When a house was built

[Isabel H]

You might be able to discover when it first appeared in Valuation Rolls.

[Viktoria]

I had to apply to The Land Registry to find out something important.
The copy of the relevant deed cost a little over £7  00.
Viktoria.

[josey]

When meathead gets back to us we can help more, as we really need to know which country the house is in....she may be able look for the address on the 1939 as well to see if it was built by then. However, it seems it may be older.

As I understand it, you can download a current title sheet from the English Land Registry for a fee but that doesn't tell you previous owners or transactions. You then have to pay an additional fee for each previous transfer; they must keep records of earlier title sheets. In Scotland the Register of Sasines a single property search sheet tells you all the transactions & recorded deeds from 1870 [1st series] then 1880 onwards [2nd series] - though purchases, transfers & new registrations after each county was transferred to the Land Register are now in that register.

Did you get any picture via pm yet, Ruskie?

[Maiden Stone]

We only knew that our house was built between the wars. One day we had a plumber in and he asked how old it was. When Dad said he didn't know the exact date, the plumber looked closely at the bath taps. They had the date on them - 1922! It probably was on the deeds, but they were at the bank and I don't suppose Dad had looked for it.

That's how I dated my house. When I received the title deeds they showed I was correct.
Electoral registers may be another route.

[Ruskie]

No. No picture yet josey.

Understandably, Meathead may not wish to reveal the address however a photo would be anonymous and could be posted on the boards for others to offer their opinions too ... perhaps.   

[JohninSussex]

I would go for electoral registers too.  If your starting point is "between the wars" which equates to 1929 ± 10 years, find out where you can see historic electoral registers, start with 1929 and see if you can find the house or road or row of houses.  If it is older you may be able to track the address in the 1911 census or again on voters lists. And so on.

[ThrelfallYorky]

The deeds for my own parent's last house showed the date of building, and when/from who the land was purchased. That also meant that the previous owner could be looked up in old censuses. The house they had before that, earliest date on deeds was 1804. The house I was actually born in was even earlier, and I lived for the first few years of my life in one dating from 1640 - and that also was carved above the porch, so the house may even have been a little older itself.
Most deeds will surely have information on them. Current house, built 1974, certainly has. Can't believe we're the only ones where all deeds have dates ... including extensions etc. I recall reading through the deeds and making notes when we bought house - as for some years the Building Society actually had the documents!