The most expensive house names can command price tags of over £1million — making them a surprisingly powerful way to add value to your property. But what’s in a name? Which house names are worth more than others?
As buyer confidence returns to the market and house prices start to rise for the first time in two years, per the latest RICS survey, you might be wondering if now is a good time to sell your house and if you do, how to get the best price.
Surprisingly, property nameplates can add £1,000s to the value of your home. And while anyone can name their property, you’ll need to register it with your local council to make it official.
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Research from Savills shows that house names such as The Manor House can be worth over £1million in England and Wales. To put this into perspective, this is almost four times the average house prices in the two areas.
Lucian Cook, head of residential research at Savills explains why certain house names have held steady over centuries, “House names instantly conjure an image, whether it’s the distinctive roof line of an Oast House or the intricate timbers within a Tithe Barn. Once home to those with the highest status in society, the likes of The Manor House, The Old Rectory and The Old Vicarage, still command the highest house prices, fending off the competition from more contemporary names such as Mallards and Timbers.”
Top 10 most expensive house names in the UK
The research carried out by Savills looked at the names linked with a minimum of 30 house sales in the last five years, where one in every five of these sales was £1million or more. It found that the most expensive house names in the UK were based on:
- the ancient feudal system
- religion
- mythology
- beer/brewing
- flora and fauna.
In first place is The Manor House, which commands the highest property price tag of £1.4million on average. At least two out of every five houses named The Manor House are worth more than £1million. The Manor House was historically the main house of the lord of the manor in the UK feudal system, and would typically be the largest house in the locality.
In the second position is The Old Rectory, worth an average of £1.3million. This name relates to houses provided by the church to its ministers and dates back to the Georgian, Regency and Victorian periods. At least 50% of the houses sold with this name in the last five years were valued at over £1million.
These are the most expensive house names in the UK, with their average price tag.
| Rank | Name | Average Value |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | The Manor House | £1,423,128 |
| 2 | (The) Old Rectory | £1,301,424 |
| 3 | Mallards | £1,164,150 |
| 4 | (The) Old Vicarage | £1,086,887 |
| 5 | The Oast House | £1,038,774 |
| 6 | Lime Tree House | £981,121 |
| 7 | Manor House / The Manor | £967,117 |
| 8 | Manor Farm House | £966,235 |
| 9 | Grove House | £962,904 |
| 10 | Glebe House | £940,814 |
Source: Savills
Phillippa Dalby-Welsh, head of Savills country department, says that house names often give prospective buyers a first impression of the property.
“The name of a house can give it a particular charm, even a notional personality before a prospective buyer has even set eyes on the property. Quintessentially English names symbolise ideal country living, and conjure up images of period drama,” she says.
As to why manor houses, rectories and vicarages work, she explains that such houses benefit from central locations which typically sit on the edge or at the centre of the village.
"Properties which historically symbolised high stature are also usually very well proportioned with high ceilings and large windows, and good sized gardens, perfect for modern-day families. The timeless appeal to these homes means they will never go out of fashion and will always be highly sought after by buyers.”
How to name your property
If you’re looking to name your current property but don’t know where to start, here are some ways to get your creative juices flowing.
- Honour its former use: If your home was once a barn, mill, or manor, incorporating its former use into the name could add historic charm.
- Look to the landscape: Take inspiration from your natural surroundings — whether it’s trees, rivers, hills, or perhaps a landmark like a church or a railway line, close by.
- Personal touch: If your home has something unique to offer, or maybe you just want to make it a memorable place to live, think about naming it after something you love. It could be your pet, your favourite travel destination or even your favourite food.
- Keep it simple: Naming your house can be a huge decision to make, especially if you’re planning to live there for a long time. You’ll be seeing it in letters, using it for paying bills and inviting people over. Try to keep your house name short and simple, so that it’s easy to say and remember while reflecting your property’s uniqueness.
Once you’ve settled on a name, there are a few hurdles and some paperwork involved to get your house name registered.
- Contact your local council: The first thing you need to do is contact your local council for approval to make sure it’s not already in use.
- Pay the fees: There is a fee involved if you want to name your house or rename it, which costs anywhere between £40 - £150 depending on your location.
- Keep your number: Most houses come with a postal number for identification purposes. You will be required to use the house number in your address and display it in a way that it can be clearly seen.
- Register the name change: After approval, the name must be updated with different services such as the Land Registry, your household bill providers, and mortgage lender. The council will do this for emergency services, so that's one job out of the way.
How to increase the value of your home
While naming your property can add prestige to your home, there are other ways you could boost its value.
Improve its energy-efficiency
Energy performance certificates have been in the news lately thanks to the Labour Party’s bid for landlords to improve their EPC ratings and boost efficiency. But it’s worth noting that a higher EPC rating can boost your house price, so consider upgrading your heating system or investing in solar panels to go a step further.
Add another bedroom
If you’ve got a large property with a spare room that you use for extra storage, you should consider converting it into an extra bedroom. According to L&C Mortgages, adding an extra bedroom to your house can increase its value by 20%. Another way to do this is by converting your garage or the loft into an extra room, which can help generate extra income from renting if you’re considering that in the future.
Improve your garden
Research from The AA found that a well-kept garden can boost your home’s value by 16%. If you’re not particularly keen on gardening or spending thousands on a revamp, try upgrading small buy eye-catching things such as adding some plants, some new garden furniture or repairing the lawn.
Declutter
You can give your property a sense of space and light by clearing out the clutter. A lot can change by removing some furniture, investing in cupboard and drawer organisers or even temporarily putting your overflow items into storage.
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