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Legal matters

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Original poster

Council has different rules for private home owners than itself?!

79 replies

Emilymaitlisfangirl · 18/10/2025 18:50

Afternoon everyone. I'm not sure whether this is better in property or legal, but think this is possibly technical.

I have owned my grade 2 (NO STAR) listed home since 2005. In 2010 i was served an enforcement notice because the previous owners changed timbers ash windows to upvc. I was going to change the windows anyway but not to timber which was very expensive. The council insisted upon single glazed, citing that in 1860 no one had double glazed so it was not in keeping. This means heat retention is crap and I've had to pay for secondary glazing (or pay in the form of bills). Also, The roof needed fixing. They made us buy very expensive tiles. This is now 2013 and 2018 respectively.

I have just discovered that the council owned properties on the street that are the same as mine have had double glazed windows installed and bog standard tiles. The premium I paid to keep aligned with council policy must be at least £15k.

I want to complain, but honestly I also want to be compensated, or fort he council to have to change everything they have done.

I had to take out loans for the extra I had to pay. I'm so upset.

Are there any thoughts on this?

OP posts:

Original poster

Emilymaitlisfangirl · 20/10/2025 11:21

LauraNorda · 19/10/2025 14:57

Are the council owned properties listed or not? You seem to be avoiding that question.

All listed.

OP posts:

Original poster

Emilymaitlisfangirl · 20/10/2025 11:31

bilbodog · 20/10/2025 11:10

OP, putting secondary glazing in your listed home is probably better than double glazed windows. If the council are putting upvc windows and insulation in the ones they own they will probably end up with damp houses.

look after your listed house which needs to breathe and you will be the winner in the end.

Yes, thank you. The house is stunning now we have restored. I personally think we should go in for awards (ha ha!!). When I leave my house, passersby say 'your house is so beautiful' and I do love that, and there is nothing so satisfying as Georgian proportions (I feel like the pretentious posh mum in Motherland!). So, much to think about on the positives of owning these homes.

OP posts:

MaJoady · 20/10/2025 11:32

Can you report the houses to the enforcement officer? Wouldn't entirely surprise me if one council department simply isn't talking to another...

And then if it goes nowhere, use the precedent set to have the discussion with the enforcement officer to be able to install double glazing in your property.

But just do the first bit initially as a "concerned citizen" and let that play out

Original poster

Emilymaitlisfangirl · 20/10/2025 11:34

True, but at this stage new timber sash double glazed windows will be hugely costly.

OP posts:

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