact insurance rates. Therefore, it’s important to learn the age of your home before taking out insurance policies as providing accurate information regarding the age of a house can help make sure you always have the most appropriate coverage in place.
Legal and regulatory compliance: Certain regulations or zoning laws may be in place that apply differently to houses that were built in different time periods. Knowing the age of your property can therefore help ensure compliance with the relevant building codes, historic preservation ordinances and other legal requirements when making modifications and renovations.
Maintenance and renovation planning: Staying on the theme of maintenance and renovation, older houses may have different materials and techniques compared to newer ones. Therefore, understanding the age of your house can help you more effectively anticipate maintenance needs and ensure renovations are conducted without any issues. For instance, older properties may require special attention to preserve certain features or to address issues that are commonly associated with ageing infrastructure.
Property valuation: The age of a house can greatly influence its market value, especially in areas where historical significance may be an appealing factor. Estate agents will often consider the age and historical features of a property when assessing its worth, so knowing this information can be beneficial when buying, selling or refinancing a property.
Curiosity and personal interest: As well as all of the practical reasons outlined above, many homeowners are simply curious about the history of their houses and the people who lived there before. Discovering the age of your house can satisfy this curiosity and provide a sense of connection to the past, fostering a deeper appreciation for your home and its role in the wider community. This additional historical context may also enrich your appreciation for the unique architectural style and heritage of your home.
When was my house built?
If you find yourself wondering ‘how old is my house?’ there are various places you can look to find out this information.
In the section below we’ll take a look at the main ways you can discover your home’s age.
Check your title deeds
First and foremost, you should check your home’s title deeds.
A title deed, or title register as it is sometimes referred to as, is a document that acts as proof of ownership and which contains past and present information regarding a registered property.
As well as listing current and previous owners, title deeds will often include the age of the property.
Title deeds are held by the property owner and when a house is purchased the deeds will pass to the new buyer. With this in mind, if you own your own home the deeds should be somewhere in your possession.
If you’ve lost yours, you can buy a new copy of the deeds from HM Land Registry for £3.
Contact HM Land Registry
As well as being able to provide you with new deeds, you can also contact HM Land Registry to query the age of your property.
This is because HM Land Registry records information regarding land ownership as well as in-depth reports about what land is being used for.
The records it holds and owns may be able to help you discover the age of your property, or at the very least help you make an educated guess. This is because it will likely contain information about when the land was first built upon or when developers first took ownership of an area.
Check your home survey
Typically, when you buy a house a property survey will be conducted to ensure there are no significant problems that could impact the safety or structural integrity of the property in the future.
When you’re provided with the survey, the paperwork will usually include information regarding the date the property was built. With this in mind, try and find this document to learn its age.
Check your mortgage offer
In addition to the home survey, your mortgage offer documents will usually include key details about the property including its age and the year it was built.
Contact your local authority
If you cannot locate the relevant documentation, you can always consult your local authority to enquire about a property’s age.
All local authorities in the country will hold information about properties and buildings in the local area, and this will usually include information about when planning permission was granted to build properties.
With this in mind, it’s always worth contacting your local council as they may have the information you are looking for.
How can I find out the age of old properties?
Sometimes, it can be more challenging to find out when really old buildings were built especially it was over 100 years ago.
If you are struggling to discover the age of your property via the conventional methods, it may be because the house is particularly old.
In these instances, there are some alternative places you can look:
The 1862 Land Registry Act: In 1862, a record of more than 2,000 properties were officially recorded across the country. This record included information regarding the age of properties as well as marriage details about those living within them. Now, the records are accessible digitally in the form of the 1862 Land Registry Act. Anyone can freely access this information and find out more information about properties and previous owners from this time.
Local archives: In addition to local authorities, local parish records, country record offices and libraries in your area are all great resources that may be able to provide you with information about where you live. Often, these archives will contain historical maps, electoral registers and family estate papers which may help you find out more information about the age of an older property.
The National Archives: On a national level, the UK’s National Archives contain online records that can show you who the previous occupants of a house were at certain times. This might help give you a better idea of how old your house is.
Ordnance Survey maps: Historical maps can be found that may show when land was first developed on and therefore will possibly provide hints regarding the age of a specific property. These maps will likely be found in local archives as outlined above.
Census: The UK has had a national census take place almost every 10 years since 1841. The census is a record that provides key details and demographics on society and includes information on properties. Other than 1941 (when the census was not conducted due to the Second World War), this record has taken place so you could find out information regarding your property by consulting these resources.
National Heritage List: If your property is very, very old, then the National Heritage List may be a good place to look. This is a list of some of the most ancient properties in the country.
Are older homes dangerous?
One key reason why people may be keen to learn the age of a property is because, sometimes, older homes pose greater risks compared to more modern homes.
In particular, specific risks and problems that older properties sometimes pose include:
Asbestos: Many buildings that were built before the year 2000 may have used asbestos-based materials during the construction process. Asbestos can cause serious health issues including cancer.
Lead pipes: For homes that were built prior to 1970, lead pipes may be used in the plumbing. These pipes can cause lead to enter the tap water, which can cause health issues when drunk.
Woodworm: Really old properties, such as period properties, often offer conditions where woodworms can thrive. A woodworm infestation can create a whole host of problems including damaging timber in the house.
Damp and mould: Older buildings are at greater risk of damp and mould compared to modern homes, as they sometimes do not feature conventional damp proofing measures.
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