At what point should we rename our new house?

[TeaAndStrumpets]

We have just bought a renovation project. The property is structurally unsound but on a lovely plot. All being well we are hoping to demolish the house and rebuild.

The thing is, I don't like the name and would prefer to change it. I know how to do it via council website etc., but wonder if there is any sense in changing it before we put in planning applications etc? We could wait until our new house is finished, or rename the existing house and swap the name over. There are no road numbers, or it wouldn't be an issue!

Any experience/advice? Many thanks!

I think if you leave it then there is a chance that the old name will get associated with the new house. It's better to start with a clean sweep.
Will the name apply to the house anyway or will it apply to the plot of land?

Thanks, that's pretty much what I was thinking. I suppose we would have to use the existing name for the utilities swap anyway but change the address once we are named on the bills.

Change it as soon as possible so that all bills/correspondence is in the name of the new house. It will save a lot of confusion and hassle in the long run.

Ah yes, house v land, the existing plot is not being subdivided, so house not plot needs a new name.

Thanks that makes sense.

That was to steppemum...I hardly ever make sense!

Sorry, I didn't make myself clear. Obviously The New House or Green Gables are house names but Riverside or Scafell View could be house and/or plot names.
What sort of name are you going for?

So it’s delivery drivers you have the issue with? You can tell google maps, once it’s done, so that’s all ok. Is there anything else it impacts?
I’d be inclined to change it as soon as you can but have both name plates up for a year or two to ‘train’ the royal mail staff etc.

I might be missing something though.

She wore yellow, that is a great idea, I'll get an extra mailbox. Previous owner long gone but there is a box.

Senua are you psychic? We thought New House would be great as v. boring! The current name is widely used for rehab clinics and retirement homes, so us being pensioners we didn't fancy using it ;-)

Be careful because a lot of people find that when the new house name as part of the new address gets put on the electoral roll, it then shows up as not existing due to the post code checking database they use. So tons of people change their house name end up with no credit because the electoral roll cannot verify their address as existing.

Here is an article about this issue, although the person they talk about the council changed his address on the electoral roll and that’s caused his credit issues. But the same can happen if you change your house name as that is also part of your address.
www.theguardian.com/money/2022/oct/10/a-tiny-error-in-your-address-could-wreck-your-credit-rating?ref=biztoc.com
“UK addresses are recorded on three official databases – the local authority street naming and numbering register, the electoral roll and the PAF, compiled by Royal Mail.

If there’s a discrepancy between them, a resident’s full credit history may not show up when lenders perform a credit check and their credit score will plummet.

That’s because all companies and organisations purchase their databases from Royal Mail. If an address doesn’t show on the PAF, it’s deemed not to exist by traders.

According to Royal Mail, discrepancies happen because, while it is obliged to list addresses in the format registered by local authority street naming and numbering departments, electoral roll entries can be amended for a fee at the request of homeowners.”

”Householders who substitute “apartment” for “flat”, or a house name for a house number, may find themselves in a similar position to a serial debtor as far as lenders and retailers are concerned.”

Thanks this is just the sort of thing I want to be aware of. We won't be moving in for maybe a year but it will be worth checking things like this.

You’ll need a whole new thread on what the new name should be. I went past a house yesterday called ‘Dunsnippin’.
Retired hairdresser?!

Well we've been trying to think of a new name for two years, been negotiating the purchase forever! Feeling OK with New House, but will let council say yea or nay....My family are sick of my new name lists!

Honestly, it's like naming a baby! I was all set on New House as an inoffensive compromise, but suddenly had an inspiration. The surrounding fields are all ridge and furrow, so Ridgefield it is. Phew! Thanks all.

Yay. Good name.

Thank you!

As long as there are no other houses with the same name nearby, you'll be ok.
You need to contact the Local council - they'll have someone who deals with Street naming and numbering.
They will have a long list of informatives (both internal and external) and will let them know of the change of name. This includes the PAF which Royal Mail hold, so you should still get mail deliveries.

Yes I have been googling, we are pretty remote so certainly nothing the same in our council area. Once we get completion and related paperwork we will be onto the council. Our solicitor advised the same. Thank you, will try and cover all the bases!

Money pit.

That's a good name!

We changed our house name a couple of years ago. Didn't really have any problems except initially before websites refreshed the PAF database.

Council lady did say the name we wanted was not normally allowed as it had a number in it - changed her mind when I asked her to pronounce our current house name!

Absolutely! It's good to have something that can be understood over the phone, and no weird spellings ;-)