Buying a Post-War House: What to Check

Many post-war homes were built from precast concrete panels, steel frames or timber frames instead of brick. Some look like ordinary brick houses from the outside, because a brick skin was added later.

Ask the seller, the agent or the surveyor how the house was built. The answer affects both its condition and your mortgage.

Some types of precast reinforced concrete (PRC) houses were officially designated as defective in the 1980s, because the concrete can crack as the steel inside it rusts.

Many lenders will not lend on an unrepaired PRC house. A house repaired under an approved scheme usually has a certificate that lenders ask to see.

Steel-framed homes, such as the BISF type, can be mortgageable but need the frame checked for rust, especially at ground level.

Early timber-framed homes need the frame protected from damp. Ask whether any part of the frame has been inspected or repaired.

Asbestos was widely used in homes built after the war, in places such as soffits, floor tiles, textured ceilings and garage roofs. It is usually low risk if left undisturbed.

If you plan to renovate, budget for an asbestos survey before work starts.

• How the house was built, and whether any certificate of repair exists.
• Whether your lender will accept that construction type.
• What insulation, windows and heating have been upgraded, and when.

A record of past work, such as a Propvio passport, can answer the last question before you commit to a survey.