Bespoke insurance provider Stanhope has outlined several practical ways for homeowners to identify when their property was constructed and discussed why knowing a home’s age can have financial and insurance implications.
“Knowing the property’s age is crucial for homeowners, for a number of reasons,” explained Matthew Ashton, a director of Stanhope. “Firstly, insurers need to know when it was built so that they can assess risk. This is particularly important for high-value property insurance. Secondly, knowing its age is useful in predicting the cost of home renovations as it provides a better understanding of what materials and techniques may be needed.”
“Calculating a property’s age is also crucial to determining its rebuild value, which is needed when obtaining a quote for home insurance, because it protects the owner against being left underinsured, in the event of the worst happening,” Ashton commented. “The age of the property also affects its market value when trying to sell it. Homes with historical or architectural significance can be very attractive to home buyers and may increase their value.”
Step-by-step guide to finding out when a home was built:
1: Check the title deeds to establish the first transfer date from developer to owner and the year built.
2: Search the Land Registry, which holds property ownership records.
3: Contact the local council as they hold planning records that may identify when a house was built, as well as the relevant planning permissions and building control documents.
4: For older homes (pre-1940s), check historical maps and archives, which can be a treasure trove. These include Ordnance Survey maps, census records and listed building registers.
Useful links for property age research:
https://www.gov.uk/search-property-information-land-registry
https://www.ros.gov.uk/
https://www.nidirect.gov.uk/contacts/land-property-services-headquarters
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/help-with-your-research/research-guides/houses/
Ashton continued: “Being aware of when your house was built isn’t just something that is nice to know; it’s essential knowledge when it comes to fully understanding the insurance risks your home faces and how best to keep it properly maintained and protected.”
