In article ,
Peter Parry wrote:
The worst houses, to be avoided at all costs, are those built between
about 1960 and 1985. Dire standards and poor materials.

I'd second that. I've a few pals that live in a nearby Barrets estate that
was built in the late '80s. They weren't cheap because of the location -
about the same as a Victorian cottage in the same area.

All the windows and external doors have had to be replaced. Boilers also -
although due to the excellent insulation they're hardly needed. Floors in
bathrooms and kitchens - untreated chipboard sitting on polystyrene, so
any spilt water that gets to it ruins it. Water system with a header tank
in the bathroom rather than roof void, so no possibility of a shower
without re-plumbing. Plasterboard with no skim - so just try taking off
wallpaper. All the front pathways now an obstacle course. Rear fences
rotten - if they didn't get blown down. And the most stupid positioning of
light switches and sockets you've ever seen. Poor sound insulation in the
flats, although the houses aren't too bad. Oh - and all the garage doors
have needed replacing too.

And they're tiny inside. Sod the low heating costs - I'll stick to my
space - and a house that's simple to fix as needed.

--
*When you've seen one shopping centre you've seen a mall.*

Dave Plowman London SW 12
RIP Acorn