There are lots of reasons why you might be asking 'when was my house built?' Perhaps you have just taken on a renovation project and are keen to ensure the upgrades you make are in keeping with the era in which it was built, maybe your insurance company needs to know in order to give you an accurate quote or, maybe, you are just curious about the origins of your home and its previous occupants.
I have always found one of the most exciting parts of renovating a house has been to find out more about its history, but I also really enjoy digging around to find features and details to suit its true architectural style – particularly where we have taken on projects that have seen some somewhat unsympathetic 'improvements' over the years. Usefully, my own Edwardian home has its build date carved into a piece of stone on the front of the house.
In case you are unsure how to get started uncovering the roots of your property, I asked an expert in the field how to go about finding its build date – here are the six methods they recommended.
Article continues below1. Check your house's title deeds
Perhaps one of the most obvious way to find out when your house was built is to check its title deeds. These are paper documents that contain information regarding the chain of ownership of your property and might include things like leases, wills, information about boundaries, conveyances and mortgages.
If you are lucky, you will have been given the titles deeds when you were buying a house. However, this isn't always the case. Sometimes Land Registry will hold them but this certainly won't always be the case as they tend only to have them when a property is first registered when they may (or may not) have been scanned into the system.
"For properties likely to be built before 1862, check out the HM Land Registry: 1862 Act Register," advises Rob Faulkner, CEO and founder of Insuristic. "This was the UK government's first attempt to record property ownership information. It contains almost 2,000 properties in volumes of handwritten and typed pages."
If you have no luck with Land Registry you might find the deeds are with the solicitor who acted for your when you bought the house – or even your mortgage company.
Rob Faulkner is the founder and CEO of Insuristic. He is a Chartered Insurance Broker with nearly 30 years of experience across the insurance industry. Since starting his career at Endsleigh Insurance in 1996, Rob has worked with some of the UK’s leading insurers, brokers, and InsurTech companies – including Allianz, Aviva, Towergate, Brit Insurance, and JLT Thistle (now Marsh). Rob started Insuristic in 2022 with a clear purpose: to make insurance simpler, more transparent, and easier to arrange – especially during difficult times like probate.
2. Have a home survey carried or check a previous one
House surveys can reveal all kinds of things about a property, from its condition to potential risks nearby, such as flooding. In some cases, they will also carry details of when it was constructed.
"Home surveys can be useful to check when a house was built," picks up Rob Faulkner. "If you or a previous owner have ever instructed a home survey (like a home buyers survey) you will find the year the house was built within it."
It is important to realise that there are lots of different types of house surveys though and not all might contain the information you are looking for.
3. Use a free property checking service online
The wonders of technology mean that it is now easier than ever to look into the history of a property and its previous occupants, whether you are renovating a Victorian house or a rural cottage – without even having to step outside it.
"While there are lots of options to try when looking how to find out when a house was built, this way is perhaps the easiest," points out Rob Faulkner. "Use a free property checking service where you can check details of your property price, lease end date, last EPC data and more."
Be aware though that there are many of these sites around and made sure that the one you use doesn't come with any hidden fees. Those based on HM Land Registry date are likely to be the most accurate.
4. Speak to your local authority
This one depends very much on exactly how old your house is. If we're not going back hundreds of years, your local authority may well be able to offer some insight on when it was built.
"You can contact your local authority to check when a house was built," says Rob Faulkner. "The local authority will hold information on your property, such as when planning permission was granted. It is worth contacting them to see if they can provide the date your house was built."
5. Dig around in historic records
In the case of older and period properties, getting your hands on the titles deeds or finding out much from your local authority could prove difficult, in which case you'll need to do a bit of investigative work.
"Try local archives – they can be useful, and search county record offices, your local library and parish records," suggests Rob Faulkner. "These are all good sources of data for your local area and may contain the information you need."
Rob goes on to suggest checking historical ordnance survey maps, the national census or, if you are buying a listed house, points out some other useful sources. "If the property is likely to be listed, you can search the National Heritage List for England, or the Cadw records for property in Wales or Historic Environment Scotland. Other resources like English Heritage, National Trust and Victorian Society can point you in the right direction."
6. Familiarise yourself with architectural eras
And, finally, if all your searches still come back with nothing, it is often possible to get at the very least a rough idea of the age of your home by looking at its architectural details.
"The chances are that if the property was built after 1925, you should be able to easily check when a house was built," says Rob Faulkner. "But, if you've exhausted these resources, don't fret. Architectural cues can offer valuable insights into your home's historical timeline."
If historical architecture isn't your thing, begin by brushing up on a few house styles and their overriding features:
- Tudor (1485 - 1603): Tall chimneys, the 'Tudor arch' (a four-centered arch shape used for doors and windows), patterned brickwork, mullioned windows, steep gables.
- Jacobean Era (1603 to 1625): Gothic-style pointed arched windows, decorative chimney stacks, steeply pitched roofs, parapets, red brick facades with some stonework.
- Georgian (1714 - 1830): Symmetrical facades and layouts, sash windows, painted and panelled front doors, classical details such as columns and parapets, stucco or brick exteriors.
- Victorian (1837 - 1901): Decorative porches, bay windows, stained glass, high ceilings, brick facades often with decorative elements, tiled details, steep slate roofs.
- Edwardian (1901 - 1914): Wider in form than Victorian and less detailing, mock half-timbering on gables, pebbledash, parquet flooring, square bay windows, generous porches, wider hallways.
FAQs
Why do I need to know when my house was built?
You don't always need to know the exact date your property was built but, in some cases, its age can be required.
"The age of your house can affect insurance costs, particularly in listed buildings with stringent repair regulations," points out Rob Faulkner. "The age of your home can significantly impact your home insurance premiums, primarily due to the higher rebuild costs associated with older properties. Homes with period features, constructed using materials or methods that are challenging to obtain or reproduce in the present day, typically incur higher insurance costs. Additionally, if your residence is listed or boasts traditional elements such as a thatched roof, securing specialised insurance policies may be necessary."
In addition to this, understanding the age of your house will help when it comes to sourcing accurate replicas of original details, materials that will be suitable for its construction and can also alert you to potentially hazardous elements – you want to know if you are buying a house with asbestos or lead pipes.
Certain house style tend to be universally popular – and for many people, renovating a Georgian house is the dream. If you are lucky enough to have got your hands on one, make sure you know all there is to about their unique nuances before you get started to ensure you do it justice.
