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AIBU?

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Original poster

Do you ever feel your old house is a liability?

44 replies

SecretsOfSunshine · 05/12/2023 14:17

Obviously not the historic pretty village stuff, detached piles or very old houses… but the typical city stock. Now rolling well over a 100 years. Not much work done in the meantime beyond patch ups. Original roofs etc. Not fancy homes, the city stuff that was whacked up fast (possibly by people who’d never seen a set square or spirit level…)

I sometimes feel it’s just waiting for issues, damp, broken bits. There’s always extra fun to find from lead pipes to lath and plaster ceilings. They are never quite insulated either.

Has anyone moved to a much newer build and loved it?

OP posts:
Friendfoe1 · 05/12/2023 14:18

we recently moved from a building built in the 20’s to a new build. It’s much more energy efficient and very well insulated. Wish we’d moved years ago!

Iwantmyoldnameback · 05/12/2023 14:19

I think they were built to last much more than many new builds.

Backtoreality1 · 05/12/2023 14:20

Love my new build and the insulation is amazing. However, the walls are like paper. My older house has brick/breeze block internal walls so gave much better sound insulation. There are pluses and minuses to both unfortuantley.

Ted27 · 05/12/2023 14:26

No not really. My house was built in 1912.
It's sporting a 'shabby chic' look at the moment because I did a lot of renovation 25-30 years ago when I bought it, and then kids came along so not much done bar essentials over the last 10 years.
I paid a lot for replacement sash windows 20 years ago which have been maintained and still look great. I have replastered most rooms, insulated the loft.
I put Central heating in 2004, new boiler 3 years ago. Kitchen about 15 years ago but still looks good. Will be getting a new bathroom in the new year and towards the end of the year will start paying a decorator to go right through the house.

There isn't a right angle anywhere in the house, it's sporting a few injuries to the brickwork from the Blitz, but I like its quirks.
You just have to be prepared to spend the money when it's needed.

HamBone · 05/12/2023 14:28

They do need a lot of maintenance but as a PP said, they’re usually solid and built to last.

We’re in a 1920’s terrace with thick brick and plaster walls. We’ve replaced the roof and the windows, plus various other updates. The new windows made a big difference noise and insulation-wise.

If you decide to stay in your old house, you’ll need to invest in it, OP.

Ted27 · 05/12/2023 14:45

Its worth remembering that a 'new ' build won't be new forever and still needs maintenance.

Iceache · 05/12/2023 15:08

Our 1930s semi is a loveable old money pit! We have original lead light windows which drip with condensation and are forever finding leaks and problems. I will say though that it is so well built with solid walls and beautiful craftsmanship and the way the light comes in through the freezing, enormous bay windows is magical. I don’t think I could love a new house like this one!

StopWithYourNonsense · 05/12/2023 15:11

My house is 90 years old - solidly built, with thick walls.

Since moving here 33 years ago, we've had -
new roof, kitchen, bathroom, windows, boiler and radiators.

NeonSoda · 05/12/2023 15:14

I bought a 1930s ex council house. Yeah the kitchen and bathroom aren't up to date, but everything else is solid. It's not going to fall down any time soon, there's no real damp (a little condensation on the cold pipes in my bathroom), and it's pretty energy efficient.

There are literally hundreds if not thousands of houses identical to mine in the town I live in. They're great!

Hobbesmanc · 05/12/2023 15:21

I love my house which is just over 100 years old. Actually the only bits that have been issues were extensions put up in the seventies and a crap nineties conservatory

We've taken down and replaced a kitchen extension and the conservatory. Obviously internally it's pretty much all from the last twenty years when we moved in but the front windows. Door. Fireplaces etc are the original arts and craft ones. Love them.

It does need tlc. But we love the feel and charm of it.

Arightoldcarryabag · 05/12/2023 15:23

The way I see it is anything 100+ years old and still standing must have been built pretty well.
But of course, there are issues due to construction techniques and general wear and tear that will show themselves frequently in older properties.
We've got a late 50's semi and things like the roof could probably at least do with re-tiling for example and some drafts we just can't do anything about but overall the structure is sound so we just have to work with it.

There's pro's and con's when choosing a type of house. Some new builds are wonderful and energy efficient, others are cobbled together and simply won't last 100 years without major works being carried out on them and the problem is, you rarely know which you are getting especially if buying off plan.

