Listed building and windows

GrubbyGirl_2

Sounds like you now know why the other people pulled out

GDB2222

You can get thin double glazed units that can slot into some traditional window frames in place of the single panes without greatly affecting the appearance. It’s possible that this was done, and the conservation officer either didn’t notice or didn’t care. 

strawb_shortcake

GDB2222 said:

You can get thin double glazed units that can slot into some traditional window frames in place of the single panes without greatly affecting the appearance. It’s possible that this was done, and the conservation officer either didn’t notice or didn’t care. 

They are large fancy UPVC windows, open two ways and more akin to a far more modern house. 

GDB2222

strawb_shortcake said:

GDB2222 said:

You can get thin double glazed units that can slot into some traditional window frames in place of the single panes without greatly affecting the appearance. It’s possible that this was done, and the conservation officer either didn’t notice or didn’t care. 

They are large fancy UPVC windows, open two ways and more akin to a far more modern house. 

This could well be a problem, I guess.  In fact, I am surprised nothing has been done about it. 

We live in a conservation area and the local trust would be onto this immediately. 

strawb_shortcake

GDB2222 said:

strawb_shortcake said:

GDB2222 said:

You can get thin double glazed units that can slot into some traditional window frames in place of the single panes without greatly affecting the appearance. It’s possible that this was done, and the conservation officer either didn’t notice or didn’t care. 

They are large fancy UPVC windows, open two ways and more akin to a far more modern house. 

This could well be a problem, I guess.  In fact, I am surprised nothing has been done about it. 

They look like these, I'm quite tempted to speak to the council 

youth_leader

Gawd and Bennett!  Don't think these were available in 1847!  

youth_leader

I've been thinking about our old house today @strawb_shortcake, and do hope you will reconsider if this house stretches you financially.    We bought our listed g2 railway station when our kids were 2 and 4, in 1999.  I applied for all the grants and we were refused - we could only get a grant if we opened to the public, obviously we didn't want to, it was our family home. 

We didn't have a holiday until 2007 because we poured all of our money into the house, and we only had a holiday then because my husband had an unexpected windfall.  I didn't work, and he was on a salary of about £100K, it still wasn't enough.  Both of us received a small inheritance from our parents - my husband spent his converting the waiting rooms, I spent mine on the Aga installation and carpets.   @BungalowBel is right, they are a money pit, and you do need an endless supply.    PS I didn't have enough money to maintain the house when my husband died and although I received his pension, it wasn't the amount I'd expected.  I was also 59 and didn't realise I'd got a six year wait for my state pension.  We've had some big storms up here and the slate rooves needing repair - I was quoted £30K.  I'd already paid a cowboy £500 for a chimney repair and he used concrete - can't use that on sandstone, has to be lime and mortar.  The new owner has been telling people he has been quoted £30K by Network Rail for closing down the line for a few hours whilst he has scaffolding put up lineside - so I'd have never been able to get it done.  As it is a criminal offence to allow a listed building to fall into disrepair, I was scared, and sold at auction for a very low sum for peace of mind.

strawb_shortcake

youth_leader said:

I've been thinking about our old house today @strawb_shortcake, and do hope you will reconsider if this house stretches you financially.    We bought our listed g2 railway station when our kids were 2 and 4, in 1999.  I applied for all the grants and we were refused - we could only get a grant if we opened to the public, obviously we didn't want to, it was our family home. 

We didn't have a holiday until 2007 because we poured all of our money into the house, and we only had a holiday then because my husband had an unexpected windfall.  I didn't work, and he was on a salary of about £100K, it still wasn't enough.  Both of us received a small inheritance from our parents - my husband spent his converting the waiting rooms, I spent mine on the Aga installation and carpets.   @BungalowBel is right, they are a money pit, and you do need an endless supply.    PS I didn't have enough money to maintain the house when my husband died and although I received his pension, it wasn't the amount I'd expected.  I was also 59 and didn't realise I'd got a six year wait for my state pension.  We've had some big storms up here and the slate rooves needing repair - I was quoted £30K.  I'd already paid a cowboy £500 for a chimney repair and he used concrete - can't use that on sandstone, has to be lime and mortar.  The new owner has been telling people he has been quoted £30K by Network Rail for closing down the line for a few hours whilst he has scaffolding put up lineside - so I'd have never been able to get it done.  As it is a criminal offence to allow a listed building to fall into disrepair, I was scared, and sold at auction for a very low sum for peace of mind.

It is a lovely little house, but in all honesty it doesn't meet our needs it has no parking which is really a priority. 
In theory we'd probably net around £30k if we moved to this house appreciate it's got an ongoing cost as well as the cost to fix the windows. There is also a noisy pub not too far away and it's on a busy road, I suspect the current windows dim the noise substantially. 

It's a nice romantic idea to have a house with such history but not this one. The owners are going into a retirement property, they've lived there 40 years. But if they've added the windows without permission you have to consider what else they've done. They haven't applied for any PP since at least 2007.

Thank you for sharing, and sorry to hear how hard it made life for you.

I'm cross that the EA seems to be misleading people, and dismissing our concerns. It's priced around £300k which for the area is pretty good so it will attract those that may not have the financials to maintain a house like this. She did say she'd get back to us on that but she hasn't 

Slinky

We had a listed property up for sale in our town (windmill, house plus other buildings), and I did notice that amongst the many details about the property, the agent said the new owners would need to replace the windows on the house as they had been replaced without permission.

ExEstateAgent

I don't think you can buy an indemnity policy to protect you againt criminal charges (which is what you can face for breaking listed building rules).