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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Secondhand houses

130 replies

flipflap75 · 17/05/2017 12:53

Read the mysterious 'service charge' thread and had a Google - I found a thread on another forum where they were discussing council service charges on freehold properties, and there were some really strong opinions about houses which weren't new builds (not necessarily old or character, just not new) e.g.

"...some people don't want someone else's seconds. It's slightly demeaning isn't it? It's second only to renting. The place may never really feel as though it is yours."

and

"...don't like the thought of using secondhand soiled goods"

I've never thought of houses like this - as something which becomes 'used' or 'secondhand'. Not trying to stir up a 'how could you possibly live in a new/old house' barney - it's all about layout and position for me. Just wondered if I'm in the minority re. this 'secondhand' view.

OP posts:
FloatyCat · 17/05/2017 13:16

Ha ha ha, what a load of old rubbish.
'Secondhand' does not apply to houses.

ILikeyourHairyHands · 17/05/2017 13:18

So by that logic all the great stately homes of the UK are demeaning to live in and soiled goods. Ok then!

ThumbWitchesAbroad · 17/05/2017 13:20

That's pure oddness.

I have a friend whose DH has a thing about secondhand cars - he won't have one, he likes to have new cars only, despite the extra cost and rapid depreciation when he drives it away - but he can't bear the thought of having someone else's car. He has a few other quirks around the house looking immaculate as well - but he has never been into the realms of refusing to live in a non-new house, far from it!

I've also known people who want all new for their baby - not second hand, no hand-me-downs - but they too have never taken it to the level of "must have a brand new house".

Odd.

user1491572121 · 17/05/2017 13:21

How odd! Living in an older property is actually my preference. I don't like anything post 1940 or so. Ideally, a house should be at least 100 for me to be happy.

TinfoilHattie · 17/05/2017 13:22

Some people have a very odd opinion to anything second-hand and although I haven't come across it as much, that obviously extends to houses too.

We've lived in all eras of properties - our first house was a brand new build, mainly because the builder was paying the deposit and we needed the security of knowing any major structural defects would be covered for 10 years. We're now in a 1960s house which had several owners before we moved in.

I much prefer the older house style - the rooms are bigger and the ceilings higher. I would also much prefer to have older furniture and other items around the house - I loathe the "showroom" look and the matchy matchy thing people seem to do in modern houses.

MissCherryCakeyBun · 17/05/2017 13:22

Hey hi Census records can only be made publicly available after 100 years ( called the 100 year rule) We know ours as we have the deeds but that's unusual I know.
Not sure of any other way other than local knowledge. I lived in my council house for20 years and knew the family before me had only lived there 2. The elderly couple before them lived there for nearly 50 years bought up there family etc. and I met the lady purely by accident who's parents ( and her) had lived in the house when it was new just before the war....sadly her dad died in the war and they moved out in the late 40's
It's only word of mouth etc that gets histories like this. Ask around you may get lucky

Lunde · 17/05/2017 13:22

My house was built in 1850 so it is pretty second hand!

However I do remember several decades ago when I was planning my wedding and had some bridal magazines - that developers were actively marketing this way of thinking in their adverts - along the lines of - "you wouldn't buy a second hand wedding dress so why buy a second hand house?" as though it was something bad or second best.

Foxyloxy1plus1 · 17/05/2017 13:22

It is horses for courses, but there is nothing demeaning about living in a house that has been previously owned.

Not all new builds have tiny rooms. Mine has three double and one single bedrooms. The master has a dressing area too, so certainly isn't tiny. We have a kitchen/living/ dining room, but another living room as well.

The reason that so many new houses have only one parking space is historic, because of government policy which local authorities now have to abide by. It isn't always the fault of the developer, but there are some things that definitely are.

BluePeppers · 17/05/2017 13:23

I'm thinking of the lovely farmhouse a friend of mine has. It's probably at least 200 years old. So not just second hand but what 5th or 6th hand, who knows??

What a weird comment!!

squizita · 17/05/2017 13:23

I've NEVER heard of this.

Living on as Island as we do, it's completely impractical that everyone have a new house.

But then again I collect vintage and antiques..?

It's your house if you bought it and signed the paper work surely.