Honest truth though, we'll probably buy a nearly new next time (if we move again), something towards the end of it's New build warranty but built to modern standards, it can make a lot of sense.

AntonFeckoff · 05/12/2023 15:27

I’m sitting in my newish-build and there is currently water coming through my wall. Most of my neighbours have, or had, a similar, or bigger issue of some sort. I’ve never known anything like it anywhere I’ve lived. If it were up to me I’d never live in a new build again.

BIossomtoes · 05/12/2023 15:29

Ours is 400 years old. There isn’t a straight line in the place. It’s warm in the winter and cool in the summer (the insulation is reeds). We’ve rewired, replaced the central heating system, had a new bathroom and two new kitchens in 24 years. Next is replacing the shower room then we’re hopefully done for a bit. The roof’s ancient but sound as a bell.

sweetpickle23 · 05/12/2023 15:30

I live in a new build now, I would be surprised if it's still standing in 100 years. It's basically made of tracing paper.

Circularargument · 05/12/2023 16:25

Love my 150+ year old house, but yes it's a money pit.

KevinDeBrioche · 05/12/2023 16:28

Ours is 1890. We’ve kept on top of the maintenance and updated in keeping with the period in which it was built. MANY don’t.

BigDahliaFan · 05/12/2023 16:43

Ours is 1908 and built like a fortress. Really thick walls. Previous owners had done zip in 30 years apart from put a new roof on it.

New plumbing and bathrooms was required. And we are pondering the windows and putting secondary glazing in...

But it'll still be there in 250 years I reckon...

crackfoxy · 05/12/2023 16:44

Old house built in 1890. Beautiful but a complete money pit. Just couldn't keep up. Current house built in 2000 OMG it's just perfect, warm, bills a lot cheaper , nothing falling down/crumbling. Thought I'd miss my old period house but I really don't

Couldyounot · 05/12/2023 16:49

Our house is 5 years old and the people who put the plasterboard on the interior walls didn't know what a spirit level or set square were either. It is very very energy-efficient and quiet inside though

Artichokepiglet · 05/12/2023 17:10

I may be prejudiced as I've only ever had old houses, but almost every tradesperson we've had around has commented on how great houses from 1900 onwards are compared to new builds with their stud walls etc. I think if you have a bit of a budget to bring an older house up to scratch (you may want to look at wall insulation, heating and any flooring issues) they are much more solid, warmer and easier to maintain once done.

MintJulia · 05/12/2023 17:17

Presumably you had a full structural survey before you bought it, so you are aware of most impending major costs?

I bought my 1901 house knowing that the roof had less than 10 years, all the windows, exterior doors and boiler needed replacing imminently, and I factored that in to the price I paid.

I didn't know the previous owners had been doing a lot of DIY electrics and rendered the whole house in need of rewiring. 🙁

But I've paced the work over the last 10 years, and when I eventually sell, I will have added significant value, learned a lot and have the satisfaction of knowing it has been done properly.

As long as you don't try to do it all within 3 months of moving in, you should be ok.

ImTheGoat · 05/12/2023 17:25

We sold our 1877 5 bed semi and are so glad to be rid of it. It was freezing cold in winter despite having double glazing and there was always something that needed doing. In a 1990s house now and it's nice and warm and cosy.

MarryingMrDarcy · 05/12/2023 17:44

New builds aren’t a guarantee of good workmanship, and indeed many are build with extreme corner-cutting methods.

Plus, new builds are soulless. Give me a house generations of different people have used and lived in any day over identikit, cookie-cutter, plastic grass nightmares. The first people who lived in our cottage were likely coalminers (built 1860s); I love imagining who they were and what their lives were like.

user701 · 05/12/2023 17:47

Mine is1959s and a money pit. Mainly due to renovations and updates though and shoddy workmanship in those processes rather than the original build quality

wwyd2021medicine · 05/12/2023 18:29

Yes it's a pain
I'm fed up of having workmen
I'm selling as soon as I retire.
I don't even go to the top floor alone anymore as I don't want to see another roof problem evident.
1840's house

I've told DH I cannot do anymore with it and if that means a hit on the price then so be it.

16 months and yes I'm counting