What do you like and dislike about your period property? Any regrets?

[luckycat888]

Considering a period (Victorian) property

Lived in a 2 bed Victorian terrace and a 6 bed detached Victorian townhouse. Maintenance neverending. Dry rot is a permanent fear (cost tens of thousands to rectify in bigger house). Bigger house never felt properly warm in winter. And issues with plumbing/electrics became a major drama.

Now live in a house built in 1980s with lovely large rooms, effective insulation, decent central heating. Plus we have our weekends back and money in the bank because we're not in a perpetual maintenance cycle. I will never live in a period property again.

I think it's probably fine if you have unlimited reserves but otherwise it's a pain in the arse.

My house was built early 1800s, small, low ceilings, yay, I can change the lightbulbs without standing on anything, virtually a 2 up 2 down. Seriously cosy, easy to heat, thick walls, stays cools in summer. It's a bit wobbly and uneven but honestly it really doesn't matter. A bit hard not to overfill though, I have to stop myself getting large/ normal furniture. It works both ways as I haven't really got room for loads of crap, I still manage it sometimes tho.

My Victorian house is warm and cosy.. previous owners kept the original windows but put inner glazing in so I think that massively helps with insulation. Just have to remember to open up the inner windows to allow everything to air out or it can get very misted up with condensation.

I love: the stained glass, fireplaces, high ceilings, ornate coving, the garden path leading to the front door. Having a pretty front garden.

Ours is a bit of a funny one as was built around 1875 but for coaches/ horses so a lot of the work to convert it into a house was done later - it was clearly extended at some stage as have some cavity walls- some of it is a bit weird- picture rails where realistically there wouldn’t have been any and imported fugly fireplace into what was a stable so clearly not original. We are embracing the evolution and adding our own chapter. The renovation has been an absolute ballache of epic proportions. I think a lot of it was done after the death of artisanal pride and before building regs but at least they did not skimp on the steel beams.

I love my Tudor house - it is beautiful and characterful cool in summer and surprisingly warm in winter - something about it being made of wood means it retains heat remarkably well.

Honestly what's not to like about historic houses.

I have lived in a 350 year old stone house, lots of Victorian/Edwardian houses and a few mid century (50/60s).

The older ones are better. They all can suffer from the same types of negative issues but the older ones are much bigger normally and have more character.

I wouldn't live in a new build, I have viewed a few 90s/00s/10s homes and honestly hated everyone. Mass built for the cheapest amount to make the most profit.

We are getting ready to relocate and I outlined our current house earlier. I don't want a new build house unless it has been built by a good builder. So an absolute No to anything on an estate. Aesthetically, I prefer older houses too. But buying something that's a decent compromise in the right location ain't easy. I'd like a very specific postcode, and I have seen the property that defines my search. Sadly, it went to another buyer.

I love my Victorian stone cottage. It's just so pretty. I never come home without thinking 'Hello, you're gorgeous'.
Square useful rooms, fireplaces, character, thick stone walls so cool in summer and warm in winter, a sense of history, stained glass, lots of storage cupboards and space. Also, every time I dig the garden I find bits of china and little things people have lost over the years. That sense of history is lovely.

Things I don't like? Nope - nothing.

High ceilings, thick walls, big rooms, character and charm. Hard to heat and always needs work

3 years in, renovation complete, a lovely Georgian house with high ceilings, large bathrooms, original doors and shutters. She's a beauty but cold in winter. We heat the rooms we are in. The kitchen is large and warm thanks to an oil burning range and wood stove also we've put electric underfloor heating in the bathrooms which stops it being too bleak. We cut our own wood and have solar panels on our outhouses which reduces the running costs.

I think it depends a lot on which house, as some older houses are cold, pokey, and dark. Mine is a large Georgian and I LOVE its symmetry, classical proportions, large rooms and high ceilings. It just feels like a balanced, well-designed house. At Christmas, with a big tree, the mantle garlanded with greenery, and the fire crackling, well, it feels like a dream.
With @DancingNotDrowning, I love the fact that every feature was built with beauty and quality in mind - the gorgeous stair-case, for example, and the deep, solid-wood skirting boards. I adore the feeling of being just one of many families that have raised their children here.
The fact that I can easily spend over a thousand dollars a month on heating during the cold months is less pleasant, as is the fact that, as we live in a historic district, it is difficult to find people to work on the house and, when you do find them, it will cost a small fortune. Our historic district architectural standards committee is also REALLY strict, making getting any permits or changing anything a bit of a slog.

I like the fact that there is “wasted space” in my house - a substantial landing that I have lined with bookcases; a piece of landing at the top of the stairs that doesn’t go anywhere but is perfect for a big chest of drawers. The rooms are all a decent size, and I love my fireplace in the sitting room. When I got divorced, everyone said get a modern house because the upkeep is so much easier - but I ended up with a house built in 1901, because it felt right. And I have never regretted it, even though there have been problems along the way.