FizzyGreenWater · 17/05/2017 13:24

How bizarre - especially given the enormously poorer quality of build you tend to get with a new house!

However if someone's daft enough to think like that then I guess that won't have occured to them either. Fill your boots with the cardboard box houses, silly people.

Sunnyshores · 17/05/2017 13:25

Is it an OCD cleanliness type issue? Sure we all have preferences for new/old/listed but not in a 'second-hand' way.

seafoodeatit · 17/05/2017 13:26

Second hand home? what a weird phrase that I can't say I've come across before. I don't think a house goes through the same wear and tear as say, a watch or shoes? a house can be changed/made like new many times if appearance was the issue. Our house is an old cottage which was extended by the old owners, we wanted something old!

CricketRuntAndRashers · 17/05/2017 13:27

I don't think I've EVER lived in a new built.

(Nope, just remembered that I did once rent in a very new apartment complex.)

But this seems really weird to me personally.

randomsabreuse · 17/05/2017 13:27

I guess some of the stately homes are still in the families that built them but houses really should be permanent.

The line between 2nd hand, vintage and antique is definitely in the eye of the beholder!

Needmoresleep · 17/05/2017 13:27

I used to work in social-housing, and yes, we did use the phrase "second -hand" to differentiate from new-build. But not as a negative.

I was a bit Hmm when I first heard it, but other options like "used" were no better. Pre-loved, perhaps?!

BuggerLumpsAnnoyed · 17/05/2017 13:27

Haha that's ridiculous. I live in a new build and I love it. I always thought I hated them but after renting decapitated older houses for years, and finally buying a house I have definitely been converted. But it's more a case of the homes I rented not getting the proper maintenance. It was through necessity as you only get help to buy on new builds. But I definitely don't think of older homes as 'used'.

No issue with squeezing in ensuite though. Love having loads of loos and my baths aren't ruined by children/husbands having shits Wink

liz70 · 17/05/2017 13:28

After reading horror stories on here of new builds where the walls are so thin you can hear your NDN fart, I'm thankful for our 30s semi with its 5 inch thick solid breeze block and plaster internal walls. I've no idea how many people have lived here before us, that doesn't bother me at all. The newest residence I've lived in was built early 1970s, the oldest in 1870. If everyone insisted on living in new build we'd have to tear down good solid buildings to make room for all the flimsy shoeboxes. Hmm

NotCitrus · 17/05/2017 13:28

Was this an American forum?
I picked up a book once on How to Buy A House in the UK, and the first line was "Most houses in the UK are second-hand".

If you come from a country where houses are only built to last ~20-30 years, then yes, you'd want a new one!

nursy1 · 17/05/2017 13:28

I love my old house. There is a dip in the stone flags in front of where the old scullery sink was ( and mine is now). I often think of those generations of women who have stood there washing up, rowing, loving and just being with their families. I like that feeling of continuity.
New builds not for me!

niangua · 17/05/2017 13:29

Dirty secondhand spoiled houses?

God some of you people live in fucking castles don't you XD Fucking hell.

New builds are shit. If you want to live in a paper rabbit hutch, by all means, knock yourselves out. Some of us prefer a house built to last with a bit of history.

Secondhand houses. I really have seen it all.

terrylene · 17/05/2017 13:29

With houses, you buy a plot of land that happens to have a house on it. The house itself is in a constant state of being renewed, rebuilt, rewired, re-roofed etc. A 'new' house is just a fleeting moment.

sparechange · 17/05/2017 13:30

I don't think I've ever lived in a house that wasn't at least 100 years old
They must have all been 8th hand or more by that stage!

You must have some serious ishooos around cleaning if you are repulsed at the thought of being in a house that someone else has already been in .
Where on earth do these people go on holiday? It must mean hotels are no-go zones to them as well...

Bear2014 · 17/05/2017 13:30

Second hand house Grin that's actually hilarious. Clearly most people don't agree with such madness, given the massively inflated prices of Victorian houses around here...

ExConstance · 17/05/2017 13:31

So I suppose that once they have their pristine new build they will fully adopt the view that when they want to leave it will have nil value as it would be so demeaning for anyone else to live there. Perhaps they will just have the house knocked down, so as not to cause offence?

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