Landlord doing works on listed building

[EnchantedByGin]

We rent a lovely grade 2 listed, C17th house. And finally the landlord has hired some builders to do some much needed repairs. One of these repairs is to a wooden windowsill which has basically all but rotten away (did I mention the works are much needed?). The builders had initially, I assume, underestimated the repair to this as I overheard them earlier coming up with a new plan which included using cement and wood. Now having always been lucky enough to have lived in beautiful (if, drafty) old houses, I feel strongly that as it is listed and it’s a street facing window that a botched job and not replacing like for like (all with no input from anyone in a conservation role) is just wrong. My DH is of the opinion that we don’t own the house, we don’t want to make trouble for the guys carrying out the work as they seem really nice and we don’t want to rock the boat as far as our landlords are concerned. So we just ignore it. But it doesn’t sit well with me at all and I want to anonymously contact listed buildings. Is this the right thing to do, or is my husband right and we just stay out of it?

Been in the same boat exactly op. Ring the planning dept at the council. Any works needs permission from them. Also you can find listed building numbers on Google for your area. Not necessarily have come from you if neighbours have seen the building work being started...

Thanks @Sunnydaysstillhere

Your very right that cement should never be used for a listed building and if they aren't doing exact 'like for like' repairs i.e. replacing a timber cill with a timber cill then the landlord is actually commiting a criminal act. I would make an anonymous call to your local planning officer and ask to speak to the enforcement officer, who investigates breaches of planning law. It's external work so the landlord won't know who had reported it and hopefully they'll get someone in who knows how to repair the building appropriately.

Even like for like needs planning permission!

@Sunnydaysstillhere

Even like for like needs planning permission!

No it doesn’t. Not for small things like this. Seriously, I don’t want to be rude, but why would you post about planning for a listed building if you’ve no idea.

My ndn started dismantling my wall-had a thread about it over a year ago. . Listed buildings officer and planning came out. I had a letter to say pp was needed to put it back as it was. Sent letter on to my ll as I rent.
Shall I ring and say they lied?
As my ll is in no hurry to pay for pp the wall remains half dismantled.

If you don't want to talk directly to the council or are worried about the landlord thinking it was you, speak to your local councillor.
I get reports like that on a fairly frequent basis about planning breaches, I can follow them up effectively and I ALWAYS keep it anonymous if I'm asked to do so.
It may require permission, it may not but the person to make that judgment is the listed buildings officer at the council.
If not, then it's all above board and no problem. If it does, they will check and speak to the owner about getting the correct permission in place.
Failure to get the permission in place can land the person doing unauthorised works in serious trouble - and the authority where I am a member ( think historic cathedral city- outing if I say where), take it seriously and do prosecute.

@Redkatagain thank you so much, that’s so helpful.

you're a tenant, it’s none of your business

I’d be furious if I was your landlord and you contacted the council instead of speaking to me.

@waterandlemonjuice thanks, I really appreciate your take on it. So do you think it would be better to wait and see what they do and raise it with our LL if I am concerned about materials used etc? Or that it’s truly none of our business and my husband is right about staying out of it?

@waterandlemonjuice That's quite harsh. The tenant lives in the building and had seen an illegal activity taking place, it is their place to say something if they choose to. You can report breaches of planning even if you're just walking past a building. The listed building will be there long after the landlord is gone and protecting it is important.

@Sunnydaysstillhere It sounds as if the enforcement was brought in that case because dismantling the wall isn't a 'like for like' repair, which is why they were asked to reinstate it. A 'like for like' repair would be things like repointing, replacing roof tiles, gutters or a window as long as the same materials and profiles were used.

Hi OP, bit of both, see what the tradespeople do and raise it with the LL if you’re concerned and let the LL deal with it. That’s what I’d do anyway. Good luck.

Mariadingbat, it’s not dealing crack or people trafficking it’s minor works on an old house. The OP doesn’t own the house, she won’t be prosecuted if there is any prosecution (which is extremely unlikely), it’s really not her business and it would be IMO outrageous to report it.

You eavesdropped on a conversation and might have totslly misunderstood. I agree it's absolutely none of your business.

Personally I’d be glad the repairs are being done before winter and keep out if it.

However once I left I’d phone the planning department to let them know the modifications that were made, should they wish to come out and check it all.

I mean left the property permanently to move to somewhere else.