Purchasing A Listed Property Comes With benefits…And Restrictions!
Purchasing a listed property in Worcester offers some benefits, but will also come with some restrictions. It’s important to understand these restrictions if you’re considering buying one of the 2% of buildings in the UK that are on the National Heritage List due to special historical or architectural interest.
At Shelton & Lines we’ve got all the information you need to know about buying a listed home so that you can make a well-informed decision.
The National Heritage List
Buildings that are believed to be important enough to protect are listed on the National Heritage List for England. This is a searchable and comprehensive record of all of the country’s most significant buildings. If you buy a home on the list, it becomes your responsibility to maintain the property in accordance with the stringent guidelines, and that means, practically speaking, that you need to obtain not only planning permission but also listed-building consent if you want to make any changes.
Since taking any action without the appropriate permissions is actually a criminal offence, it isn’t something you should take lightly.
Listing Categories
Although there are some worrisome elements of owning a home that is of historical interest, it also comes with some benefits. For a start, it’s something you can be proud of, and it can give you an amazing and unique view of the past.
Listings fall into one of three categories, with 92% of them being Grade II which is the lowest of the groups. 5.5% of listed properties are in the Grade II* category, while just 2.5% of listed properties are Grade I – a grading that is withheld for only the buildings with the greatest significance.
The age of the building is key. Any property constructed before 1700 will certainly be listed. Properties built before 1840 are also very likely to be listed too. Even modern buildings may be listed if they have a specific significance or have been deemed to be under threat.
What Does Listing Cover?
Graded Listing covers an entire building including its interior. The only exception is when parts of the building have been excluded specifically in the description. Since every listed building is different, what’s actually covered by the listing may vary widely. Therefore, you should look up your listed home in Worcester to see precisely how detailed the listing record is.
Can I Make Changes To Listed Buildings?
Many people believe that it isn’t possible to make alterations of any kind to listed properties, but in fact, this isn’t the case. All changes, however, must be approved as suitable. A key point that regularly crops up is windows. It’s a top priority to maintain traditional windows in a listed building, and repairing rather than replacing is always preferable. New UPVC windows are highly unlikely ever to be suitable.
You’ll also have some restrictions when it comes to interior changes. Old walls, roof timbers, plaster ceilings, and old floors will usually need to be retained. That doesn’t mean it’s impossible to make changes, even significant ones, such as a loft conversion, but structural engineering services are likely to be required, together with a surveyor or architect who can understand repair issues alongside the home’s historical importance.
Will Maintenance And Repairs Be Expensive on a Listed Property?
Sometimes, it’s possible to obtain a grant from Historic England that will cover some or all of the costs of the conservation and repair of a listed property. However, anyone who purchases a listed property must understand that the expense of general maintenance and repairs will almost certainly be higher than those involved with non-listed properties, and some changes may be impossible.
If you’re interested in buying a listed building in Worcester, give us a call today on 01905 616330 or check out our listings on our website at https://www.sheltonandlines.co.uk
Kind regards
Dawn