Buying house - is 1930 too old

[Brightgate]

Hi, we are looking to buy a house in Orpington, Kent. This is the first time we will be buying a house and given we are not from the UK, we wanted to understand a few things:

1. A potential property we are looking to bid was constructed in the 1930s. And the other in 1970s. Are houses this old ok to buy, any particular aspects we should check before purchasing?
2. Is there any broad calculation on what the premium for the 1970 house should be over the 1930 house (other things assuming equal)

Old houses fall down very quickly, so I would steer clear if I were you.

Behave.

I live in a 1930’s house. It’s solid as a rock and much better built than most modern houses.

Just get a good survey like you would with any house.

Funny....

If anything nice period 1930s houses carry a premium over 1970s boxes.

1930’s isn’t that old! There’s a property on the market near me which is 17th century
you should find a 1930’s home is well built and has spacious rooms
Providing it’s not been modernised too much
get a good survey as you would for any other property

Sorry not the point but Orpington is in London, not Kent.

also 1930s house will be fine, ours was built in the 1870s and still standing strong. Just get a survey.

1970 houses are usually quite ugly from the outside but can be on massive plots with big gardens and rooms.
1930 houses are usually pleasant to look at more features. You still get decent size rooms. It's certainly not the case in the UK that newer houses cost more than older ones, often it's the opposite.

My house is 1930s and I consider it fairly new! It's a very ordinary age for a house in the UK.

The only premium for either house would be from comparing condition/features. There's no price difference for 1930s and 1970s except I guess 1970s are usually ugly!

Eh!?
Op 1930s houses are very much coveted, good size rooms solid build nice big gardens nice features hopefully still in place. There are lots of good ones. 1970s can be a bit "samey" and close to neighbours. Bit more boxey and unlikely to have any major architectural features but other than that nothing wrong with them either.

Orpington is in London.
The house will be fine, it's most of the stick round there. Just don't get to near to the Cray's

My property was built in 1850. It's completely sound. They knew how to build things in those days.

Millions of people live in 1930s houses and many are far better constructed than modern houses. We've l8ved I'm several 1930s houses as have my parents. All solid as a rock!

That’s on the cusp for having a cavity wall - ours is solid wall and energy inefficient as a result. Double check that…

1930s houses are lovely, and relatively “new” by UK standards. There would be no premium for a 70s house over a 30s one , if they were built to the same standard then it’s just a matter of style preference.
Older houses (pre 1970) can have lead paint, but may not have any left, and it can be removed anyway.
1970s houses can have more spacious rooms, 1930s houses usually have charming details and proportions .

On the whole, all other things being equal, I’d favour a 1930s house over a 1970s.

Mine is 1850s and is obviously falling down any minute.

The 1931 house I’m selling has survived bombs falling close by during ww2 and the great storm of 1987.

It is solid. It will outlive me.

My old house was built in 1675.

I constantly worried about it falling down...

Loads of houses in that area are 1930s, solid, good sized rooms, wood floors, wooden inside doors, much better than the shite that was built in the 1970s that have no character at all.

The 1930 house will usually have period features like carefree vibes of the roaring Twenties, but with a few pre-war dark corners, whereas the 1970s house only has functional electricity four days a week.

Is your reasoning that a 1970s house would be a premium because it's newer?

That's not really how it works in the UK. Pretty and "character" (original features and unique design) is usually considered to be more desirable and sells at a premium. 70s houses aren't considered pretty generally, whilst some 1930s houses definitely would be

I would pay quite a bit more for a 1930s house. Solid walls and denser timber (not force grown).

1930s are so much nicer than 1970s!
We own a 1930s house and it's my favourite style of house by far. Builders always comment on how well built/solid they are! Fab room sizes and usually on big plots, great for extending. If you're lucky they have beautiful features, like stain glass windows, picture rails, panelled solid doors and fireplaces.

It's all very well saying 'get a survey' but it would help the OP if you explained which survey given there are several.

OP, with older houses get a full structural survey(aka level 3). Surveys explained here:
https://www.rics.org/consumer-guides/house-surveys-uk-the-costs-types-and-benefits-of-an-rics-home-survey

We have a 1930s house and it is lovely, but it is less efficient than and 1970s house as it has no cavity walls. It heats up well enough but doesn't retain heat as well as a better insulated house. I'd see if they have put loft insulation in too

I can only presume Barney thinks s/he is being hilarious, as most people in the UK would think the quality of building in the past is superior by far to most newbuilds from the 90s onwards. 😆