New vs Old: Nation divided when it comes to their favourite period of home

• New properties crowned the nation’s top choice of housing
• Belfast has the highest proportion of modern homes (30.6%) while London has the highest proportion of period properties (25.9%)
• Homeowners willing to pay MORE for a second bathroom, large garden and a big hallway
• Size does matter: top three new build turn offs are all about being too small
• High maintenance, high cost of utilities and potential listed building status put homebuyers off older properties

A new investigation from Admiral Home Insurance has revealed that newly built properties are the nation’s favourite style of home, despite concerns over inadequate room sizes and a lack of character.

With over three quarters of a million new houses built in the UK in the last 5 years alone, research from Admiral has found that almost a quarter (23%) of people would pick a new-build home over any other period property if they had the choice.

Modern houses are followed by Victorian properties (built 1838 – 1900) as the nation’s favourites - characterised by bay, sash style windows, patterned brickwork made from coloured bricks and stained glass in doors and windows.

The third favourite style are Georgian style properties (built 1721 – 1810) with typically symmetrical formations, multi-paned windows and traditional features like cornicing appealing to buyers.

New builds: The pros and cons, according to Brits

When it comes to buying a house, Admiral found that buyers have a clear impression of what newly constructed  properties have to offer, and what they don’t.

Showing that the environment is high on the agenda of home-owners, over two thirds (70%) of people positively associate new builds with being eco-friendly.

Meanwhile, low maintenance (69%) and running costs (64%) are the second and third attributes commonly associated with this type of home.

However, when it comes to the cons of a new build, size really does matter. The top three turn-offs for Brits when it comes to new houses are the bedrooms being too small (38%), the living space being too small (37%) and the garden being too small (36%).

Meanwhile, lack of character (35%) was also a turn off for over a third of people, followed by new builds being ‘overpriced’ or charged at a premium (31%).