When was my house built?

Key takeaways

• To find out when your house was built check your title deeds, home survey, mortgage offer, or contact your local authority or HM Land Registry

• It can be harder to pin down an exact construction date for very old homes

• Older homes are more expensive to insure thanks to higher repair costs and risks like asbestos, lead pipes, woodworm, and damp

How do I check how old my house is?

The easiest ways to find out the age of your house include:

1. Check your property documents

Start by checking documents you already have, including:

2. Contact your local authority

Local authorities will often hold information about properties and buildings in the local area, such as when planning permission was granted for your home.

It's worth contacting your local council, as they may be able to give you information that helps establish the build date of your property.

Planning records may be particularly useful for newer properties or homes that were part of a larger development.

3. Contact HM Land Registry

HM Land Registry records information about land ownership and interests affecting land and property, rather than providing an official construction date for every building.

However, its records can still help you estimate the age of your home. For example, they may show when a property developer first took ownership of or leased the land your house is built on.

You can also obtain copies of title information from HM Land Registry.

4. Ask your neighbours

Properties close to each other were often built at around the same time. Your neighbours may have done their own research, particularly if they're interested in the history of the area.

Don't be shy about asking them. They may have documents or information that can help.

5. Check historical records

If the above sources don't give you an exact date, particularly for an older property, historical records can help you narrow down when your home was built.

These include:

• Historical Ordnance Survey maps

• Census records

• Local archives

• The National Archives

• Local history societies

• Historic England's National Heritage List for England

• Cadw's records of historic assets in Wales

How can I find out the age of a really old property?

With very old homes and period properties, it can be harder to find an accurate construction date. The good news is there are lots of registers and archives, as well as enthusiasts, keeping track of antique buildings. They include:

What if different records give conflicting dates?

It's possible for different documents and records to give you alternative dates. This doesn't necessarily mean one of them is wrong.

For example, a date may refer to when:

• The land was first registered

• The property was first occupied

• The house was extended or substantially altered

• The current building replaced an earlier property

• Ownership changed

Look at what each date actually refers to and compare several sources. Historical maps, planning records and original property documents can help you establish the most likely construction period.

If you still can't find an exact year, it's usually better to use the best supported estimate rather than simply choosing a date at random.

If you're providing the information for a home insurance quote and aren't sure what date to give, ask the insurer what information they need.

What if I can’t find out when my house was built?

Still stuck? All is not lost. You could make an educated guess by studying the architectural style and character of the house.

Look out for the following features on the outside and inside of your home – these can help give you an idea of the historical period it was built in:

• Tudor (1485 – 1603): small windows, made from timber and brick, upper floor juts out over the ground floor

• Jacobean (1604 – 1713): flat-fronted and bare brick exterior, gothic-style windows and doors, steep gabled roofs, large living rooms with wide fireplaces

• Georgian (1714 – 1820): tall and rectangular sash windows, central front door, large fireplaces

• Victorian (1837 – 1901): bay windows, high ceilings, sloping roofs, red or coloured brickwork

• Edwardian (1901 – 1914): broader build, wide hallways, dual-aspect rooms, hipped roof (where all four sides slope towards the walls) with dormer windows

• Post-World War One (1918 – 1939): simple design, large bay windows, bare brick or pebble-dashed exterior, semi-detached

Your estate agent, or possibly a friendly architect, might also be able to help you identify these characters of your property (though be sure to check if they are charging for their time).

Interior details such as plumbing and electrics may also prove useful in helping you identify the age of your building.

Remember, architectural features should be treated as clues rather than proof of a construction date, as windows, roofs, plumbing and other features may have been replaced or added later.

Do I need to know the age of my house?

Yes. Whether you live in an older home, a listed building or a new build, knowing when, exactly, it was built could be useful for all sorts of reasons - from home insurance quotes to planning permission.

You will, for example, be asked for your property's age every time you renew your buildings insurance. Knowing the age of your home can also be helpful when estimating renovation costs and determining whether specialist surveys or repairs may be required.

How does the age of my property affect my home insurance premiums?

Insurers want to know the age of your property so they can assess the likelihood of having to make a payout in the future. Knowing this will also help them gauge how costly repairs or damage could be to put right.

Older homes are usually more expensive to insure because insurance providers expect them to require more expensive repairs more often.

Properties that have features such as thatched roofs or original fireplaces and floorboards are also generally more expensive to repair properly. That’s because of the rare materials and expert knowledge needed to carry out the work.

This is especially true if your property is listed which can mean you may need permission to renovate or even repair your home, and may then have to stick with certain types of materials, construction or renovation techniques.

All these can push up the cost of cover, so if you live in an historic or listed home, you may need specialist home insurance for cover that won’t leave you out of pocket if you need to call in experts.

Could an old house be dangerous?

As appealing as their looks, character and history may be, older properties can pose some risks. So, if you have your heart set on an old house or period property, it’s worth keeping in mind the potential problems it may have:

How can I find cheaper home insurance?

Whatever kind of home you live in, it’s easy to find and compare home insurance policies with MoneySuperMarket. Just give us a few details about you and your property and we’ll scour the market for great value deals – and help you find the right one for your needs.