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A Guide to Property in the UK
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.
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.
In England the listing system is graded as follows:
Grade I buildings are regarded as being of exceptional interest.
Grade II* listed properties are considered to be particularly important examples of special interest buildings.
Grade II listed buildings – by far the most common - are considered of special interest and therefore all steps should be taken to preserve them.
In Scotland and Northern Ireland listed buildings are Graded A, B and C.
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.
Pros
When you buy a listed property, by definition you are purchasing a home of rare, possibly unique character. Your home may be a little piece of architectural – even national – history and your very presence within it and your care for it may be making an important contribution to the country’s heritage. You may also be buying a home of real beauty, often with land attached, one that has proven its strength and durability. It may offer more generous proportions than more modern homes and it may exemplify the kind of craftsmanship and attention to detail that you just can’t find anymore.
Cons
Age, nature and the elements are not kind to buildings. As many of the materials originally used to construct your home may not now be readily available, you may have difficulty and additional expense sourcing acceptable replacements for even the most basic remedial work. You may even find the skills required for the quality of repair needed are in short supply.
Many older properties suffer from inadequate foundations and sewers. Many will be of timber frame construction and vulnerable to warping and infestation as they pre-date timber treatment and preservation techniques.
Listed buildings – particularly the more ancient variety – are not well suited to 21st century electric, communication, and water hungry lifestyles. Obtaining planning permission for changes that make life more comfortable for you and your family may be difficult and time consuming.
Allergy sufferers should think twice before making a decisive move towards an older listed home. Mould, spores and pollen buried deep in the fabric of the building can make sufferers’ lives a misery.
Typical Owner
Rich media mogul, Rufus Sherlock, failed to find a football team to bankroll, so instead has sunk much of his wealth into a listed Elizabethan shell in Buckinghamshire.
Useful websites:
Offering advice on upkeep, grants and insurance to owners of listed buildings.
