Victorian homes are always popular among house-hunters. They offer a home with period features, a good layout and are often well-built. And while we always recommend people get a full building survey completed before buying a home, when you’re shopping around it’s good to know what to look for before putting in an offer.

Here are few areas you should be paying attention to when searching for your dream Victorian home…

Location

Firstly, check that it fits in with the surroundings. The majority of Victorian properties are terraced homes, so have a look to see that the whole terrace is still intact.

If not, what has happened to it? Has it been replaced by a high-quality development that complements the older properties or by bulk, poorly-made flats?

Original features

Strutt & Parker’s Housing Futures report found that the top interior design style home buyers look for is ‘traditional’. Original features can add to this look, but keep an eye on them as many were removed from Victorian properties in 60s and 70s.

Ceiling roses are one of the more popular, so check it’s the original. Many modern reproductions are as good as the originals so it shouldn’t be an issue if they’ve been replaced, but make sure you get a close look. Remember, these properties will have high ceilings so it might not be easy to spot a poorly made fake right away.  Any other replaced original features should be fitting with the period.

Roofing and ceilings

Victorian homes were often built with Welsh slate roofs. These are a great feature but you need to get a full survey of the home to check they’re in good condition as replacing like-for-like can be expensive. 

It’s also worth checking the interior ceilings to see whether they have been updated. The original lathe and plaster ceilings are one period feature you could do without.

Damp

Many Victorian properties used a slate damp proofing system that, over the decades, may well have cracked and perished. This can lead to damp issues in even the best properties. But in this day and age, getting damp fixed is not a problem as long as it hasn’t caused any major structural damage.

Subsidence

As with any old property, especially Victorian ones that weren’t built with the best foundations, it’s worth seeing if they have any subsidence. While some hairline cracks inside are par for the course, large cracks that you can fit your fingers into and that run the height of the building are worth paying attention to.  Other signs of subsidence include doors not shutting properly, sagging window sills and windows that won’t open.

If the property is mid-terrace (which it likely is) then subsidence shouldn’t be too much of an issue. But it’s worth having a look at your potential neighbours’ properties to see if they have any cracks on the outside brickwork.

Upgrades

Have a good look the heating, plumbing and electrics as these may need upgrading. You’ll need to look behind switches and plugs as they can be easily replaced and hide old wiring. Ask your estate agent if they know when these were last updated and for certification that it was carried out to the required standard. And if you still don’t feel happy, bring along a plumber or electrician to check out the house for you.

Wall insulation is also worth asking about, as older homes might not have double glazing so you’ll need other ways to keep warm. Again, this can be added easily after the purchase if needs be.

Rooms and layout

Victorian properties tend to be laid out in a fairly standard format with two reception rooms at the front of the house and a kitchen at the back. They are adaptable to modern living with many people opting to knock through the reception rooms into one, remove the front corridor and extend the kitchen out the back.

If this has already been done, check the work was carried out to a high standard and that it has a fire certificate. The original layout would have helped prevent the spread of fire, while open plan living with stairs open to the reception rooms can be a fire hazard. These sorts of homes should have a sprinkler system or fire curtain.

If the loft has been converted, check its head height. You might be able to stand up straight in the middle but find that actual useful space is limited by the eaves of the roof.