Anyone bought a Grade 2 listed house?

car0line123

There are a couple of listed semi-detached (or terraced) properties in my area.

I am desperately trying to find a house, but there isn't much on the market at all, so I am wondering if I should consider the listed houses, which are surprisingly in my price range.

Apart from a special insurance, the age of the property I guess and the need to ask for authorisation before making any changes, what are the big negatives? (

Am I missing anything obvious?

I would be grateful if anyone who has experience with these could share their views! Thanks.

Mgman1965

They can be a problem and can't be maintained on a budget.

You can't replace, repair or paint anything outside without the rigmarole of getting permission (and sometimes a visit) from the council or English Heritage, this can include boundary's and even gardens in extreme cases.

Chances are you will never be able to extend either.

The owners of a row of unremarkable listed cottages near me replaced their rotten sash windows with upvc and the council made them rip them out a few months later and put wooden single glazed sash ones back in.

RAS

It very very much depends on your local conservation officers; some are bizarre others are sensible.

And as a rule if you discuss things with them first they will come to a compromise whereas if you do things wrong they get stroppy and insist on re-instatement.

And extensions have been approved (several on different houses) but they do need to be in character.

stator

The dangers of course are that you end up with a huge repair bill because you have to replace like with like. eg if it has lead parts to the roof or iron guttering and they break, you have to use the same materials.

If you don't want to rennovate or extend etc and are happy with the house the way it is, it's certainly worth considering one, but you would want to get extra surveys carried out to make sure the whole house is in very good condition and you would want to get extra quotes for replacing the roof etc, just so you know what your getting yourself in for.

you would also want to get guarantees from the seller that they have made no chagnes without permission

slopemaster

Mgman1965 wrote: »

The owners of a row of unremarkable listed cottages near me replaced their rotten sash windows with upvc and the council made them rip them out a few months later and put wooden single glazed sash ones back in.

Sounds reasonable to me.
I mean, who would think it appropriate to put uPVC in a listed building!?

Chanes

Listed buildings, Conservation areas and preservation orders are on my avoid list. I know some people don't mind the bureaucracy of them but I think it limits your resale potential should you choose to move.

AdrianC

First off, check what's actually listed about the place - it may not be the entire house, just one aspect of it.
http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/mapsearch.aspx

phoebe1989seb

AdrianC wrote: »

First off, check what's actually listed about the place - it may not be the entire house, just one aspect of it.
http://list.english-heritage.org.uk/mapsearch.aspx

True to a point.....but the whole house will be covered by the listing and you will still require LBC to carry out work within the boundary......

AdrianC

Yes, you will. But the permission will be readily granted if it doesn't affect any aspect of the house of interest to the listing.

Hoploz

I own a flat within a beautiful listed regency building. It is freeeeeezing! It has single glazed wooden framed sash windows. I think we often forget that luxuries like double glazing are so worthwhile, people get carried away with the romantic idea of original features, and even in unlisted homes, talk about removing perfectly good warm windows for original single glazing. I bet they regret it when they live there in the midst of winter! As well as the draughts they always run with condensation which has to be dealt with on a daily basis as if left the frames will rot.

It is worth checking what can and can't be done as there are many issues over both external and internal alterations.

But that is just my own opinion!

DaveTheMus

I live in a Grade II listed property and I've encountered no problems - however it still has the original windows and the window bays could only accommodate a modern single glazing sitting behind the original windows which are about 100 years old so it can push the heating bills up and it feels quite chilly when standing near the window on a cold winter day.