Buying a 1960s or 1970s House: What to Check

Asbestos was used widely in this period, in textured ceiling coatings, floor tiles, boxing around pipes, soffits and garage roofs. It was not fully banned in the UK until 1999.

It is usually low risk if left alone. If you plan to renovate, an asbestos survey should come before any drilling, sanding or removal.

Flat roofs were popular on garages, porches and extensions. Older felt roofs typically need replacing every few decades.

Ask when any flat roof was last replaced, what it was replaced with, and whether a guarantee came with it.

Large single-glazed windows were common, and many have since been replaced. Ask for the certificate for any replacement since 2002.

Some homes of this period had cavity wall insulation added later. Ask whether it is guaranteed. If the paperwork cannot be found, see Missing Your Cavity Wall Insulation Guarantee?

Wiring from this period may be original, with an old fuse box rather than a modern consumer unit. Ask when it was last checked or replaced.

Many homes of this age have had several boilers. Lost Your Boiler Installation Certificate? explains which documents to ask the seller for.

Some homes and flats from this era were built using concrete or other system-built methods. As with post-war homes, check whether your lender accepts the construction type.

Buying a Post-War House explains why construction type matters for a mortgage.

Knowing which original features have already been replaced helps you plan your budget. A record of each job, with dates and the tradesperson who did it, answers that quickly.

For more general checks, see What to Check Before Buying a House in the UK.