Buying a listed property affords you the very limited opportunity to own a real piece of history, but it’s not without its challenges. You’ll still be required to adhere to the legalese governing listed buildings and the upkeep and restoration definitely cost a bit of money.
To help manage those expenses, consider getting a second job. Alternatively, you might explore turning a hobby into a small business for additional income. Both can provide additional income to support your restoration efforts. Additionally, you might indulge in an online betting experience through this spina zonke register, which could be a fun way to potentially make a few bucks while enjoying some entertainment!
What is a listed building and what you can do to it?
A listed building is one which has been added to the National Heritage List since it has ‘special architectural or historic interest.’ If you own such a building, you’re responsible for maintaining its character, which may include the outside such as the garden too.
For a building to be listed, it would have to be more than 30 years old. Selection for listing gets a bit pickier following the period of 1700 to 1840, a period from which most buildings are generally listed. A surviving building which was built before 1700 is listed if it resembles something close to its original state.
Planning guidance is needed from the government, otherwise you can alter and extend the building to your heart’s desire if you purchase it. The listed building is otherwise protected from harmful development or demolition. Historic England offers some good advice for listed building buyers considering making alterations.
In order to make any changes, you may consult local regulations and laws and understand what is permissible. For instance, you can work towards restoring the original features of the building by replacing historical fixtures with replicas. Similarly, you can install modern amenities such as insulation or solar panels in a way that they don’t disturb the architectural features. If you want to protect the building from human or animal invasion, you can consider hiring a reputable Fencing Contractor for getting fencing or gates installed.
The conservation officer will be your go-to person, an employee of the local council whose role is to maintain your building’s character. They can give you advice on the techniques and materials you can use to effect any changes on the property. No fees are involved in obtaining the required consent for any and all work, however it is a criminal offence to effect alterations to a listed building without obtaining consent.
Caring for a listed building
Run a check for overflows and broken and blocked downpipes and gutters to combat what has proven to be the very common problem of damp with old buildings. After that, you can move on to the exterior. A heritage bricklayer in Yorkshire, or wherever the property is located, would be right for the job. Beyond that, a surveyor might be needed for more serious problems.
For possible flooding, preventative maintenance can be carried out, like perhaps adding air brick covers and door guards. If the property has a big front yard or garden, check for rotten trees and unnecessary vines. You should immediately remove them as they can degrade the looks of the building. You may also consider hiring a garden maintenance company like Atlanta Landscaping (https://www.landscapingcompaniesatlanta.com/) or similar firms nearby that can help preserve the aesthetics of the garden and increase the value of the property by making the landscape look beautiful.
For part-unused or unused properties, you could be forced to make building repairs if deemed necessary for the building’s preservation, otherwise any renovation or repair work which has anything to do with decay or damage must conform with the regulations as per your conservation officer.
Saving energy in a listed building
You can add a more efficient modern boiler to upgrade the heating in most listed buildings and you could perhaps also add insulation to the attic and other rooms. Planning advice would be required for larger works, but you may not be allowed to install more modern double-glazing as this could quite considerably alter the appearance of the building.
Insurance for listed buildings
To provide adequate coverage for a listed building, specialised insurance would be required. Most standard home insurers don’t cover listed buildings, but specialists in insurance for listed buildings such as the likes of Lycetts have some practical advice surrounding the legal protection of a listed building.