Why do some new builds have bricked-up windows? “It’s to make the property look older, break up a blank wall and give it character apparently. It goes back to the old window tax days,” u/Neilkd21 ...

“What’s the point of fake windows on new builds?”, the site user asked above an image of a new build with what seemed to a be a fake bricked-up window. “I saw this on a few houses.

“The window tax was introduced in England in 1696. Houses with more than ten windows were liable for additional taxes which increased depending on number of windows they had,” Ford told us.

“The window tax was introduced in England in 1696. Houses with more than ten windows were liable for additional taxes which increased depending on number of windows they had,” Ford told us.

Amy Glover 14 March 2025 at 5:49 am·3-min read A brick wall with bricked window teo73 via Getty Images/iStockphoto ...