Would you buy a grade 2 listed house?

8 replies

Feebeela · 30/04/2018 21:09

Hello wise MN'ers,

We have fallen in love with a grade 2 listed house. It's valued just over our budget but at a squeeze, we could do it. Looks like it's in fantastic condition but I'm no expert at all. I understand that any previous works that don't comply with restrictions we could be liable. I also understand that any repairs in the future could cost more than standard repairs as specialist crafts people are required. Are grade 2 listed houses just money pits?

Do you live in a grade 2 listed house and if so, what are the pitfalls? Is it worth it? Would we be crazy to even consider buying this beautiful house/money pit?

OP posts:

WhalesOfYore · 30/04/2018 21:39

Have done, more than once, would do so again. You're absolutely right that you will be more (but not totally) restricted in what you can change, and doing it will be more expensive, so if you're going to buy, don't buy for some vague sense of history, but because the property offers benefits that you can't get otherwise - location, view, facade, ceiling heights, proportions, unique features, etc.

thedayismine · 30/04/2018 22:40

We live in one. We fell in love with it too !
Ours isn't so far feeling like a money pit but that depends on its current condition and what you work you would hope to do.
We are finding it's quite a lot of work but that's more to do with its size- then its age - being listed doesn't really feature .
We have however replaced the roof so we do know the red tape !
There is a lady close by with a listed cottage who is looking to move as they can't do all the extending they hoped to .
Tricky to advise - see what a full survey says for a start !

7seas · 02/05/2018 11:24

We have had 2 grade Ii liSred houses. Loved both and will be looking for another shortly. Have also had modern and hated every inch!

BabiesComeWithHats · 02/05/2018 11:25

Go on.. show us!

Bluntness100 · 02/05/2018 11:31

We live in a grade 11 listed building and we also fell in love with it.

Sure it has its downsides, it's a bugger to heat in winter downstairs. But we have no desire to rip out any original features, extend, or change the structure, and you can do things like change the kitchen, which we have done, paint and decorate, change bathroom etc without permission,

The grade 11 listing is really saying you can't change the structure or rip out original features without permission. That's all.

I wouldn't hesitate to live in one again. You can do things, like ours has an additional building and a front porch added the previous owners did, it just needs to be done with permission so it's in line with the original building. Clearly when we bought we obtained copies of the planning permission that was granted for them to do it. Although to be honest they have been done so well I didnt realise they were additions until thr solicitor told us.

Joinourclub · 02/05/2018 12:02

Buy it if you like it how it is now (structurally) , don't buy it hoping to knock through rooms and extend, as you may not be allowed.

CutesyUserName · 02/05/2018 12:46

We live in a Grade II listed house and love it. There is nothing else like it, anywhere in the world. I know that new houses are perfect for lots of people, but not for me.

Our heating bills are higher (high, beamed ceilings) and house insurance is higher and doing work on the house can be costly and involve a lengthy process. Having said that, I'd choose a character home every time.

Allington · 02/05/2018 13:03

Find out what particular bit is the reason for being listed.

In the house I grew up in it was mainly because of some Tudor panelling, so other parts of the house weren't of much interest and permission to make changes e.g. replace some windows was easy enough and didn't need specialists.

Grade II is a fairly low-level grading, so won't be too limiting.

Flip