Buying a Victorian or Edwardian House: What to Check

Most Victorian and Edwardian houses have solid brick walls with no cavity. They were built with lime mortar and lime plaster, which let moisture escape.

Cement repointing, cement render or plastic-based paints can trap that moisture inside the wall. Look for these on the outside, since they often explain damp patches inside.

Damp in an old house is often blamed on rising damp. It is frequently caused by high ground levels, blocked gutters, leaking pipes or condensation instead.

Ask what caused any past damp treatment, and whether the cause was fixed. How to Spot Damp and Mould Before You Buy a Home explains what to look for on a viewing.

• Slate roofs can last a long time, but the nails holding the slates eventually fail. Slipped slates are a sign.
• Ground floors are often timber, suspended over a void. Air bricks must stay clear to stop the timbers rotting.
• Chimneys may be unused, capped or leaning. Ask whether any have been removed inside, and whether the removal was supported properly.

Homes built before 1970 may still have lead water pipes, usually between the stop tap and the kitchen. Ask whether they have been replaced.

The wiring will have been replaced at least once. Ask for the certificate from the last rewire, or an EICR. Understanding an EICR explains what the report shows.

Many period homes are in conservation areas, and some are listed. That can limit changes such as new windows, extensions or removing chimneys.

Check with the council before you rely on making a particular change after you buy.

A long-owned period house may have decades of repairs behind it. A record of who did each job, and when, tells you more than a survey alone.

If the seller has a Propvio passport, you can see which jobs were confirmed by the tradesperson who did them.