Essential Guides And Advice Guide To Listed Property

Date Published:

20/05/2008

Is it better to buy a shiny new build or to plunge for a period property? Does mock Tudor mean mock workmanship or value for money? Is taking on a listed property a bank balance hazard or a safe bet? We bring you the definitive guide to property in the UK and explore the pros and cons of your investment.

Listed Buildings

The listing process began in Britain in 1947, a response in part to the loss of significant buildings during the bombing of the Second World War. Today the Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport is responsible for compiling the list of over 500,000 buildings thought to be of special value or interest, while English Heritage provides guidance and deals with the day-to-day administration. An overhaul of the current listing regulations, which began in 2005, is still ongoing. The intention is to create a more transparent and user-friendly system for those living in listed buildings

It is the public that generally brings buildings to the attention of English Heritage. To qualify for listing status a property does not necessarily have to be beautiful, but must in some way be rare, unique, architecturally interesting, or linked to a famous individual.

It is illegal to alter, extend or in any way change the character of a listed building without first obtaining listed building consent from the relevant local planning authority. Those that ignore this law risk heavy fines and possible imprisonment.

A listed home can be anything from a twisting timber framed Tudor residence to a hunk of modernist concrete. Each will require the householder to understand and adapt to a wide range of possibly unfamiliar materials and techniques.

You should look into specialist insurance policies offered for listed buildings and also research any grants that may be available to you to assist with the upkeep of your nationally valuable home.