To think 'character' properties aren't all they're cracked up to be?

[LellyGreen]

We live in a Victorian house. Its cold and drafty, we've had various issues with damp and leaks, the ceiling on the landing collapsed three years ago, we got it fixed for it to happen again last year and we had to have the whole roof replaced. There are weird alcoves in the lounge on every wall that has stopped us from being able to hang the TV on the wall like we wanted to. Solid wood floors in every room that haven't been maintained well by previous owners and dons hard hat I've wanted several times to tear up and chuck carpet down because they're in such bad state. The room sizes are very generous, but they're too big and apart from a few more sensibly sized rooms they feel cold and empty. Our hallway is 5mx5.5m!! Who needs a hallway that big? It just looks like a big empty room. Anyway.. it's just been so much hassle. We go to do one small job and it turns out it's actually a huge job, every time. I've always vowed to never buy a new build because "they have no character" but I've done it. I've gone to the dark side. I have bought a new shiny new build and I couldn't give a toss about the character I'm losing and I can't wait to be in a house that is warm, and doesn't feel empty all the time! I get a lot of it is down to developers, I've heard the persimmon horror stories of paper thin walls and box rooms.. but I'm firmly in the new build camp now. Pick a good developer (ideally a small/local one) with a good build quality and generous room dimensions and don't look back!! Character is a pain in the ass and over hyped. You can add character to your beautiful new house that isn't full of hidden problems.

AIBU? If you're avoiding new builds purely because of these reasons everyone goes on about.. I highly recommend viewing one for yourself. You may be pleasantly surprised

Ha - do you want for a property company! I love old inconvenient houses (and also love beautifully designed modern houses, but these are few and far apart.)

@Bouncycastle12

Ha - do you want for a property company! I love old inconvenient houses (and also love beautifully designed modern houses, but these are few and far apart.)

No. We've found another leak on our landing this morning (despite having the entire roof replaced) and I'm just in despair. I don't think I can ever live in a older property again. It's one issue after another!!!

New build developer?

I love everything you hate, our house isn't cold or damp, I love the character. It's why I bought.

Different strokes for different folks and all that.

You don't have to be a new build developer to like them! I've seen a few threads on here lately from people contemplating buying new builds and all you see is people saying "don't". I'm just expressing that sometimes they are a lot better than the alternative.

'Character' isn't synonymous with 'old'. A character property is usually one that's individually built and has unusual features - that applies to many newer properties.

YANBU at all. Old properties are nothing but money pits. I'd have a new build in a heartbeat but they're much more expensive initially. However if I actually counted how much I've spent getting this house up to scratch (and it never will be if I'm honest, I don't have unlimited funds) I probably could be sitting nice and warm in a smart new house that stays clean and doesn't reveal horrors every time a piece of wallpaper is taken off

I am in my second new build and love it. Warm and cosy with finishing I chose.

I could have written the first five lines of your post myself OP (except we're in a flat in an old house). Had leaks through the roof, had it redecorated only for it to happen again. We've left it looking stained for now because redecoration involves internal scaffolding as it's on the staircase. Our problem was moss build up on the roof which has finally been sorted.

On the plus side the walls are incredibly thick and we hear no noise from neighbours!

Like anything, it depends how well it's been maintained. I live in a cottage from the early 1800s and thankfully our place is in much better condition bricks and mortar wise than a house we lived in from the 1930s previous to this one. The owners here before us fixed a whole host of issues prior to staying a while and then selling, but I think we have been particularly lucky in that regard.

We viewed a nearly newbuild once and it was in a terrible state, it had pretty much been trashed by the owner. Old houses definitely do need more care taking though, they need to be loved.

I'm totally with you OP. Moved last year from an old, draughty, enormous, damp, leaky old house to a 1960s low maintenance box. I love it.

We lived for years in an old mill cottage. Apart from some wiring which we needed for new light fittings, we never did anything to it. It was a wonderful house, with beautiful bones.

I've lived in 2 new builds and would never consider one again.

It's just endless. We've lost so much money with the leaking. Ceilings replaced multiple times, the entire roof last year and another leak this morning. I just can't wait to get out of here. It sometimes feels like my house is falling apart around me. I know other people are luckier, but I just couldn't take the risk with an older property again. With young kids especially we find it totally unsustainable. Sorry to those in same position. I feel your pain.

