Some four million homes were built during the 1930s, more than have been built in any decade since. It was also a period of council house building after a Government initiative to provide housing after the end of the war. Inside art deco was all the rage. Outside simple modernist solid brick villas with metal-framed windows.
Semi detached properties
Simple modernist villas with metal-framed windows
Larger plots
Curved or angular bay windows
Kevin Hill says: ‘Large semis built on larger plots were all the rage. In fact, many of the local authority homes were better built than the private sector housing at that time. So the extra space and build quality makes 1930s homes ripe for development.’
Largely, yes. They tend to have good-sized windows that let in lots of light; rooms are of decent proportions and the balance of rooms upstairs and down is generally good.
If you’re buying ex-authority, do so with care – take a look at the area as a whole and check what houses there have recently sold for – you can do this at Upmystreet.com. Also, if you think you might like to expand the house into the loft – assuming the house is not flat-roofed - check what the planning department locally has allowed in the past and how much room for development there actually is up there.
For more about this period’s property, click here >>
Non-traditional construction and in particular high rise flats were all the rage in this period. The emphasis was on housing the greatest number of people in the smallest space. More thought went into housing needs rather than build quality.
High rise blocks made from steel frames and cast concrete
Shallower and flat roofs on houses
Semi and detached houses with tiled roofs and chimneys
Kevin Hill says: ‘A lot of 60s high risers have been improved but many have not which means you simply can’t get a mortgage to buy one. Roof pitches on houses became shallower so the ability to extend into the loft is reduced. The 60s also saw the arrival of flat roofs which are prone to leakage and are difficult to access. But there are good properties from this era especially those built from cavity brick and block.’
This is where detective work comes in – you need to really find out about the build quality of the house before you start thinking about its development potential. Assuming you’ve found a good house, look to the area. Are others in the locality selling well, and at what price? Unlike period properties, newer homes don’t always hold their value as well, so do your homework thoroughly first.
Leaking roof, poor build quality, badly constructed windows…
For more about property built in this period, click here >>
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