What makes a period property a 'period' property?

[Handyrick]

Odd question, but I ask because I am aware that in certain cities there is a price premium for period properties that is quite substantial.

I also notice that certain houses that have ripped out all the 'period features' and are modern boxes inside, still attract the period property price premium.

However, a property on the same road with similar layout and square footage, but modern build exterior, would not get the price premium.

It can't possibly be just because it looks 'period' from the outside?

Would love to know thoughts on this!

We have a period property, and apart from making the kitchen bigger by losing a wall, no other changes. Very lucky the last owner had lived in it from birth and his parents before. Was built in 1920 and is massive.
Not boasting as downsizing soon, kids left home etc.
The 4th bedroom is the smallest, obviously but you can fit a single bed, double wardrobe drawers and desk. All individual items not half sized built in like modern houses. I've seen some where you'd struggle to get a bed in. We have 2 very large reception rooms, plus a kitchen diner, (no modern islands and me sink by the window, not the middle of the room, and the front with a big bay window.
Cost a lot to heat as such high ceilings, lovely coving and picture rail.
Original fireplace and led windows with traditional colours and patterns.

I don't understand why people would want to change them tbh. I can understand wanting modern, then buy a modern house then.
It's like making a modern house look all cottagy

It IS because it looks period from the outside

Can’t bear a period shell/open-plan modern interior. If you want to live in a giant open box fuck off and buy a modern house instead of gutting a period one.

I think it is the exterior that makes people call it period. But there should be a word for period houses without period innards; they’re really a different thing.

Generally because period houses have a lot more space- Victorian houses generally have big windows and high ceilings snd cornicing. You can rip out the fireplaces and all that but you still have the space - it's all about volume.

@burritofan

Can’t bear a period shell/open-plan modern interior. If you want to live in a giant open box fuck off and buy a modern house instead of gutting a period one.

I think it is the exterior that makes people call it period. But there should be a word for period houses without period innards; they’re really a different thing.

I totally agree, we had a morning room, it was lovely, but unfortunately you could touch all four walls of the kitchen and with 5 of us wasn't practical at all, So we knoked the wall down in between to make a kitchen diner, but all the internal halls remained. We have rounded walls at all windows, if you know what I mean. I don't want to go, but me and dh are rambling round it now, and they're a bugger to clean. It will probably go for 250k, but anyone wanting it will have to move to Greater Manchester.

Very interesting re the space comments.

I have noticed lots of cute sized Victorian workers cottages type places, also attracting the price premium. These houses do not have large rooms or high ceilings or even ornate cornicing.

I am really starting to believe the exterior has a huge impact.

@burritofan

Can’t bear a period shell/open-plan modern interior. If you want to live in a giant open box fuck off and buy a modern house instead of gutting a period one.

I think it is the exterior that makes people call it period. But there should be a word for period houses without period innards; they’re really a different thing.

Yep. It’s vandalism.

(Where’s my hard hat?)

Ooh, solid oak doors throughout. I don't miss them slamming.
Thick oak bannisters.

It's because there is a finite number of Georgian and Victorian properties. You can build as many modern boxes as you wish.

I have only ever/only want to live on period properties

Reasons are: space, charm & character, better build quality/materials, sound proofing etc

Looking good from outside & often bigger gardens. In many towns/cities: more central location

I would only ever consider buying a period property. I want my home to have charm and solidity. Ideally period features internally, but just the proportions and windows are enough.

@burritofan

Can’t bear a period shell/open-plan modern interior. If you want to live in a giant open box fuck off and buy a modern house instead of gutting a period one.

I think it is the exterior that makes people call it period. But there should be a word for period houses without period innards; they’re really a different thing.

I so agree, nothing worse than a character exterior and a bland box on the inside, it’s seems so common place now, just awful.

For me probably ceiling height.

Ceiling height, room size, real walls, plot size and privacy.

New houses were useful for us when dc were small but a 4 bed modern house and a 4 bed 100 year plus, so so different.

And over 100 years every one is unique, no identical to the next

The age the house was built is what makes a period property just this.

I hate it when all the features are ripped out inside, but you can restore them and add more value.

The size isn’t relevant to the term period property.

Well technically my house is Victorian and therefore a period property. But it's a back to back so very small and there a literally thousands of them where I live so not very unique. So I wouldn't class it as such.

better build quality/materials

That can vary a lot. A great deal of Victorian housing, of all sizes, was quickly thrown up as a speculation. There was very little, if any , quality control back then. Of course you could argue that if a house has survived for 120+ years it must be ok, but if try and do any work on them the problems can quickly emerge.

It's estate agent guff that doesn't really mean anything. My in laws house was described as period with original Victorian features...it was built in the 1930s....

They look a lot better on the eye than a lot of the modern square flat fronted houses we have these days so people will pay more for them. They're often built better, stronger brick, thicker walls etc.

I live in a Victorian house. The entire road is one long terrace each side but it has been thought about as a whole - different roof shapes on some houses making them more than just a row of boxes.

I also love a chimney on a house - I think it just makes them more complete.

I am probably biased as I live there but I love the look of my road! I don't get that from a row of modern houses.

I live in a very early 1900s house. Originally it was 6 beds, but we’ve converted the third floor to a master suite so it’s 5 now. 4 of which are blooming huge. The 5th is a bit of a box room really but the others are wasted on the kids. The whole house is beautifully proportioned, wide stairs, high ceilings, a large hall etc. I would only want a period house now because it just feels so much bigger than it’s floor plan because of the height and big windows. Our living room is 5mx4m but the sashes (which sadly have to be replaced) are about 7m2 of area.

We’ve had to take our fireplace out as it was not original and had been badly expanding-foamed on, but we’ll be reinstating ceiling roses and repairing all the skirting/coving.

Ceiling height? You want to go round a load of country cottages and hit your heads on the beams and doorways.

What an interesting thread with great comments.

I live in a Victorian house - it has high ceilings and big windows, the original coal fireplaces, picture rails and coving. I love it.

The row of houses on my block are identical from the outside but every one has a slightly different layout.

I always thought it meant clearly identifiable as such from the exterior, and including properties built up until approx the 60s. I’d expect some mention of retaining original features if it actually did.

Oh I totally disagree with some posters - favourite houses are period properties that have been modernised inside. The reason these properties attract a premium is because of the way they look! Plus the high ceilings, steps up to the front door and I love original fireplaces and floors too. Otherwise, I want a new kitchen and modern decor. Unfortunately where we are, lots of these properties are just not suitable for modern family life. We looked a quite a few. They had smaller, thinner gardens and lots didn’t have a driveway. Too many staircases and the ground floor living space wasn’t airy/ light despite big beautiful windows because the footprint of the house is small. We found for the same money we get a lot more bang with a slightly newer house (60s/ 70s build). Our place now is a good mix of old and new with more ground floor space which is better for entertaining. Couldn’t buy an new build.