Don't buy a Lovell home then OP. New Build but so so many problems and snags.

I still get ice on the windows of the north face of my house in the winter.

And I generally walk around in 2 pairs of socks, a couple of hoodies and occasionally strap a hot water bottle to myself in the winter.

But I still love my house. 1902 build.

Not all of them are that bad.

Ours is about 600 years old and just needs some decorating!

Ah yes, I'm with you on the multiple pairs of socks. Our heating bills are really high and sometimes I get in and don't take my coat off for hours as it's just not warm enough. I honestly don't think I'll miss anything about living here.

Not all character or older houses are like that.
Our victorian is warm. Previous owners lovingly restored floorboards, replaced all windows and insulated the whole house.
I love the alcoves but I'm not a fan of a tv on the wall myself.
If you want a new build, go for it! But all houses have problems, of course. They get leaks etc as well.
The only thing I don't like about them is space. A new build near me for the same price as my house would be a lot smaller. Lack of storage, smaller rooms, closer to neighbours, thinner walls etc.
Lots of young couples I know bought one (due to help to buy) but now are having kids and all want to move for more space (same number of bedrooms). They can't because there's no equity and they still can't manage 10% deposit. They're also now paying interest on the other 5% they borrowed.
Some old houses really are a money pit - did nothing come up on the survey when you first bought it?

Given that you don’t seem to have actually moved into your new build yet OP, I’d temper your optimism.

Love it. I love my warm, comfortable new build that doesn’t cost us a fortune to heat and maintain. Hating new builds for lack of ‘character’ is very English.

We weren't planning on moving but a friend recently bought one on the same development and I went to see her and I just loved it. She was so happy there, it was so warm, good sized bedrooms, separate playroom and lounge. I phoned my husband to meet me there and we went straight to the sales office to go and view an available one. Thick walls, she couldn't hear a thing from neighbours, she's been in a few months and almost all snags have been sorted already. I do admit it's a very small developer who only has a few local sites and is probably a higher quality than the big names, but it just seemed perfect for us. If we get as lucky with ours as our friend has with hers there then I'll be just fine.

I live in a new build! And love it. Cheap to run, greener than old houses. It's a blank canvas which I think we have made beautiful (just my opinion obviously!). Walls thick, have never hear neighbours. Windows triple glazed. My thing is - I don't think about it - other than considering art / soft furnishings. I think and worry and expend energy on family, work, travel. Not my house which is just a source of joy. Best of luck Op!

We lived in an edwardian house for 26 years and although we loved the space I do agree with you about the fact that things always needed doing. We had to have a chimney taken down because water was coming in, flashings replaced again because water was coming in, new drains as the pipe was cracked and even when we didn't have major problems even decorating the house took a lot of doing because of high ceilings and foot high many ridged skirting boards.

We moved to a 1970s built house which is much easier to keep clean, you can reach the ceiling to paint it without having to work on a scaffolding plank and skirting boards are only 4 inches high. I do sometimes miss the space but as I now live here with just my dh it is a much better prospect as we get older.

I got fed up of a character property and switched for a property that you can keep warm without any effort at all and is just the background of our lives and doesn't demand attention at every turn. And the silverfish good riddance.

@sabrinaq

I live in a new build! And love it. Cheap to run, greener than old houses. It's a blank canvas which I think we have made beautiful (just my opinion obviously!). Walls thick, have never hear neighbours. Windows triple glazed. My thing is - I don't think about it - other than considering art / soft furnishings. I think and worry and expend energy on family, work, travel. Not my house which is just a source of joy. Best of luck Op!

This genuinely just makes me sigh in relief. I'm constantly stressed about this house. Even going to just redecorate something minor turns up being a huge job because we find a total mess behind the scenes.

Agreed. You have to have high anounts of disposable income to live comfortably in an old house. Mine is only 120 years old, so young by British old house standards and i'm spending ££££ just to keep on top of the constant repairs. It's a very high price to pay just to be able to say "this house has seen through x many monarchs and two world wars".